COUPLESMaya Hawke's Surprise Valentine’s Day Wedding Puts Secret Celebrity Nuptials Back in the Spotlight
Maya Hawke and Christian Lee Hutson’s surprise wedding brought secret nuptials into the spotlight.
Feb. 26 2026, Published 9:48 a.m. ET
Love was in the air on Valentine’s Day — and entirely under wraps. Stranger Things star Maya Hawke stunned fans when news broke that she had quietly married singer Christian Lee Hutson in a surprise ceremony in New York City.
The 27-year-old actress and the 35-year-old musician said “I do” on February 14 in an intimate gathering attended by Hawke’s famous parents, Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, along with Stranger Things castmates including Finn Wolfhard, Sadie Sink and Joe Keery. Hawke wore a custom Prada wedding dress paired with an oversized feathery winter coat, while Hutson opted for a custom Prada tuxedo.
‘Stranger Things’ stars were present during the surprise Valentine’s day wedding.
The wedding was not publicly announced beforehand — a move that reflects a growing celebrity trend: getting married first, and telling the world later.
The Rise of the Secret Ceremony
Many celebrities opt for private weddings and announced the news after the event.
While celebrity weddings were once synonymous with exclusive magazine deals and lavish, headline-grabbing affairs, today’s A-listers are increasingly opting for discretion.
Stars from Margot Robbie to Lindsay Lohan have managed to wed in private ceremonies, often confirming the news only after the fact. Grace Gummer and Mark Ronson revealed their marriage casually in a birthday post. Anna Faris accidentally let slip she had eloped on her podcast. Jennifer Lopez told her "On The JLo" newsletter readers a day after she married Ben Affleck. Princess Beatrice pulled off a private royal wedding during the pandemic.
The reasons vary, but the throughline is clear: control.
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Luxury Privacy
Celebrity wedding planners operate like a ‘SWAT team’ during these secret ceremonies.
Celebrity wedding planners say secrecy is no accident — it’s strategy. High-profile couples often require nondisclosure agreements from vendors, use code names, deploy decoy cars or dresses, and even secure airspace to avoid paparazzi leaks.
Event planner Sharon Sacks told Yahoo Entertainment that her team acts like a “SWAT team,” sometimes using groom doubles or blocking boats from capturing photos. Bridal designer Sharon Sever described “code names, secret fittings, secret courier services,” explaining that protecting the gown reveal is part of preserving the magic.
In an era of instant social media scrutiny, privacy has become the ultimate status symbol. Couples increasingly curate how — and when — wedding news breaks, often releasing images on their own platforms after the celebration is safely over.
A Love Story, on Their Terms
Maya Hawke and Christian Lee Hutson’s relationship began long before their surprise wedding.
Hawke and Hutson’s romance had unfolded quietly long before their wedding. The two met through music, with Hutson contributing to Hawke’s 2024 album Chaos Angel. They made their red carpet debut last year.
But when it came to the wedding itself, they followed a path more aligned with today’s discreet A-list playbook than Hollywood’s traditional extravaganza model.
From intimate backyard ceremonies like Niecy Nash and Jessica Betts to post-wedding social media reveals like Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth, the message is consistent: the most exclusive guest list is the one the public isn’t on.
And for stars like Maya Hawke, that might just be the most romantic detail of all.
