Nearly three years after their unexpected meeting and subsequent romance, actress Renée Zellweger, 54, and former Wheeler Dealers host Ant Anstead, 44, are reportedly planning to elope and make their relationship official. According to a source who spoke to In Touch, the couple, who fell in love when Zellweger appeared on a 2021 episode of Anstead's show Celebrity IOU: Joyride, "are madly in love, and they want to make it official."
The decision to take their relationship to the next level comes after a series of significant steps in their personal lives. Last year, Anstead sold his Laguna Beach, California, home, which he had affectionately named Temple House, and moved in with Zellweger. In April, the couple celebrated what Anstead called "two years of magic," and with their three-year anniversary approaching, they are ready to exchange vows.
"They're thinking of an elopement, something very intimate - they don't like to make a fuss," the source reveals, adding that the pair would love to have Anstead's three children present for the ceremony. Anstead shares two teenagers, Archie, 17, and Amelie, 20, with his first ex-wife, Louise Storey, and has a 4-year-old son, Hudson, with his ex-wife Christina Hall, 40. "The kids would just love to be a part of the wedding," the source notes. "And they want their parents to be happy."
The couple's plans to tie the knot coincide with Zellweger's upcoming filming schedule for the fourth installment of the Bridget Jones franchise, set to begin in the U.K. in May. "She and Ant are looking for a place to stay in London while Renée is working there," the source reveals. "They may even look for something more permanent and split their time between England and the States."
This development is particularly significant for Anstead, who, until last year, was unable to take his son Hudson to Britain due to custody restrictions. With those restrictions now lifted, the couple will be able to spend more time in the U.K. together.
Both Zellweger and Anstead have marveled at the serendipity of their relationship, which came as a surprise to both of them after years of failed relationships. "Sometimes things come to you at the right time, and actually the right time is often the most unexpected," Anstead has said. "[Things] collide at the most obscure times when you least expect them."
Zellweger, whose high-profile exes include actors Jim Carrey, 62, and Bradley Cooper, 49, as well as musicians Kenny Chesney, 55, and Jack White, 48, is equally awestruck by "the serendipity of it all." The source adds, "Ant's never been happier - and neither has Renée. He can't wait to make her his wife. And to think, if she'd never guested on Celebrity IOU: Joyride, none of this ever would have happened."
The couple's love story, which began with a chance meeting on a television show, has blossomed into a deep and meaningful connection that has brought joy and happiness to both of their lives. As they prepare to embark on this new chapter together, their fans and supporters are undoubtedly thrilled to see them taking this significant step forward.
The intimate elopement plans reflect the couple's desire to keep their personal lives private and focused on what matters most to them: their love for each other and their commitment to building a life together. As they navigate the challenges of their busy careers and the complexities of blending their families, Zellweger and Anstead's love story serves as a reminder that sometimes the most unexpected encounters can lead to the most beautiful and lasting relationships.
