Actress Anika Noni Rose and actor Jason Dirden have exchanged vows and are now officially husband and wife! The couple, who first crossed paths in 2014, quietly said “I do” during an intimate ceremony in October 2022 in the beautiful city of Los Angeles.
For years, the couple kept their relationship under wraps, never publicly acknowledging that they were dating or even engaged. But now, they have decided to share the news of their marriage with the world.
On their three-month wedding anniversary, January 16th, the couple shared the exciting news with the Brides magazine. They announced it in the publication, revealing details about their big day and the journey that led them to that point.
Keep reading to uncover all the intimate details of their journey from the moment they first met to their secret wedding.
The Love Story of Jason Dirden and Anika Noni Rose: A Look at Their Proposal
In 2014, fate brought Rose and Dirden together when they were both casts in the Broadway production of A Raisin in the Sun. It wasn’t an instant love story for the couple, as they had been friends for a few years before the romance sparked. “We were friends for a couple of years, and then we both went and did our own things and were disconnected for a while, and then swung back,” Rose recalled.
But the timing was everything, as the “Greenleaf” star explained, it was the perfect moment for both of them to be open and available for a committed relationship.
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Dirden orchestrated a plan to propose to Rose during the annual Secret Santa event over Zoom in December 2021. He used the occasion as a smoke screen and got Rose’s family to join in on the call.
As the video he created of their time together played, set to the background music of Norah Jones’ “Come Away With Me” and a heartfelt phone conversation between Dirden and his dad about love, partnership, and the desire to propose, Rose knew something more was happening. And when the video ended, Dirden went down on one knee and asked her to marry him, with all their friends and family witnessing the moment.
However, when it came to setting a date for the wedding, the busy working actors realized that there was only one window of time when they were both available. This left them with a tight deadline of only two months to plan their big day.
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Anika and Jason Got Secretly Married In October
Anika and Jason exchanged their vows at the picturesque Paramour Estate in Los Angeles, with “Euphoria” star Colman Domingo officiating the ceremony. Dirden looked dashing in a light pink suit, while Rose was a vision in a custom gown designed by London-based designer Gbemi Okunlola of Alonuko Bridal. The dress featured a sheer top with white vines and delicate flowers, that seamlessly flowed into the flowy bottom half. The dress was a true work of art and perfect for the occasion.
Rose wanted to look like herself on her big day and therefore decided to keep her hair and makeup natural. “I wanted to be soft, pretty, and ethereal. I wanted to look dreamy,” she said.