The Emily in Paris star marked five years of marriage with a heartfelt tribute to her husband, celebrating their love, their life together and daughter Tove.
September 4, 2026: Lily Collins is celebrating a major relationship milestone with husband Charlie McDowell. The Emily in Paris star marked their fifth wedding anniversary with a heartfelt Instagram tribute, reflecting on half a decade of marriage, friendship and the family they have built together.
Collins shared a series of memories with McDowell, including moments from their wedding and more recent family photos. Alongside the images, she opened up about how much their relationship has grown since they said “I do” in 2021.
“Five years ago today, I married my favorite person and best friend,” Collins wrote.
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Lily Collins Reflects on Five Years of Marriage
In her emotional anniversary message, Collins looked back on everything she and McDowell have experienced together since their wedding day.
She celebrated five years of supporting one another, laughing together, navigating changes and taking on new adventures.
The actress also praised McDowell for always believing in her, listening to her and making her feel as though she never had to face life’s challenges alone.
Her message offered a glimpse into the private side of their relationship, focusing less on their celebrity status and more on the partnership they have created.
“Through all the changes and everything our journey has brought us, we’ve continued to grow and create a life we love,” Collins wrote.
Image Credit: Instagram @lilyjcollins
Their Daughter Tove Is Now Part of Their Story
Collins also made a special point of celebrating McDowell as a father.
The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Tove Jane McDowell, in January 2025 via surrogate. They announced her arrival on Instagram, describing her as the “center” of their world.
In her anniversary tribute, Collins called Tove their “greatest little blessing” and described watching McDowell become a dad as one of the greatest joys of her life.
“And then there’s Tove — our greatest little blessing and the sweetest part of everything we’ve created together,” she wrote.
The anniversary marks another chapter for the couple as they celebrate not only their marriage but also their life as a family of three.
Lily and Charlie’s Relationship Began in 2019
Collins and McDowell were first linked in 2019, with Collins making their relationship Instagram official that August. The pair became engaged in September 2020 after McDowell proposed during a road trip in New Mexico.
They married on September 4, 2021, in a romantic ceremony in Colorado.
At the time, Collins shared her excitement about becoming McDowell’s wife, describing him as her forever partner. McDowell also celebrated Collins, calling her one of the most generous, thoughtful and beautiful people he had ever known.
Five years later, their anniversary messages show how much their relationship has evolved since that wedding day.
Image Credit: Instagram @lilyjcollins
From Newlyweds to Parents
The couple’s fifth anniversary is particularly meaningful because it comes after a major change in their family life.
In January 2025, Collins and McDowell announced that they had welcomed Tove Jane via surrogate. Collins expressed gratitude to their surrogate and everyone who helped them become parents.
Since then, both have occasionally shared glimpses of their life as parents while largely keeping Tove out of the public spotlight.
Collins previously described becoming a mother as a transformative experience, including when she celebrated her first birthday as a mom in March 2025. She shared family photos at the time and called the year “magical.”
Now, in her anniversary tribute, she highlighted how special it has been to watch McDowell step into fatherhood.
Charlie McDowell Celebrates Lily, Too
The anniversary celebration wasn’t one-sided.
McDowell also shared a tribute to his wife, describing Collins as the best wife, mom and person he knows. His message came alongside the couple’s milestone celebration, showing that both were reflecting on the years they’ve spent together.
Their relationship has continued to grow away from the spotlight despite both having successful careers in the entertainment industry.
Collins is best known for starring as Emily Cooper in Netflix’s Emily in Paris, while McDowell is a filmmaker known for projects including The One I Love and The Discovery.
Image Credit: Instagram @lilyjcollins
A Love Story That Keeps Growing
For Collins, the fifth anniversary isn’t simply about looking back.
Her message ended on a forward-looking note, suggesting that she sees the years they’ve already shared as only the beginning.
“Five years down, and forever to go, my one…” she wrote.
That sentiment captures the heart of her post: after five years of marriage, a growing family and countless shared experiences, Collins and McDowell are still looking ahead.
From their 2021 wedding to becoming parents to Tove, the couple has entered a new chapter together — one Collins clearly considers one of the happiest parts of her life.
FAQs
How long have Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell been married?
Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary on September 4, 2026. They married in September 2021.
When did Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell start dating?
The couple was first linked in 2019, and Collins made their relationship Instagram official in August of that year.
When did Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell get engaged?
McDowell proposed to Collins in September 2020 during a road trip in New Mexico.
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Published by HOLR Magazine