Kristen Bell & Dax Shepard got married in a courthouse with no fanfare: awesome?

2013 CMT Music awards at the Bridgestone Arena

This is just a brief happy story about one of my favorite celebrity couples, Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell. These two have long said that they would not get married until same sex marriage was legal. I got the impression that one of them was trying to avoid it, particularly Kristen. They welcomed a baby daughter, Lincoln, in March, and then got engaged once DOMA got struck down at the end of June. I honestly thought they would have a long engagement, but they got married just yesterday at the Beverly Hills County Clerk’s office! Here’s the news, thanks to TMZ. It sounds like it was a spur-of-the-moment thing:

TMZ has learned [that Kristen Bell] and longtime boyfriend Dax Shepard have finally tied the knot.

The couple had a no-frills ceremony at the Beverly Hills County Clerk Office. We’re told there was a photographer present, and Kristen was crying.

According to eye witnesses, Kristen and Dax went to the clerk office just to get their marriage license — but when a court employee offered to marry them on the spot, they agreed … and conducted the ceremony in a nearby courtroom.

Not a huge surprise … Kristen has talked about wanting a courthouse marriage in the past, saying, “I feel like we get enough attention in our daily lives and we just want something sort of private that involves pen and paper.”

[From TMZ]

That’s really sweet and touching. I admire their approach to publicity too, they seem genuinely low-key and not into the fame scene. Kristen said in 2012 that a big wedding would be too much stress, and that she and Dax “already considered themselves married.” So I really didn’t think they would take that step and am pleasantly surprised. Congratulations to Kristen and Dax!

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'Hit & Run' Los Angeles Premiere

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63 Responses to “Kristen Bell & Dax Shepard got married in a courthouse with no fanfare: awesome?”

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  1. Dawn says:

    Good for them! I think they may be in it for the long haul.

  2. Sabrina says:

    Congratulations to the two of them. They definitely seem like a great couple together.

  3. KatieD says:

    If you want a big wedding, then hey, to each their own…go for it. But the way these two did it is pretty refreshing when you have people like KK rushing to the altar just for publicity and divorcing after 72 days. Marriage doesn’t necessarily require a big fanfare or validation from others. These two seem like a genuinely happy and real couple and I wish them happiness!

    • Nanners says:

      It’s so weird to me that people who claim to hate the Kardashians so much, mention them at every.single.opportunity. Let them stay in their posts please.

      • KatieD says:

        It’s actually the first time I’ve ever mentioned one of them, and I never open their articles. I feel nothing but indifference toward them, they just don’t interest me at all, and I only even knew it was a 72 day marriage because that was the headline everywhere for weeks- you couldn’t avoid it. You read way too much into a passing comment, in which the intention was merely to say that the type of wedding you have doesn’t determine whether or not the marriage will be successful. Were you waiting to jump on someone for mentioning a kardashian or what? Lol.

    • lisa says:

      i agree a low key wedding for anyone in any walk of life is refreshing

  4. Blannie says:

    I love them both! So happy for them. Classy couple.

    • gefeylich says:

      Yeah. I thought they were married already, though. They are an adorable couple – refreshingly low-key and real.

      I hope they have many happy years together.

  5. gilly says:

    Thats how my husband and I did it, two weeks ago. It was so easy and low key and perfect. No muss no fuss. And every bit as married as the others.

  6. Andrea says:

    Congrats to them! I love Kristen. Her voice sounds beautiful in the new Frozen trailer.

  7. blue marie says:

    I think it’s pretty cool, congrats to them.

  8. Kit says:

    They’re both adorable, but together even more so. Congrats and best of luck to them!

    I’m part of the female minority that hates weddings with a passion. We opted for a justice of the peace, six family members in attendance and that was it. Took about ten minutes, cost less than $200 total. Didn’t bother with fancy rings either… 10, 50, 100k+ weddings are insane IMO, but to each their own ๐Ÿ˜‰

    • Greyson says:

      Hah. I hear you.. While I don’t hate weddings, I can’t really see myself having a ceremony! I would definitely be fine with a courthouse wedding. To me, being married is way more important than throwing an expensive event for just one day!

    • Esmom says:

      Good for you. I wish I’d had the nerve to stand up to my mom, who expected a traditional wedding. It was lovely and relatively low key but still so not “me.” I hope my kids aren’t afraid to do what’s right for them rather than feel they need to please me.

      Anyway, good for Kristen and Jax, too!

    • Apsutter says:

      I’m part of that minority. The bf and I are planning to runaway and get hitched when it’s time for that. I can’t stand huge weddings but to each their own.

      • prettylights says:

        My boyfriend and I have been together for over 5 years, living together for almost 4, and we are talking about getting married soon. Neither of us want a big wedding, so I think we will wind up at the courthouse too and then throw a reception after. Big weddings actually kind of scare me – so much money, stress and planning! My parents have no problem with that (my older brother and sister both had big weddings, so I’m sure they just don’t want to deal with that again!). Either that or I’d love to elope to a beach somewhere ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. Holly says:

    And this is how you have a relationship, engagement, marriage, life, kid, career and integrity in Hollywood!

    So, so happy for them!!

  10. Congrats says:

    Congrats to them, but it doesn’t seem very “unplanned” or “spontaneous” if there was a “photographer present”.

    • lenje says:

      THere’s always a photographer at city courts, offering couples pictures of their marriage officiating.

  11. Bert29 says:

    My hubby and I got hitched in our backyard and even that was a lot of fuss to me! I like the approach. And maybe the photographer was paparazzi (tmz?).

  12. Bert29 says:

    My hubby and I got hitched in our backyard and even that was a lot of fuss to me! I like the approach. And maybe the photographer was paparazzi.

  13. lucy2 says:

    Aw congrats, I really like both of them. They did it the way they wanted to, and you can see that the relationship and their family is the important thing to them, not the dress or flowers or presents.

  14. ashley says:

    I love them together,wish them all the best. I love him on parenthood.

  15. Snappyfish says:

    I love this. Well done

  16. serena says:

    Congrats! I really like them both, such a cool and cute couple! I wish them the best ๐Ÿ˜‰

  17. Sharon says:

    Lincoln is a ridiculous name for a girl.

  18. Axis2ClusterB says:

    I love them together.

  19. Ank says:

    They’re awesome. All the best to them!

  20. Mandy says:

    I love these two! They are so cute together. I wish them many, many years of happiness!

  21. nicegirl says:

    Congratulations!

  22. Meg says:

    ‘…one of my favorite celebrity couples’
    I remember in the past you criticizing her, saying ‘it’s sad she thinks dax shepard is the best she can do.
    Now they’re one of your favorites?

    • Marigold says:

      If that’s true (I don’t remember such a post) then perhaps you can accept that a person is allowed to change their mind.

    • bondbabe says:

      Kaiser wrote about them in a February 1, 2010 post—kind of a, WTH.

    • Bridget says:

      I think it helps an awful lot that he’s now sober. He’s very clearly worked hard and turned himself around.

      I mean, those pictures of them and his terminally ill dad…

  23. Apsutter says:

    I really love this couple. So sweet, loving, and they clearly adore each other

  24. Diana says:

    Congrats to them. They are so cute and perfect together!

  25. AmyLynne says:

    Yay! I am so happy for them. I’ve always loved her and Dax quickly won me over on Parenthood.

    • lucy2 says:

      Me too – I’ve loved her since Veronica Mars, but didn’t know much about him. Now I’m a fan of both of them, and they seem so great together.

  26. Bodhi says:

    Once again… why the question mark? Hell yeah its awesome!

  27. JLM says:

    My husband and I eloped – we had one couple we know come and be our witnesses. Went out for pizza and beer afterwards and then called our stunned parents to tell them the news. Best decision ever.

    No heated discussions with parents/in-laws about who would be invited, who would sit where, what color the napkins and tablecloths were going to be, why we weren’t having a religious ceremony. etc. I think both sets of parents were disappointed, but they got over it. We’ll be married 11 years next month and have 2 beautiful girls. I highly recommend eloping!

    • ctkat1 says:

      That is my dream scenario! I’m not in a relationship, but if I ever get married it will be a courthouse wedding, and family will be informed after because I guarantee my mother would insist on family being in attendance, then she will push for close family friends, and then she’ll want to host a reception afterwards…and that’s a wedding. Both of my brothers are recently/about to be married, and I’ve seen enough to know that I don’t want to deal with any of the planning, hoopla, etc.

  28. curegirl0421 says:

    That’s sweet but GOD DAMN is he creepy. I’m sorry, but…ack. I’m glad she’s happy though, my opinion counts for naught.

    • judyjudy says:

      I’ve always thought he was creepy, too.

      That aside, the seem so normal. It’s nice.

    • Cool Phosphorescent Shimmer says:

      He creeps me out, too. I think it’s the crooked mouth.

      If he has some condition or something of which I am unaware that accounts for his creepy, crooked mouth, please forgive me in advance for noticing and commenting upon it. I certainly mean no harm whatsoever in offering my opinion here.

  29. Jaded says:

    Very sweet – did you ever see the video of her on her birthday when Dax brought her a sloth from the zoo? She’s absolutely besotted with sloths, and she got so excited she burst into tears, I mean really sobbing. One of the cutest things I’ve ever seen.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5jw3T3Jy70

    • cyndi says:

      I know right! I was going to comment it was too bad she didn’t have time to get a sloth to be her witness, or a flower gir…sloth! ๐Ÿ˜€

  30. Faithmobile says:

    Love this couple and not just because they were married the same way my husband and I were. When I met my husband that was who he was from the beginning never a boyfriend, we felt married at the start. I don’t begrudge people their big weddings but it’s not for everyone as it proves nothing.

  31. Claudia says:

    I love this couple. They’re funny and easy-going, believe in just causes, and are huge animal lovers. She once posted a picture of her visiting one of my dream vacation spots: GIRAFFE MANOR!!! And going on a bunch of safaris. So jealous :).

  32. Sam H x says:

    These two make a really cute couple and definitely in it for the long haul. I remember reading DS’s moving and beautiful account of spending time with his dad during his last days, then at some point Kirsten flew in whilst she was pregnant to surprise Dax’s father so he could meet his unborn grandchild. The dad passed away shortly after. I must admit reading it made me cry. x

  33. Luna says:

    Learn, Jennifer Aniston, learn!