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How They Met: Dawn O'Porter turned down Chris O'Dowd THREE times

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Chris O'Dowd and Dawn O'Porter have been married for more than 10 years and still seem as loved-up as that day in 2012 when they said I Do.

Since tying the knot, they've moved to Los Angeles and back to the UK and welcomed two children, although Chris hit a couple of roadblocks on his initial journey to love.

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Now that he's back in Ireland to celebrate the release of his new show with Christina Hendricks, we've had a look back on his and Dawn's love story...

How they met

Chris O'Dowd and Dawn O'Porter attend the launch of the Jane Club in 2019 in Los Angeles
Chris O'Dowd and Dawn O'Porter attend the launch of the Jane Club in 2019 in Los Angeles. Pic: Getty Images

The pair met in 2012 at Dawn's 30th birthday party. They were introduced by their mutual friend, Nick Frost, who encouraged the Bridesmaids star to connect with her on Facebook.

The IT Crowd actor was unlucky on the friend-requesting front as she turned him down three times!

Although Chris felt his future wife's reaction to his friend-requesting was 'unneccessary' when he explained the situation it made a good bit of sense.

He told Marc Maron on his WTF podcast: 'My Facebook picture was of an old Floridian woman and I think I had a fake name also.' So fair to say no, Dawn!

Sparks flew instantly

Dawn O'Porter and Chris O'Dowd attend the opening of the Choose Love shop in London in 2021
Dawn O'Porter and Chris O'Dowd attend the opening of the Choose Love shop in London in 2021. Pic: Getty Images

The couple first locked eyes in real life at her birthday bash which was held in 33 Portland Place in London.

'She was throwing this party and hadn’t been in town that long. She was worried nobody was going to turn up so on the day of the party she said, "Hey, how’s it going? Why don’t you come to the party?" and then love blossomed,' Chris revealed.

They immediately hit it off when he arrived while she was dancing with her father. In fact, Dawn knew that he was the one for her, and the next morning, she told her sister she had met the guy she was going to marry. 

Dawn has previously said her husband saved her from a dark time in her life when they met. Speaking about her relationship in 2013, Dawn said: 'I thank God I met Chris when all that was going on, because if I hadn’t I might have really hit rock bottom.'

Tying the knot

The couple became Mr and Mrs with a three-day event they dubbed 'Wedfest' at the exclusive Portland House in London in 2012.

On the day, the British presenter wore a beautiful vintage dress with a floral embroidered bodice and flowing wispy skirt that had a really intriguing history.

According to Dawn, the dress had previously belonged to Princess Lilian of Belgium, who was the second wife of King Leopold III and passed away in 2002.

Chris O'Dowd (L) and Dawn O'Porter attend the LDNY show and WIE Award gala in 2015
Chris O'Dowd (L) and Dawn O'Porter attend the LDNY show and WIE Award gala in 2015. Pic: Getty Images

A host of famous faces were on the guestlist including Brian O'Driscoll and Amy Huberman.

The late British TV presenter Caroline Flack also attended the nuptials which she said at the time was the 'the most funny and THE funniest wedding' she'd ever been too.

While their nuptials were held in the UK the comedian still carried out a cheeky Irish tradition!

Growing their family

The pair share two sons together. The couple became parents for the first time when they welcomed their son Arthur, or Art, on February 1, 2015.

The funnyman announced their baby joy by mocking up a picture of a baby sporting a full head of hair and a bushy beard. Chris said: 'It's a boy! @hotpatooties & I would like to introduce Art O'Porter, our gorgeous baby. Well, I'm pretty sure he's ours.'

In 2017, their brood would grow by one as they welcomed a little brother for Art, Valentine.

They announced the news of their latest arrival in a more traditional sense sharing a picture of their son in a cot wearing an adorable baby grow with a baby duck on it.

'Happy to announce I am the proud owner of this chirpy little chap,' Dawn announced. 'Born July 1st, his name is Valentine O'Porter, and he is so delicious. Two sons, my goodness #soinlove.'

Reflecting on a decade of wedded bliss

Dawn O'Porter and Chris O'Dowd stand in front of a marquee in an old photo
Dawn O'Porter and Chris O'Dowd. Pic: Dawn O'Porter/Instagram

Dawn and Chris marked 10 years of marriage in 2022. Dawn marked the day with a throwback snap and wrote: 'Ten years married to this sausage. Spent mostly eating sausages and playing hide the sausage.'

While Chris shared a black-and-white snap which looked like the cover of a magazine along with the words: 'All in all.. an absolute hoot. Love you in my bones. Happy anniversary DO’P.'

She also posted a comment under her husband's anniversary tribute, joking: I’m really trying not to do a bone joke because it would ruin it, wouldn’t it?.'

See more snaps of the couple:

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