They pledged their love and we swooned. They split and we ran to the newsstands! They're the year's biggest couplings, and we're counting them down now!

　　MARC ANTHONY & JENNIFER LOPEZ -- After several false starts, Jenny from the Block finally wed -- but not the man everyone thought she would! Just five months after her break-up with fiancéBEN AFFLECK, Lopez walked down the aisle June 5 in a chantilly-laced, full-length, champagne VERA WANG gown accented by a white umbrella to meet Latin heartthrob Anthony at the altar. Although jewels graced her hair, and she wore diamond earrings, a necklace and bracelet, the event was a casual affair held in the backyard of her home. No million-dollar honeymoon for these newlyweds. The next day, the gang reconvened for wieners and burgers followed by a sit-down to watch the first game of the NBA finals with the L.A. Lakers.

　　KEVIN COSTNER & CHRISTINE BAUMGARTNER -- When "The Postman" married his longtime love in September at his Aspen ranch, they celebrated with a week of barbecues, horseback riding, golf, fishing and softball. To show their down-home sides, the bride arrived to the ceremony in a vintage, green, Chevy pickup truck and the new Mr. and Mrs. Costner, still in full bridal attire, took a romantic canoe ride in a nearby lake. The guest list included the likes of OPRAH, BRUCE WILLIS, TIM ALLEN, DON JOHNSON, JACK NICHOLSON, MICHAEL DOUGLAS and wife CATHERINE ZETA-JONES.

　　BILLY JOEL & KATIE LEE -- You may be right; he may be crazy! But the 55-year-old "My Life" singer and native New Yorker looked anything but in October when he married his 23-year-old bride in a romantic, beachfront ceremony at his private estate overlooking the bay. Among the approximately 300 guests in attendance were ALEC BALDWIN, PAUL REISER, HOWARD STERN and his girlfriend BETH OSTROSKY and fellow musician DON HENLEY. Billy's famous second ex-wife CHRISTIE BRINKLEY was there and wished the couple "every happiness."

　　BRITNEY SPEARS & KEVIN FEDERLINE -- After weeks of tongue-wagging over her quickie engagement to back-up dancer Kevin, the pop songbird exercised her prerogative Sept. 18 by marrying the father of two in a top-secret backyard ceremony. Brit dyed her blonde locks brunette and wore a white, strapless MONIQUE LHUILLIER dress while Kevin donned a black tuxedo and signature fedora. Twenty to 30 guests, including Britney's mother and sister, were on-hand for the event, which took place around midnight in a white tent erected in the backyard of a private home. Later the duo was spotted partying at the Sunset Blvd. hotspot Dublin's. Of course, what no one will forget were the pink and white velour sweatsuits worn by the bridal party and groomsmen, whose specially monogrammed jackets read "Pimps" on the back.

　　TIGER WOODS & ELIN NORDEGREN -- The golfing tycoon met his Swedish beauty -- where else? -- at a golf tournament three years ago, where Elin was working as a nanny for one of Tiger's competitors. After she eventually got the "thumbs up" from Tiger's mom, he proposed at sunset last December during a golf trip to a South African game reserve. They wed at a surprise ceremony October 5 in Barbados. The celebrity couple exchanged sunset vows at the Sandy Lane luxury resort in front of family and friends -- and overlooking a golf course decorated with black roses. She was radiant in a sleeveless, off-white gown and veil, while the groom was dressed in an elegant beige suit.