Julia Roberts and Daniel Moder’s Surprise Private Wedding Ceremony
On July 4, 2002, Julia invited friends to her ranch for what they believed was a late-night drink to “celebrate Independence Day.” People flew from Los Angeles, Manhattan, and Atlanta to the star’s 82-acre New Mexico home.
An aerial view of Julia Roberts’ Taos, New Mexico ranch, seen on July 6, 2002. | Source: Getty Images
That afternoon, the guests spent hours by the actress’s swimming pool, eating homemade turkey cooked by Julia and playing basketball and football. Some people wanted to sleep at night, but a friend recalled how the star urged them to stay put.
When midnight came, the small group sat on lawn chairs arranged in a semicircle in a small religious meeting house on the property. It was decorated with beautiful Chinese lanterns and candles that gave off a romantic setting.
Daniel and Julia suddenly walked onto an arch made from white and pink silk sheaths. They walked to a circle scattered with red, white, and pink rose petals, and that’s when it dawned on most of the guests what exactly was about to happen.
People started cheering as they realized what was happening! The cameraman got down on one knee and proposed to the actress, and she responded by placing her hands on her heart and saying “yes” as the crowd chanted the word along with her!
Julia Roberts and Daniel Moder at Heal The Bay’s “Bring Back The Beach” Annual Awards Presentation & Dinner in Santa Monica, California on May 17, 2012 | Source: Getty Images
A friend said the whole thing was intimate and magical, leaving them feeling like they were eavesdropping. The then 34-year-old star and the 33-year-old cameraman’s private ceremony was officiated by Barry Hirsch, Julia’s lawyer and longtime friend.
Daniel Moder and Julia Roberts at Heal The Bay’s “Bring Back The Beach” Annual Awards Presentation & Dinner in Santa Monica, California on May 17, 2012 | Source: Getty Images
The simple ceremony had no groomsmen, bridesmaids, flower girls, glamorous additions, and celebrity guests. Julia was stunning in a pink cotton halter dress decorated with antique beads and pearls, including hand-painted flowers.
The groom looked dashing in his red ruffled shirt and tan pants as he and Julia exchanged handwritten vows in the 20-minute ceremony. In between, someone broke a glass, causing a guest to shout, “‘Mazel Tov!'” leading to laughter!
The loving couple kissed throughout their ceremony and kept asking their guests if they could! After the lovebirds’ marriage ceremony was done, the actress partially paused her budding career for 20 years and once lovingly said, “I was born to be the wife of this man.”
Julia couldn’t have been more right about Daniel because he made her second marriage even better! The star became a mother later in life and prioritized it above her career.
Julia Roberts’ Children with Daniel Moder
About two years into their marriage, Julia’s spokesperson revealed that she and her husband were having twins that were expected in early 2005. However, on November 28, 2004, twins Hazel and Phinnaues Moder were born when their mother was 37.
The actress explained that she and Daniel had chosen the name “Hazel” for their daughter because it was old-fashioned. She also shared how Daniel wanted to call their son “Finn,” but it felt more like a nickname, so they opted for Phinnaues as his full one.
In 2006, People magazine noted how motherhood had been a “top priority” for Julia. Speaking to the publication in April of that same year, Marc Platt, the “Three Days of Rain” producer and the actress’ friend, said, “The kids bring her such a sense of fulfillment and joy.”
Marc also shared how it was a “wonderful” thing to see. In December 2006, the actress confirmed that she was expecting her third child, and at 39, she welcomed a son named Henry Daniel Moder the following year.
The little boy weighed 8½ pounds when he was born in Los Angeles and Julia’s representative, Marcy Engelman, said the family was doing well. The star and her husband lived a quiet and everyday life on the ranch with their children.
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