BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Aug. 19, 2008
Inside Ellen And Portia's Wedding
People Magazine Spoke To Both Before And After; Jess Cagle Fills In Early Show Viewers
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Portia de Rossi, left, and Ellen DeGeneres arrive at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles in May (AP)
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Photo Essay Ellen DeGeneres A funny lady with a full plate.
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Interactive Same-Sex Marriage Debate State-by-state coverage, opinions, history, photos and a look at the amendment process.
But the couple spoke to People magazine before the ceremony and after, and People Executive Editor Jess Cagle, who doubles as The Early Show's entertainment contributor, gave all the details to viewers Tuesday.
Cagle wasn't at the wedding. Only that very small group of family and friends was at the ceremony, which they decided to make cozy and intimate.
And Cagle says that represented quite an about-face.
"The remarkable thing is that, a few months ago, there was a buzz about how this wedding would look like the front row of the Oscars -- that it was going to be star-studded and a huge blowout. Several weeks ago, they decided that it was just getting out of hand. They decided to do a very small wedding. ... There were no stars there besides Ellen and Portia that we know of.
"It was at their house in Los Angeles, which is this gorgeous kind of modern house. All day long, while they were getting ready for the wedding, they were wearing slippers that said, 'I Do.'
To see photos in People from the wedding, click here.
"They were very much into the spirit of the wedding. At about 7:30 on Saturday night, they walked into the den of the house where the guests were gathered, and they were both wearing these clothes that were made for them by the designer Zach Posen. Ellen wore pants, as always, and this blouse that was very feminine looking. Portia wore this sort of rose-colored backless gown, and it was really beautiful.
"The house was all lit by candles (arranged by) a wedding planner named Mindy Weiss, who is a premier wedding planner in Los Angeles. Ellen and Portia sat down on floor pillows in the front of the room, and they exchanged handwritten vows. It was officiated over by Wayne Dyer, who writes inspirational books.
"After Portia said her vows, Ellen turned to the crowd and said 'Wait a minute, that's what I was going to say!' Then they went on with the vows, and Ellen started crying, and they promised to be with each other forever.
"The day after the wedding," Cagle continued, "Ellen told us that she felt like the luckiest girl in the world, and said that Portia is now officially off the market.
"The dinner for everyone was made by their personal chef, and it was a complete vegan dinner, because they are both vegans. They had a vegan red velvet wedding cake.
"In our story, we also talk about this kind of amazing love story that the two of them have had, that a lot of people don't know the details of.
"They first met when Portia was on 'Ally McBeal,' about seven years ago," and got together once and for all in 2004. At that time, "Ellen said that she knew this was her soul mate, and they have been together ever since.
"The big thing is, last May in California, the state's Supreme Court ruled that the ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional, and it was right after that, that Ellen proposed. She immediately bought Portia this amazing diamond ring.
"They have talked about having children a lot, and they go back and forth. Ellen is in that phase where she thinks it's hard to imagine being people of such privilege and not sharing what they have.
"We asked them, 'Where do you see yourselves on your 25th anniversary?' and they both said on a farm with a lot of animals."
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Add a Comment See all 47 Comments
- I dont understand Why some people actually have a problem with Gay/Lesbian relationship.Exspeacially Religious People,It also say in the H/bible not to Judge but yet you guys do so.
Why do you care if the same sexs fall in love?its not ur problem,It aint ur relationship so stay out of it and stop assuming What God thinks because as a matter of fact U dont no for sure. Just admit it to urself and say "It grosses u out" or is it because theyve found happiness and u havent?
and if u have found happiness then worry about ur own life instead of judgeing others. To those who Just grosse out on the thought of people beeing Gay/Lesbian,Get over ur self and Grow up the World has changed since Back in the days and there are going to be more changes comeing along and your just going to have to handle it.
Congrates to Ellen and Portia I wish uz love a happiness and hope that u enjoy the time uz have together because everyone deserves love no matter WHO,WHAT,or WHERE they are. Be proud and dont give up on each other :):):):D:D:D - Reply to this comment
- Don''t we have freedom of choice in this country?
As long as you are a legal adult, NO ONE has a right to tell you whom you may or may not marry. PERIOD! - Reply to this comment
- CORRECTION...Missouri refused to allow them to divorce here...I''m guessing they went elsewhere...
- Reply to this comment
- In 20 years or less, everyone will be asking, "What was the big deal?", like we do with mixed marriages today. If marriage between members of the same s e x do not concern you directly, MOVE ON! That''s for all of you bible thumpers and scripture quoters. You were not put here on Earth to judge, that''s God''s job. Go find something constructive to do.
Congrats to Ellen and Portia. - Reply to this comment
- I don''''''''t necessarily agree with gay marriage, however, heterosexual marriage hasn''''''''t proved to be that successful so we''''''''ll see how the homosexual thing goes. I wonder how many people who are against gay marriage are divorced, having an affair, spouse beaters, child abusers, etc.
Posted by cricketmk3
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Agreed. And how many gay people who get married then divorce. The spirit of the law; the responsibility that comes with freedom, fries to go with the hamburger, et cetera... That''''s why divorce rates are so high in the first place. (being a victim of a neglectful spouse is one thing, being the one neglecting is another. Replace ''''neglect'''' with ''''cheat'''' or other verbs as necessary.)
Posted by hypnotoad72 at 01:07 PM : Aug 20, 2008
The first gay peeps to be married in MA. moved to MO. and got a divorce... - Reply to this comment
- I am amazed that people still are so narrow minded and unaware about love and humans. What''d you need? An alien to come down from the stars above to finally get it? God is Love. Jesus would say ''more power to you, Ellen & Portia'', and to think and believe otherwise is ingenious and plain stupid. Wake Up People!!!
- Reply to this comment
- That''''s not a marriage...It''''s an abomination...
Posted by no2zeebas
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More a non-sequitur.
But compared to the stereotypes of gay people, I''ll grant some respect to those who TRY to make things work, compared to those doing a bunch of one night stands, getting a disease, then spreading it onward... at least there are very few who try to be true to the cause in which they claim to fight for. - Reply to this comment
- I don''''t necessarily agree with gay marriage, however, heterosexual marriage hasn''''t proved to be that successful so we''''ll see how the homosexual thing goes. I wonder how many people who are against gay marriage are divorced, having an affair, spouse beaters, child abusers, etc.
Posted by cricketmk3
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Agreed. And how many gay people who get married then divorce. The spirit of the law; the responsibility that comes with freedom, fries to go with the hamburger, et cetera... That''s why divorce rates are so high in the first place. (being a victim of a neglectful spouse is one thing, being the one neglecting is another. Replace ''neglect'' with ''cheat'' or other verbs as necessary.) - Reply to this comment
- She''s a lib but I like her anyway.
- Reply to this comment
- I don''t necessarily agree with gay marriage, however, heterosexual marriage hasn''t proved to be that successful so we''ll see how the homosexual thing goes. I wonder how many people who are against gay marriage are divorced, having an affair, spouse beaters, child abusers, etc.
- Reply to this comment
- If you believe that homosexuality is a "sin" (I do not), don''t you also believe that God should be the one to make that call on Judgment Day. Only God is God, so you don''t have to take over in the meantime; He will deal with it in the way He wants to.
Until then, why not follow his rule for you: "Love thy neighbor as thy self." - Reply to this comment
- linda: the bible aside, do you feel your orientation is wrong, or evil?
- Reply to this comment
- linda: do you feel that orientation is a choice? if so, when did you choose? i am a straigtht male, and i don''t understand why anyone would make this choice, if it were one.
- Reply to this comment
- I''ve really loved you for years Ellen, but I''ve spent so much time trying to reconcile what your lifestyle is with what Jesus had to say about homosexuals. Even in the old testament God seems to be pretty absolute about his feelings on homosexuality. Tell me how a gay christian who loves the bible is ok with God''s word and their lifestyle. If there''s a way to make the two work together I really want to know. So far I just keep quiet about my true doubts and pretend to myself and others it isn''t important, but, I think it must be because I''m never truly comfortable with the gay way of life. Am I alone in my desire to understand how to make the two be alright together? Jokes I hear and smart remarks about *** make me so angry, but again I seldom speak up because I just don''t know the answers.
linda - Reply to this comment
- That''s not a marriage...It''s an abomination...
- Reply to this comment
- "but the people of California are going to strike this law to pieces,"
an interesting and delusional theory, since the people of California like and support homosexual marriage. I do not know if it even will be on the ballot. Fact is, the g.a.y. people have been proven right--it was not a big deal, hetero marriages have not changed, and no one really cares. - Reply to this comment
People who live through celebrities and eat this kind of slop up really do need to get a life.
Posted by BlackYowe at 08:13 PM
I agree, it''s like people that can''t get over
being black.
You wouldn''t happen to be black would you?- Reply to this comment
- People who live through celebrities and eat this kind of slop up really do need to get a life.
- Reply to this comment
Somewhere up there God is watching and making
a video.
He''s lucky.
The rest of us just have to imagine.- Reply to this comment
Did they invite Ddick Chenney''s daughter?- Reply to this comment
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
