As Mark Wahlberg's latest Arthur the King premieres this weekend, we're taking a closer look at the star's unconventional relationship timeline with his current wife Rhea Durham. After the first time Mark laid eyes on his current wife Rhea he knew that she was the person he was going to spend the rest of his life with and now the pair are already reeling in over a decade of marriage together and over . But while they did eventually make it down the aisle, the went the untraditional route, as the pair welcomed four children before ever exchanging their vows. While the two are celebrating 14 years of marriage, the former Ted star shared his secret to maintaining a happy relationship. The 52-year-old star told
Fox News Digital: “Well, look, I mean, we got married in the church. You know, we made that commitment to each other. That’s something that we take very seriously and so, communication, support. We love each other. I mean, we – like everybody else – we all have problems and issues, but, being able to put those things aside and, you know, we’re blessed.” The couple first met back in 2009 as they attended a press junket in
New York City and had their first date the next day. In an interview with People Magazine, Mark recalled the first time he met his future wife, telling the news outlet: "We met in
New York City while I was doing a press junket." And added: "I asked her if she wanted to come out with me, and she said yes. Then I asked her if she wanted to come to church with me the next morning, and she said yes again. So that was our first date: St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York." The two were soon inseparable as they started exclusively dating quickly after with the rising star admitting he knew she was "the one" right from the start but needed to wait for marriage because he "still had to make sure that I was able to be the man I needed to be." Two short years later, the pair announced the news that they were welcoming their first baby together, their daughter Ella Rae. The pair unapologetically showed off the news of their first baby, as they walked the red carpet together for the premiere of the actor's movie The Italian
Job with Rhea showing off her growing baby bump in a tight black dress. Later speaking on being a father, Mark said: "I want to give my kids the world, but I also want them to appreciate everything, to succeed, to be good people, to enjoy life," and added: "This is my most important role. If I fail at this, I fail at everything." In the coming years the couple went on to welcome two more children together including their sons Michael and Brendan Joseph. After the birth of his third child, Mark guest starred on The
Tonight Show with Jay Leno and opened up about how his other kids were adjusting to their newest sibling. On the talk show, Mark said: "My daughter's thrilled, she thinks she has a live play toy. She loves it." He then went on to add that his other son Michael wasn't too keen on the newest addition to their family. At the time the father of three joked: " After welcoming three children together Mark and Rhea finally decided it was time to tie the knot. In 2009, the pair shared their fairytale wedding together as they walked down the aisle in an intimate Catholic ceremony in Beverly Hills surrounded by their closest family and
Friends. During the low-key occasion at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church the couple exchanged their vows in front of just 12 guests, including their three little ones. During the beautiful occasion, which lasted about 45 minutes, Rhea was seen wearing a gorgeous white strapless Marchesa dress complete with silver embroidery and diamond jewelry. After the short-lived ceremony filled with light purple roses and candles, an eyewitness at the event said that Rhea "looked like a princess and beyond stunning" and "Mark looked ecstatic." Following their romantic ceremony, the pair went on to welcome one more child together, their daughter Grace Margaret. After welcoming his fourth kid, Mark guest starred on The
Ellen DeGeneres Show speaking on his growing family and revealing that four is the magic number for them as his wife says she's done having kids. During his appearance on the talk show, Mark said: "My wife has always wanted four, two boys and two girls, so miraculously she got everything she wanted. She's saying she's done." Now, the couple's children are all grown up and the parents have already sent 20-year-old Ella off to college. Mark's youngest child Grace is now 14 years old and navigating her middle school years. In 2019, the two lovebirds celebrated 10 years of marriage together which is now at a whopping 14 years. On the special milestone the happy couple jetted off to Sardinia,
Italy where they embarked on a romantic boat ride in the crystal clear waters to commemorate the day. Since then. the two have gone on to share four more happy years together as they continue to express their long-lasting love and devotion for one another. In an interview with The Sun, the former Uncharted star said: "I owe a lot to my wife. She has helped me become the man that I am and created a beautiful life for me and our children. … You need the right woman in your life and that feeling that you’re going to be together for a long time. That’s especially important if you’re going to have children.”