In July, we found out that Anna Faris and Michael Barrett had secretly married by eloping at courthouse in Washington. At the time, we didn’t know much else, except the ceremony took place on San Juan Island and that she sprung the news on her family only shortly before she told her podcast listeners. Over the weekend, the couple was making their way through LAX when some paps asked why they’d decided to elope. Anna said since they’re a bit on in years, they didn’t feel they needed “the whole thing.”
Anna Faris is opening up about her recent elopement with husband Michael Barrett.
The “House Bunny” star, 44, was spotted at LAX airport over the weekend, and told paps that she and Barrett, 51, wed at a private courthouse ceremony on their own because “with a little bit of age, you don’t need the whole thing.”
When asked if anyone else attended the couple’s nuptials, Faris responded, “It was just us.” She also confirmed it was her decision to elope.
I’ll say up front, as I have many times before, I always think a wedding should be whatever the bride and groom want. If a pair of thrice-married septuagenarians want to blow the doors off with a cathedral length train and 15 attendants, that’s their day. I have opinions on a couple making outrageous demands on the bridal party or guests/family, but not how they want to celebrate. So my speculation about why Anna and Michael eloped is just speculation, I’m sure they did exactly what they wanted for their wedding and I’m all for it. Age may have been a factor. I know my wedding would’ve been very different if I’d married 10 years earlier than I did. But it was also Anna’s third marriage and Michael’s second. I know if I ever do it again, it would be vastly different because I already have the experience. When Anna’s ex, Chris Pratt, married Katherine Schwarzenegger, it was her first wedding. So I’m sure she wanted a big wedding and he wanted her to have it. Plus, it sounds like Anna has been doing a lot of introspection about her former relationships, so maybe she wanted all their focus to be on their vows without any of the distractions a big wedding can have. Honestly, not worrying about the guestlist is worth the elopement alone.
And, as CB pointed out, during the pandemic, a small, intimate ceremony is a really smart choice.
Photo credit: Avalon Red and Instagram
“Cause f!ck off, that’s why.”
– Anna
1 word – covid
Honestly I completely agree with her, and I’ve never been married. But then again, I love small intimate weddings.
My wedding wasn’t actually what I would have wanted, aesthetically, but it meant a lot. My MIL who I had been close to for years wanted to help plan it but was afraid to ask.
She has three sons and no daughters and will probably never find another daughter in law whose mother is as hands-off as mine. This was her chance to throw a big wedding. I had never thought about what I’d want a wedding to look like, so I handed her the reins because it would mean a lot to her.
Even some of our friends chastised me- because they had never seen me having a traditional wedding, especially in the northeast. But the thing is, I celebrated how I wanted to. And maybe it didn’t mean that I had the perfect flowers or perfect venue, but it was an event that brought me a lot closer into a family I adore.
That’s what it’s about, really. The wedding is a moment. The marriage is (theoretically) “forever.” Seems that your understanding that informed your choices, and you, your m-i-l and the rest of your family are better and stronger for it. #whathappyeverafterlookslike
That’s a lovely wedding story.
I eloped at 35 (first marriage) and it was the best decision ever! No drama, no stress, no family drama, no “helpful” unsolicited feedback, etc. It was truly OUR day! And not for nothing, but cost us about $200 and allowed for an amazing honeymoon!
Me too Susan, secretly eloped to Vegas and then amazing honeymoon, best decision ever!
My wedding had 60 guests, my aunt baked our cake and I gave my florist a budget and let her do her thing since I knew the flowers I actually wanted were out of season. I was pretty laid back and most of the vendors went out of their way to give me extras because I made their life so easy. We had little hiccups but it was a great day – lots of silly things and the focus was on having fun.
I’ve never been married, but I was a bridesmaid for my sister’s wedding. I led the bridal procession; I remember the music starting, and everyone in the church turning around en masse to look at me. I wanted to crawl under the floor! I can’t imagine being the center of everyone’s focus the entire day. I’m an introvert with a capital “i,” and that would be my idea of torture.
Aw, I’m glad she got to have what she wanted! I got engaged in Jan. 2020 and was supposed to get married in August. My family was going to travel to see us, but of course that couldn’t happen. It was never going to be a big wedding, but now it’s either elope or wait. We both want to get married, but doing it without family there sounds hard. I’m sure it’s different if it’s not your first, or if that’s not your thing. I’m glad she was able to pull it off, despite Covid.
I’m not married but if I ever did I’d go to Vegas and elope, officiated by Elvis thank you very much. Cheesy? Yes. Tacky? Absolutely. Better than having to deal with a 4 day, 500 guest wedding required in my culture? ABSOLUTELY
Yep, I had a drive through wedding in the Elvis Cadillac ($99), wonderful. And, unexpectedly, so romantic and moving, the celebrant spoke so beautifully. And then really fun ringing home to break the news. Didn’t miss having family there and it was so exciting arriving home, everyone just turned up and had an impromptu party. I am an introvert, as others mentioned above, so the idea of being centre of attention for a big wedding was horrifying.
I have a friend who has been engaged for 5 years now. We just tell them to elope and we won’t take it personally. However her first wedding was a city hall wedding so she wants to do something more special but with Covid who knows how long that will take. Another friend of mine just went to Hawaii and got married on the beach with his dad, brother and his wife’s daughters present. It looked like the perfect ceremony. Intimate ceremonies can be great but I do know I love a big wedding too.
I think Hawaii is back to restrictions on even outdoor activities. For the longest time, it was max five people. I still saw lots of weddings on the beach, or in the beach parks, and they all seemed to be lovely affairs even with so few people. It was really about the moment.
I actually used to work in that courthouse(!) and was a witness at elopements once or twice. It’s a pretty old building on a hill with a view of the harbor. Congratulations to them!
I have a feeling she had a traumatic marriage to the worst Chris and she’s trying to keep everything on the down-low, as is her right. I wish her, her groom and her son all the happiness in the world.