Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard's Relationship Timeline

Mar. 15, 2025

Kristen BellandDax Shepardhave set the standard when it comes to true love in Hollywood.

It turns out, he hadn’t made much of an impression on Bell. She claimed the only thing she remembered about him from the night they met was “he talked so much.” Sparks didn’t fly until weeks later when the two attended a Detroit Red Wings game together.

The couple got engaged in 2010 and officiallytied the knotin 2013. “We got married in a tiny room in the Beverly Hills courthouse, and it was still one of the best days of my life,” Bell said onCBS Sunday Morning.

From celebrating career highs to facing personal challenges together, Bell and Shepard have been through it all as a team. Here is a timeline of their relationship.

2007: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard meet at a dinner party

Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Bell and Shepard initially crossed paths at an intimate sushi dinner celebrating the birthday of Shauna Robertson, producer ofForgetting Sarah Marshall,which premiered in 2008 and starred Bell in her breakout role.

2007: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard connect at a Detroit Red Wings game

Two weeks after their initial encounter, Bell and Shepard, both Michigan natives, met again at a Detroit Red Wings hockey game and bonded over their shared home state.

The next day, Shepard got Bell’s number from Robertson so he could contact her.

According to Bell, his opening text was bold: “I violated your privacy and got your number from Shauna. How do you feel about that?”

“I was, like, okay, starting it off with a really good joke that makes me feel, like, butterflies. I fell in love with him way before he fell in love with me,“Bell recalled.

2007: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard break up — for four days

Just three months into dating, Bell already knew she was in it for the long haul, but as she later shared during aninterview with POPSUGAR, Shepard’s feelings weren’t entirely reciprocated. The actor was still dating other people and not ready to be exclusive after coming out of a nine-year open relationship.

“He sat me down and said, ‘I can’t have this right now. I think you’re wonderful, but I am still dating other people,’ " Bell said. Despite feeling disappointed, the actress said she respected the integrity it took for Shepard to be honest about his feelings.

“He called me and he was like, ‘I don’t know what I was thinking. I was dating someone else but they’re just not as interesting as you, and I don’t know what I’m doing,’ and he came back,” Bell shared.

Shepard also laterrecalledwhy he changed his mind, saying, “That’s the best personality I’ve ever seen on a woman. I need to be around it. I want to be around it when I’m 80, but how?”

2009: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard appear on screen together for the first time inWhen in Rome

Kevin Winter/Getty

In 2009, Shepard and Bell worked together for the first time, shootingWhen in Romeon location in Italy. The film starred Bell as Beth, an unlucky-in-love New Yorker on holiday in Rome. Shepard played the role of Gale, one of Beth’s romantic suitors.

Late 2009: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard quietly get engaged

After shooting wrapped onWhen in Rome,Shepard proposed to Bell, but not without a little encouragement from his friends — particularlyJason Bateman.

“Jason was first to go, ‘stop f—— around and marry Kristen,’ " said Shepard.

February 1, 2010: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard announce their engagement on the Grammys red carpet

The couple waited until the Grammys in 2010 toannounce their engagement, appearing together on the red carpet at the Staples Center. Bell showed off her new engagement ring, a three-carat, emerald-cut diamond.

Bell’s rep confirmed to PEOPLE that the couple got engaged over the holidays.

August 2012: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard reunite on-screen inHit & Run

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

November 2012: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard are expecting their first child

Their rep confirmed toPEOPLEthat Bell and Shepard were pregnant with their first child together.

“They’re so excited — they’re both ecstatic. They can’t wait to become parents,” a close friend of the couple told PEOPLE.

Steve Granitz/WireImage

Bell and Shepardwelcomed their first child together, daughter Lincoln Bell Shepard, on March 28, 2013. Her arrival was announced in a since-deleted tweet from Shepard, who wrote, “Lincoln Bell Shepard is here. She has mom’s beauty and dad’s obsession with breasts. Hooray!!!”

The actress hadpreviously joked about her birth planduring an appearance onTheEllen DeGeneresShow, saying, “I want a glass of whiskey, I want the epidural in my back, I want to get hit in the face with a baseball bat and wake me up when it’s over because I’ve seen the videos and it looks terrifying.”

June 26, 2013: Kristen Bell proposes to Dax Shepard

Bell and Shepard had always maintained they wanted to wait until gay marriage was legalized in California before tying the knot themselves. On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), overturning California’s Prop 8. Keeping firm on their promise,Bell re-proposedto Shepard, who enthusiastically accepted.

October 17, 2013: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard marry in Beverly Hills

Later that year, Bell and Shepard wed in a private ceremony at the Beverly Hills courthouse.

The couple wanted an event with minimal fanfare. “… we get more than enough attention in our everyday lives. I also wear more than enough party dresses,” Bell toldPEOPLE.

Getting married changed the couple, giving them a greater sense of security. “It just felt more normal… It felt nice afterward,” Bell said.

Known for bucking tradition, Shepard revealed that despite initially wanting a prenup,the two eventually decided against it.

June 23, 2014: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard announce they’re expecting their second child

Jason Merritt/Getty

Bell and Shepard’s repconfirmed to PEOPLEthat the couple were expecting their second child on June 23, 2014.

“I can confirm that Kristen and Dax are expecting their second child and a sibling for Lincoln,” the rep told PEOPLE. “The whole family is beyond excited.”

December 19, 2014: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard welcome their second daughter

Frazer Harrison/Getty

After waiting patiently for the arrival of their second child,Shepard announced the birth of their daughteron Twitter on Dec. 19, 2014. “Delta Bell Shepard is here. She doesn’t look like either Kristen or me, but we’re gonna keep her anyway,” he wrote.

Three years later, Bellrevealed personal snapshotsof her pregnancy and labor with Delta to commemorate her daughter’s birthday.

2017: Dax Shepard casts Kristen Bell as his ex-wife in the filmCHiPS

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

While Shepard was originally unsure if Bell could play a character as unlikeable as the role of his ex-wife inCHiPS,Bell convinced him.

To get the right aesthetic for the role, Bell toldSeth Meyersshe stopped pumping for a day.

“I was breastfeeding at the time. I wanted my character to have an aggressive boob job, like it’s the only thing you can think about when you see someone. So I didn’t pump for a full day,“she shared. “And I said to the kids, ‘Daddy’s making a movie, go to the fridge, the food truck is closed.’ "

September 1, 2018: Kristen Bell congratulates Dax Shepard on 14 years of sobriety

Kristen Bell Instagram

Shepard has been open about hisstruggle to maintain sobrietyin the past, something he discussed with Bell at length before their engagement. “What I would do is I would get sober for movies. I cared more about movies — it was the only thing I was more addicted to was being in movies — and so I would get sober for movies and then in between movies it was getting more and more dangerous,” he said.

To commemorate her husband’s14 years of sobriety, Bell shared a supportive message for her husband on Instagram. “I will forever be in awe of your dedication, and the level of fierce moral inventory you perform on yourself, like an emotional surgery, every single night. You never fail to make amends, or say sorry when it’s needed,” she wrote.

Rick Kern/Getty

Bell told PEOPLEthat starting Hello Bello wasn’t about looking for “another job or another paycheck.”

“I want something that’s going to fill my soul. I want to be able to give a lot of stuff away as gifts, as a way of saying thank you for existing in this hard time called parenting,” she said.

The couple later opened a diaper factory in Texas, making the brand the only American-based independent diaper company to manufacture diapers from design to delivery.

September 2020: Kristen Bell supports Dax Shepard after he relapses following a motorcycle accident

Sobriety had become a major part of Shepard’s identity, he said, and he initially had difficulty opening up to Bell and those around him.

In an interview on theEllen DeGeneresShow,Bell openly supported her husband’s journey to regain his sobriety. “The thing I love most about Dax is … that he was able to tell me and tell us and say, ‘We need a different plan.’ "

Bell recalled Shepard’s fierce dedication to their family, “He was, like, ‘I don’t want to risk this family and I did, so let’s put new things in place to make sure it doesn’t happen again.’ "

December 2020: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard open up about couples therapy

Kevork Djansezian/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Even though Bell and Shepard make marriage look easy, the two opened up about the amount of work they put into their relationship.

Bell claims though the two disagree on almost everything, they do so in a healthy way — a communication style they developed throughout their relationship.

“Therapy is not something to be embarrassed about,” Bell toldGood Housekeeping.She also revealed it helped her manage her temper and learn to solve problems with Shepard constructively, without contempt. “It’s so obvious now that every two years, you have to go back,” she toldSelf.

March 26, 2021: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard talk about supporting mental health during the pandemic

“Balancing workand parenting and especially supportingmental health, it was really hard,” the mother of two said, adding that she and Shepard have found therapy particularly useful.

“Therapy’s been big for usduring the pandemic,” she shared. “We both rely on it, my husband and I, for personal growth and ultimately bring what we learn individually into the relationship.”

April 26, 2022: Kristen Bell calls Dax Shepard “the best there ever was”

While speaking toPage Sixat the Broadway showFunny Girl, Bell praised her husband and called him “number one.” She added, “Oh, he’s the best. He’s the best there ever was, 100 percent.”

July 6, 2022: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard dye their hair purple

The coupledebuted matching purple hairon Instagram in July. Shepard paired the selfie with a caption written in German: “Ich bin sehr glucklich! Ich fühle mich sexuell zu meinem Partner hingezogen,” which translates to, “I am very happy! I am sexually attracted to my partner.”

August 16, 2022: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard go on a family vacation

Bell and Shepard went on a star-studdedvacationto Swan Valley, Idaho with their two daughters, Lincoln and Delta. Inan Instagram post, Bell showed off photos of her family exploring the Snake River and horseback riding.

“Thank you @mmcnearney and @jimmykimmel - you’re the best hosts in the biz,” Bell captioned the post. “And happy birthday to our Queen @nfscott 🎉,” she added, referring to actorAdam Scott’s wife,Naomi.

Shepard also postedphotosfrom the family’s summer adventures, including a snap from Mount Rushmore. He captioned the post, “Humidity. Sunsets. Olfactory bliss. Kind hosts. #BigBrown in a meadow, complete with a 50 amp outlet. Pontoon jungle cruise. Dearest Summer, please never end. #deadpresidents.”

October 25, 2022: Dax Shepard reveals that he and Kristen Bell didn’t want a second child

During an appearance onThe Endless Honeymoonpodcast, Shepard shared that he and Bell “did not want a second child.”

He went on to explain that they were “content and so full” after having their eldest daughter, Lincoln, yet felt guilty that she wouldn’t have someone to pal around with.

“We travel a lot. It’s not fair to bring this little human everywhere we go and deal with only adults. We owe it to her to give her a playmate that travels with us,” he said, providing the couple’s reasoning for expanding their family. “We love her enough to do something we don’t really want to do, which is, have a second ‘cause we were so absolutely happy with just the one.”

November 7, 2022: Kristen Bell describes her wedding day as the “easiest day” of her life

Whilechatting withToday, Bell reminisced about the day she married Shepard in October 2013.

She described the day, which cost the couple a whopping $147, as the “easiest day” of her life. The pair wanted a “really intimate” wedding, so they got married at the Beverly Hills courthouse — and if it hadn’t been for Shepard, Bell would have said her vows in sweatpants.

“I came out in sweatpants, and my husband was in a tuxedo, which was so cute, and he was like, ‘I’ll go pick your outfit out,’ " Bell shared. “And he picked out a little black jumpsuit.”

At thepremiere of her movieThe People We Hate at the Wedding, Bell explained to PEOPLE that she and Shepard “desired the intimacy of just each other” on their wedding day.

“We didn’t want to look at or talk to anyone else other than each other,” she said. “We really wanted to try to be as there as possible.”

Ironically, the couple now struggles to remember the actual date of their nuptials.

“Then we remember, oh, late October because when we look at any of the pictures we took, there are goblins and ghouls and spiderwebs all over the background of the pictures,” Bell said.

February 1, 2023: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard talk about the importance of community

Bell and Shepard spoke about parenting andthe importance of communityduring an interview with PEOPLE. Bell said, “I’ve called friends or mom friends that I’ve had in moments of stress, just to come over and diffuse the energy in the house. It could be as simple as that.”

Shepard also talked about his growing relationship with fellow dads. “I get a lot of calls from dads when their wives are out of town. Like, ‘I have both kids for five days. I need to come over for three of those days completely,’ " he said.

Bell also pointed out that parents can also benefit from seeing that all families are struggling with something. “No one’s got a turnkey, easy experience. Everyone’s got these little tiny challenges, some have bigger ones. And I think it’s just comforting to know that the struggle’s kind of universal,” she said. “You might be looking at your friends and thinking they are fantastic parents and not extending yourself the same grace.”

March 16, 2023: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard rave about the joys of parenthood

During a SXSW panel in Austin, Texas, Bell and Shepardspoke about their favorite parts of parenting, with Shepard saying that becoming a dad is “the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.”

“When I have failures in life, I get to come home and still be dad,” the podcast host added. “It is the most transformative experience. You can feel it’s why you are here.”

Meanwhile, Bell noted that being pregnant “was so awesome” and talked about the joys of getting to “see her girls play together.”

September 13, 2023: Kristen Bell says “common goals” keep her marriage to Dax Shepard strong

Robert Trachtenberg/NBC

Bell shared her and Shepard’ssecret to a strong marriagewithEntertainment Tonight.

“Common goals, seek them out. Our kids are a common goal, right?” she said. “People are like, ‘Oh, I wouldn’t be able to work with my husband or wife or partner.’ For me, I want another common goal with him. I respect him so much creatively. I have so much trust in him. Of course, I want him to be my director or my scene partner.”

January 2, 2025: Kristen Bell celebrates Dax Shepard’s 50th birthday

Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell in 2023.Peru Williams/Variety via Getty

Peru Williams/Variety via Getty

In honor of Shepard’s milestone birthday, Bell gave her husband a sweet shout-out onInstagram.

“Happy birthday to the most affectionate 220 lbs man that ever existed.I cannot imagine life without you,” she wrote.

February 17, 2025: Kristen Bell says “foundational trust” is the secret to her marriage with Dax Shepard

Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell in 2025.Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

While speaking toE! News, Bell revealed that “foundational trust” is the secret to her successful marriage with Shepard.

“Even if Dax hooks up with the most beautiful person in the world at work, I know he’s committed to our family,” she explained. “I know he’s coming home. I know he loves our children. I know he strives to be a great husband and father.”

source: people.com