In 2012, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel jetted to Italy to get married (and they certainly weren’t worried about spending millions on their big day). They’ve been married for seven years and been linked for over a decade, and despite Hollywood’s unimpressive track record when it comes to romance, this couple appears to be happier than ever. They continue to impress fans with their sense of humor, silly photos, and winning Halloween costumes. They are each other’s biggest supporters, and they are completely dedicated to their family, and to raising their son, Silas. But things weren’t always so easy for them.

Before this couple got married, they made a mutual decision to break up, and their relationship has been plagued by allegations. Below are 20 surprising facts about Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel’s relationship.

20 They First Bonded Over Their Dark Sense Of Humor

When Justin Timberlake first met Jessica Biel at a Hollywood party, he was pleased to find they had something in common, which he describes as “very dry, dark sense of humor.” Timberlake wrote about this in his book, Hindsight (via People), explaining that she was the only person who got his joke.

19 But Justin Didn’t Even Ask For Jessica's Number The First Time They Met

Despite being impressed with Jessica Biel after their first meeting, Justin Timberlake didn’t ask her for her number. But he did think keep thinking about her. “I’m kind of really interested in that girl,” he wrote in his book (via People). “There was just something about that girl. Kind of interested in that girl…”

18 They Were Seeing Other People When They First Started Hanging Out

When Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel did start hanging out, they took things slow. Timberlake explained in his book (via People) that at the time they were “both still seeing other people” and didn’t really put themselves out there. He also explained that it took “a bit” of time until they could admit that they liked each other.

17 They Didn’t Rush Into Anything, In Fact, It Was Ages Before They Even Kissed

For some people, when they meet their connection is instant and undeniable, but for Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel, it sounds as though their love progressed relatively slowly. They didn’t even kiss for a long time because Timberlake was on tour, Biel said during an appearance on The Late Late Show With James Corden (via E! News).

16 They Had To Break Up Before They Were Ready To Get Hitched...

There’s no denying that Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are happy now, but they had some problems to work out before they were ready to get married. In 2011, the couple split, releasing a joint statement about how the decision was mutual, E! News reports. The statement also said the couple would remain friends, although it wasn’t long before they rekindled their romance.

15 ...But Then It Was A Wedding To Remember, And Jessica Decided To Ditch The Traditional White Dress

On Oct. 19, 2012, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel got married, and they headed to Italy to do it. Their wedding was obviously one of the celebrity weddings of the year, and it was made even more interesting by the fact that Biel ditched the traditional white gown in favor or a pink dress designed by Giambattista Valli, E! News reports.

14 Their Wedding Cost Millions Of Dollars!

Jetting away to Italy to get married at a fancy resort in the presence of hundreds of people doesn’t come cheap, and Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake are reported to have spent millions on their big day. According to Business Insider, the exact amount was reported to be $6.5 million!

13 It’s Been Reported That Their Prenuptial Agreement Has A Special Clause In It

It has been reported that Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake have a prenuptial agreement in place, but theirs is a little different from the standard contract, because, according to ScreenRant, it has a special clause. The publication notes that if Timberlake was to stray, he must reportedly pay!

12 Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake Are All About Family!

Perhaps one of the most relatable things about Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel is how dedicated to their family they both are. They were extremely excited to have a child, and when Biel learned she was pregnant with their son, Silas, she called up Timberlake to tell him. In his book (via E! News), Timberlake explained that they both “started bawling,” and he even ended his tour early to go home.

11 Having A Child Has Changed Their Lives, In The Best Way Possible

Silas was born in 2015, and fatherhood has changed Justin Timberlake’s life immeasurably. It’s also altered the way he sees the world. According to E! News, Timberlake has said that until he became a father, he thought he had things to be afraid of. “Now I understand that I don't have to conquer my fears. I just have to learn to live with them,” he added.

10 When It Comes To Couple’s Halloween Costumes, They Win Every Year

Celebrities love to post their Halloween costumes on social media, and every year, they go to a lot of effort to make sure they have a memorable outfit. Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel always have the best costumes, as proven by their 2019 look. Biel decided to go as a '90s version of her husband and to make it a couple’s costume, Timberlake simply transformed into a microphone.

9 Jessica Biel Has Celebrated Her Husband For The Joy He's Brought Into Her Life

There is a lot of love in the Biel-Timberlake household, and Jessica Biel has celebrated her husband on social media for the happiness he brings her. “You have been infusing my life with so much joy and laughter that I blame YOU for my smile lines,” she wrote, accompanied by an underwater photo of them.

8 They Have Similar Values And Expectations For Their Relationship

To make a marriage work, it is important to be understanding and willing to compromise, and Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel have the same expectations. In an interview with Marie Claire, Biel said: "We have similar values; we believe in loyalty, honesty. We like to have fun. We like a lot of the same things.”

7 And They Both Understand How Important Their Respective Careers Are

In the same interview with Marie Claire, Jessica Biel also discussed how both she and her husband are very “career-oriented,” and because they are both so focused and driven, it helps that they understand each other. “If you can find that and someone who shares the same values as you, it's like: Score!” she stated.

6 They Continue To Support Each Other In All Their Different Ventures

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are both celebrities, but they don’t compete. Instead, they support each other in all their different ventures. When Timberlake penned his book, Hindsight, his wife proudly took to social media to share a photo of herself holding it. She captioned the photo with a comment about how the book “is a peek into a private lockbox.”

5 Justin Is His Wife’s Biggest Fan

We’ve just discussed how Jessica Biel has publicly supported Justin Timberlake, but he does the same for her. She said in an interview with Elle that her husband is her “biggest fan” and that when her series, The Sinner premiered, he was “so happy” for her.

4 Justin Timberlake Is Super Close To His Mama, And It Probably Helps That She Approves Of His Wife

Justin Timberlake and his mama, Lynn Harless, are extremely close, and it’s nice that his mom approves of his relationship with Jessica Biel. When they first started dating, Harless was asked about Biel in an interview with People, to which she replied “She’s amazing. She's so down-to-earth and her family is great.”

3 Justin Timberlake Is Continually Inspired By The Woman He Married

After a decade of being together, it’s sweet that Justin Timberlake still feels so strongly about his wife, that he decided to mention this in his book. "I'm fascinated by her. She's everything, man," he wrote about Biel (via E! News). "She just constantly surprises me with who she is, and who she's becoming, and I really hope I do the same for her.” He also stated that when he looks at her in the morning, he's “inspired.”

2 They Show Each Other Their Playful Sides

Living life in the public eye must come with a tremendous amount of pressure, but Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake like to have fun and unwind when it’s just the two of them. We have gotten a glimpse into their home life thanks to the photos that they post on social media, and if a picture speaks a thousand words, well, then we need not say any more about this one!

1 They’ve Been Together For Over A Decade, But Rumors Continue To Plague Their Relationship

Despite all the good things in Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake’s life, their relationship and marriage has not been without its problems. According to ScreenRant, the couple has had to withstand “persistent allegations” about their marriage. This is one of the more obvious cons to being a celebrity, as their lives continually make for tabloid fodder, even if the allegations are baseless.

References: People, E! News, Business Insider, ScreenRant, Jessica Biel Instagram, Marie Claire, Elle.