The couple famously dated for a few months in 2008, which many thought would lead to marriage. After months of speculation, on Dec. 14, 2011, Robert Pattinson officially confirmed that he and Kristen had indeed wed. Their union was celebrated with a lavish wedding that was covered by every major news publication in the world. But was the whole megillah about wedding bells?

After dating for a few months, the couple decided to make their relationship exclusive. They kept the engagement a secret until just a few months before the wedding date, when they finally confirmed they were headed down the aisle.

Their wedding, which was attended by more than 600 guests, was held at the Beverly Hills Hotel in California. The wedding night was spent at the hotel as well, where Robert presented his new wife with a magnificent wedding gift.

While some would say the couple are perfectly suited for each other, it seems their marriage was not all happiness and fairy dust. Less than a year after tying the knot, Robert filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. And while the exact reasons for the split have yet to be made public, what is certain is that both parties involved are committed to their careers and are still very much in love.

Rumors about their split began swirling as early as August 2012, when they both seemingly took a step back from the public eye. On Aug. 22, 2012, Robert was seen entering a family therapy session with his attorney while Kristen attended the MTV Video Music Awards without any signs of a wedding ring. And a few days later, the pair were spotted embracing at the BFF (Best Friends Forever) Summit in New York City. The very next day, Aug. 25, 2012, they were both spotted looking extremely cozy and close as they exited a restaurant in the city. While attending a hockey game in New York in January 2013, Kristen was further sighted sporting a diamond solitaire ring and a matching necklace and earrings set. Was she finally warming up to the idea of marriage? Or was this just a well-laid marketing scheme?

The answer may lie in their decision to have a low-key wedding. The venue was kept secret until the day of the ceremony, and guests were forbidden from speaking to the press. It was a strategy aimed at keeping their romance under wraps until the end – a strategy that seems to have worked. Several months later, on Dec. 14, they celebrated their wedding anniversary at a Dodgers game in Los Angeles. The game was temporarily halted as they were given a standing ovation upon their arrival at the game. They were later seen attending a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) course in the Bahamas with their new baby son, Flynn.

But the question remains: was Kristen Stewart married to Robert Pattinson? And if not, what is the story behind their romantic interlude? Was it all just a PR stunt? Or did they genuinely intend to wed?

The Rumor

Since the start of the year, rumors about the couple’s marital status have swirled, with several publications insinuating that they are either still dating or have gone back to being friends. In an interview with People in April 2014, Robert was asked whether or not he and Kristen were still romantically involved. His response? “We’re friends and we’ll always be friends.” When pressed for an answer, he added, “I don’t want to talk about that right now.”

However, back in October 2013, Robert was spotted with a group of friends, including model Lily Cole. The group was leaving dinner when Cole abruptly asked the question, “So, are you and Kristen still together?” To which Robert replied, “Yeah, we are still together.” A source close to Cole later explained that she had just witnessed a rather tense conversation between the two, and had felt the need to ask about their relationship status. Robert had been very quiet since their initial meeting, and had never given any indication that he was interested in anyone but Kristen. From that point on, Cole turned her attention to exploring Los Angeles with her friends.

The Reality

While there is no denying that Robert and Kristen are still very much in love, it seems their marriage was never going to be as glamorous as many had speculated. As it turns out, the rumors were true – they had indeed wed on Dec. 14, 2011, at the Beverly Hills Hotel in California, with only a handful of their closest friends and family present. And just like that, their romance was over. Even though they had kept their engagement and wedding a secret, the reality of their situation eventually came out. They had clearly decided that the less public they were about the whole thing, the better.

This approach changed the game for both of them. It made them available for photo shoots and television appearances, as well as enabled them to plan their wedding carefully and privately. Ultimately, their desire to keep their romance a secret came from a good place – they wanted to protect their tender moment and ensure that they had the opportunity to become intimate without any distractions. So it was more than understandable that they did not want to jinx themselves by flaunting their relationship in the press.

After their wedding day, Robert continued to work while Kristen took a more laid back approach to parenting. She gave a rare interview in September 2014, during which she talked about the advantages of being a new mother. “I don’t have to work as hard as I did before Flynn was born. I can just be a better mom – it’s awesome,” she said. A few months later, in December 2014, it was revealed that the couple had decided to postpone their babymoon and had accepted an invite to visit the French Riviera with some friends. Along with her new husband, she traveled to the most glamorous city in the world and enjoyed a relaxing holiday with her family.

The Future

As discussed, rumors about the couple’s marital status have persisted since the start of the year. However, according to insiders, the situation is somewhat complicated and could potentially change.

First off, it’s important to note that while Robert filed for divorce, he has not decided whether or not to pursue the matter. Rumors about their reconciliation persisted even after their divorce decree was finalized in February 2015. In fact, just this month (July 2016), the actor was spotted and photographed with Kristen at the Venice Film Festival, which many are interpreting as a romantic reunion.

With regard to their status as a couple, it seems likely that Robert will continue to be open to dating other women. However, his choice of companion will largely depend on how much he cares about keeping his marriage a secret. Should he decide to keep their relationship under wraps, he may choose not to see or date anyone. Alternatively, should he decide to be more open about his feelings, he could potentially start a new family with someone special.

What Would You Do?

If you were in Robert’s shoes, would you have wed Kristen? Or would you have decided to keep your relationship with her a secret? Would you have planned a wedding that was both low-profile and private? Would you have decided to become a father? How about now?

These are difficult questions to answer, especially since we don’t know what future actions – if any – Robert will take. As discussed, he is still very much in love with Kristen, and it seems likely that their romance will continue for the foreseeable future. But this is certainly changeable. Ultimately, the decision is up to him.

What we can do, however, is speculate on what would have happened had fate decided differently. Had Robert not met Kristen, he would probably have still been married to his ex-wife Liz, whom he wed back in 2005. Together, they have a daughter named Alice. Sadly, Liz passed away in 2015 after a battle with cancer. Today, Robert is a single father to little Alice and relies on his family and close friends for support.

If you were Robert, would you have wed Kristen? What would your life be like now if you hadn’t met her? Would you have been as happy? Would you have been able to raise a family?