Don’t listen to those people online—there is nothing to be guilty about when it comes to watching the award-winning Netflix series Emily In Paris. Anything with high fashion set in a beautiful location has my full attention. (Not to mention creator Darren Star knows what he’s doing. See: Sex and the City and Younger.) Plus, the star of the star show is an all-time fave. Even before she stepped into those gorgeous designer shoes and that beret, everyone was ob-sessed with Lily Collins. (Hello, don't you all remember Abducted and Mirror, Mirror?)
Between seasons 1 and 2, the actress went through a major life event. No, Lily didn’t move to Paris and become a fashion designer. She got married! That's a sharp contrast to what’s happening to her character Emily, considering that whole messy love triangle situation that seemingly definitely got more complicated during season 2.
Lily, who is the daughter of musician Phil Collins, married director Charlie McDowell, who also has some famous parents in Mary Steenburgen and Malcolm McDowell. Ted Danson is also his stepfather. (Side note: I would love to crash their holiday parties.)
After meeting in 2019, traveling far and wide, and quarantining together for eight months during the pandemic, the couple decided it was time to tie the knot. Their whirlwind yet-romantically-realistic relationship can make even the most cynical person swoon. Take a look at Lily and Charlie’s relationship and where it’s heading.
July 17, 2019: Lily and Charlie were spotted walking arm in arm.
It’s difficult to pin down when Lily and Charlie actually started dating, though some suspect it was in early 2019. That summer, tabloids obtained photos of them walking around Los Feliz together—and they looked cozy! That of course started the rumor mill, but this time the rumors were true.
August 20, 2019: They went IG official (kind of).
In an August 2019 Instagram post, Lily shared a photo of her leaning on a mysterious man's back with the caption "Always got your back..." (It was also taken in Paris, presumably when the first season of Emily in Paris was filming.) This was Lily's sly signal that she had a new beau, and in retrospect, that was definitely Charlie’s back in the pic.
January 13, 2020: Lily and Charlie made their first public appearance at a Lakers game.
Lily and Charlie haven’t been publicly spotted that much because, you know, global pandemic and all. But, before COVID-19 turned life upside down, Lily and Charlie made their first public appearance as a couple. No, it wasn’t a red carpet premiere; it was a Lakers game. (Hey, court-side seats are just as cool as a red carpet.)
January 2020: They adopted a dog.
That same month, Charlie adopted a dog, and by extension, so did Lily. The cute pup’s name is Redford and yes, he does have his own Instagram.
April 14, 2020: Lily finally posted a picture of Charlie’s face.
Yeah, remember the whole "Instagram official" thing? Well, Lily didn’t post Charlie’s full face on her IG until April 2020, nearly a year after they started dating.
September 20, 2020: Charlie popped the question.
While they were on a road trip through Sedona and Santa Fe, Charlie asked Lily to marry him with a STUNNING ring. "I’ve known he was 'The One' since the very beginning," Lily told Byrdie at the time. "All my friends joked with me at first. They're like, 'How can you know' I'm like, 'I know. I just know.'"
August 9, 2021: Charlie joined Lily on set for the wrap of season two.
Filming for the second season of Emily In Paris took place over three months in Paris, so of course, Charlie visited his fiancé. He joined his soon-to-be wife as filming wrapped in August. That’s a truly supportive partner!
September 4, 2021: Lily and Charlie tied the knot.
Less than a month later and a year after their engagement, Lily and Charlie had their nuptials at the picturesque Dunton Hot Springs in Colorado. The intimate setting made it a beautiful affair. And much to our benefit, Lily shared many photos of the special day, including her gorgeous Ralph Lauren dress.
"I’ve never wanted to be someone’s someone more than I do yours, and now I get to be your wife," Lily wrote on Instagram. "On September 4th, 2021 we officially became each other’s forever. I love you beyond."
September/October 2021: They went on a Scandinavian honeymoon.
After their "I dos," the happy couple went on a Scandinavian food tour for their honeymoon. Um, yes, please! So while Lily planned the wedding, Charlie was in charge of the honeymoon.
"Knowing how much I love the cold, which I don't, we went on an Arctic Circle, Swedish, Lapland, edge-of-the-world Scandinavian food tour," Lily told Jimmy Kimmel. "It was amazing, but it was freezing."
"It was so beautiful and well thought out," she added. "I definitely was not so cool in the fact that it was like one suitcase, 17 flights and lots of cold weather. But no, it was perfect."
November 25, 2021: They celebrated their first Thanksgiving as a married couple.
Lily almost always posts a festive Thanksgiving photo—and this year was no different. She posted this adorable pic of her and Charlie with all of the autumnal feels. Of course, Redford made a cameo, too.
2022: Charlie directed Lily in the film Windfall.
Not only do they get to share life together, but they also get to work together. Charlie directed the 2022 film Windfall, which stars Lily and Jesse Plemons in the lead roles. The thriller follows a couple who head to their vacation home only to find it's being robbed.
Now, working with your significant other isn’t always the best idea, but for Lily and Charlie, it was a natural extension of their romantic relationship. "I thought it would be harder, I have to say. I thought it would be more stressful to have to work with him, but it honestly was really amazing and freeing," Lily told Vogue Australia. "It was great, and I'm really, really proud of the movie and I'm proud of him. It's a different type of role for me."
September 2022: They celebrated their first wedding anniversary.
With a super cute post, to boot!
“A year ago today, I chose my forever tomorrow. Having you by my side to have and to hold is the greatest gift I could have ever hoped for,” Collins wrote on her IG post marking the occasion. “I’d walk with you anywhere, talk to you about anything and travel the world with you anytime. 365 days with you flew by so fast, thank goodness we have a lifetime together. Happy first anniversary my one. I adore you @charliemcdowell. And I love you with the deepest parts of my soul.”
Okay, to distract myself from sobbing RN, catch me watching (and rewatching) Emily in Paris season 3.
