Tuesday marked Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks 31st wedding anniversary. That’s an accomplishment for any couple but especially for a double celebrity union. For all outward appearances, the Wilson-Hanks still seem very happy and very much in love. So, of course, they are asked all the time how they make it work. Rita posted a tribute to Tom on her Instagram explaining that for them, it comes down to that all important ‘spark’ that’s never died out.
Today is my and @tomhanks 31st wedding anniversary!!! People often ask what is our secret to a long marriage. Well, I cowrote a song about this on my new album Halfway to Home!! It’s called The Spark. In any long term relationship, if you’re lucky, you started with a spark, that beautiful glimmer that ignites into a lasting love. Fires need to be tended to, stoked, added to, watched. As long as there is a spark you’ll always have a fire. I love you, Tom. Happy 31!
I don’t detect any lies here. It’s a little simplistic but it’s an IG post, captions should be simple, not complex instruction manuals on maintaining a relationship. I like the imagery of the spark representing lust and the fire being long-lasting love. We all know that Rita and Tom had a strong spark from the beginning, enough of a spark to finally extinguish the flame between him and ex-wife Samantha Lewes. But what I really like is the acknowledgement that sometimes you have to tend a fire. We often have discussions here about whether marriage is work or not. I think primarily it boils down to your definition of work. I would say I work on my marriage, but I would never say my marriage was laborious.
As she said in her comment, Rita wrote a song called The Spark. It’s not my favorite off her new album but it’s okay. My favorite is still Throw Me A Party. And I’m not alone/ Rita, who received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in March, said that many fans have told her they’re taking planning their own celebrations. You know my feelings about an End of Life Celebration Blowout – hell to the yes. And make it huge.
Photo credit: Instagram and WENN Photos
What is “the spark”?
Exactly LOL I have a highly successful relationship but i wouldn’t describe a spark so much as a harmony with a lovely ring (imagine the animations of music playing, how tunes fly up and down through the air along a wavy sheet music line….) But maybe thats cos I remember less of the first meetings and more of how it is “now”. We had a curiosity about each otehr and a lot of mystery but kind of already knew we would work together well… no rollercoaster, no butterflies, no drama…
Aw, that’s a cute post. A little simplistic, but like you said, its an IG post.
neither one of them strikes me as having a huge ego. I’m sure there are some egos involved (I don’t see how you become a star like Tom hanks with zero ego), but when you think of how some stars come across, and then think of Tom and Rita, they are not in that category, ego-wise. I bet for Hollywood, that makes a big difference.
For some reason I thought this was their first marriage, for both. Then I read that their spark did put out Tom’s first marriage, which was a bit of a downer but life happens.
Kudos to them for making it work. I really like them as a couple. Tom more than Rita.
They were successful because a) they truly love each other (not the publicity it brought), and b) both worked at their marriage and family, while c) staying off the party and drug circus in Hollywood (more often than not they went more power players not party players)
She’s very lovely looking.
I feel like Rita is modeling a really great version of post-menopause. She’s coming into a really cool phase and exploring a new aspect of her art through music. Wasn’t it Gloria Steinem who said that women grow. Ore radical with age? Rita’s doing it so well.
I am probably one of 12 people that liked and bought the DVD for Larry Crowne.
In the behind the scenes extras there was footage of Rita visiting the set and you just saw it with the two of them.
So, I don’t believe she is waxing poetic in her IG post.
That’s an interesting thing to say. Most people say the opposite — the spark will fade (or at least come and go throughout a relationship) and it’s all the other stuff that matters more — trust, friendship, communication, etc.
I agree with you Case. Not knocking “the spark”, but if you don’t have any of the things you mentioned, it doesn’t matter how much spark you have, it most likely isn’t going to work long term.
You have to really like each other and have that physical passion as well? They took a break when he dated Ginny Goodwin for a while.