This year marks the 26th anniversary of Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick's union - a delightful anomaly in Hollywood, with the couple standing strong amid an industry known for fleeting romances. The sentiment behind their marriage was beautifully encapsulated in Parker's touching tribute to her husband on Instagram, marking their anniversary with a photo of a champagne cork. “Happy 26th anniversary my husband... I love you," she wrote, adding, "Oh the miles we have strolled together."
Parker, famously known for her on-screen persona of Carrie Bradshaw who ceaselessly sought love, found her heart's solace in Broderick long ago. After parting ways with Robert Downey Jr. following a six-year relationship and a brief liaison with John F. Kennedy Jr., Parker met Broderick when she was 26 and has been smitten since. In a pre-wedding interview back in 1997, she couldn’t help but gush over Broderick, praising him as "the funniest fellow," "so bright," "so handsome," and adding, "he inspires me. I’m mad for him, totally."
The duo's journey began on the New York City theatre scene in 1991, where their shared passion for acting served as the bedrock of their relationship. Parker has often recollected their shared ambition of being successful actors. Recounting their initial encounter, Broderick, now 61, nostalgically revealed, “I still remember very clearly seeing her walk down the street. I remember it clear as day.”
Working together on Broadway in 1995 for 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying' brought them even closer. Despite acknowledging the risks of spending too much time together, Parker later credited the occasional time spent apart as a vital contributor to the success of their marriage. "We have lives that allow us to be away and come back together," she revealed on the Girlboss podcast. Yet, they haven't completely abandoned professional collaborations, as they co-starred in the 2021 Broadway revival of 'Plaza Suite.'
In 1997, the couple made their love official in an intimate ceremony attended by 100 close friends, with Parker making a bold style statement in a black wedding dress. She recalled, “At one point I just simply remember thinking, ‘God, I really hope he asks me to marry him.’”
With their family expanded by the addition of James, now 20, and 14-year-old twins Marion and Tabitha, the family planted their roots in NYC's West Village. The atmosphere of their home is described as "the best kind of chaos" by a close source. The couple also strives for calm conflict resolution, opting for non-confrontational discussions to address any issues.
Parker and Broderick's recipe for their enduring love story includes "love, commitment, respect, family and home." As Parker wittily remarks, even Carrie Bradshaw should aspire for such a happily-ever-after.