Say Oui to Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell's Love Story Amid Birth of Their First Baby - E! Online
Lily Collins and her husband Charlie McDowell welcomed their first child—a baby girl named Tove Jane McDowell—via surrogate after three years of marriage. Relive the couple's love story.
Watch : Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell Welcome First Baby Via Surrogate
Lily Collins's road to motherhood is full of amour.
The Emily in Paris star and her husband Charlie McDowell welcomed baby girl Tove Jane McDowell through an "incredible surrogate," the couple announced on Jan. 31.
"Words will never express our endless gratitude," they wrote in a joint Instagram post, adding in a sweet message to their daughter, "We love you to the moon and back again."
Lily and Charlie's new addition comes five years after the start of their love story, which began in 2019 on the set of his movie Guilded Rage.
"It was one of those situations where I knew the second I met him that I wanted to be his wife one day," the actress shared during a 2020 appearance on Live with Kelly and Ryan. "So, it was just a matter of when, really."
One year after going public with their relationship, Lily became a step closer to her marriage manifestation when the director proposed with a cushion cut engagement ring during a road trip to New Mexico.
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Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell Welcome First Baby Via Surrogate
"It was all very much pre-planned," she noted. "He set the whole thing up without me knowing."
In September 2021, Lily and Charlie tied the knot at Relais & Châteaux's Dunton Hot Springs resort in Colorado, with the bride walking down the aisle in a custom Ralph Lauren gown featuring a laced hood. Though there was a 40-guest cap at the woodsy ceremony, it nonetheless boasted star power as Lily's dad Phil Collins, her Emily in Paris costar Ashley Park as well as Charlie's mom Mary Steenburgen and stepdad Ted Danson watched the bride and groom exchange vows.
"At my son's wedding, he whispered something to [Lily] during the vows that none of us heard," Mary recounted to The Knot in a 2023 interview. "I loved that so much because they claimed that little moment. Much of it was shared with us, but that little moment was just between the two of them and I thought that was really beautiful."
Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images
And much like their wedding vows, the two have largely kept their family plans to themselves, with Charlie teasing to E! News in October that they "would like to move into that next stage" soon.
"I would fall into a dark hole of nothingness without her," he gushed of Lily. "She’s amazing."
Likewise, the Mirror Mirror alum is head over heels for Charlie.
"We can kind of conquer anything," she told E! in 2022. "We've been through so many changes globally, personally, and to be able to have a partner next to you that makes you laugh in times when you need it the most and helps you emotionally get through things."
As Lily and Charlie take their first steps in parenthood, keep reading for more celeb couples who welcomed babies via surrogate.
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John Legend & Chrissy Teigen
The couple welcomed baby boy Wren Alexander Stephens in June 2023 after Chrissy gave birth to older children Luna, Miles and Esti.
Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for Luigi & Iango
Naomi Campbell
The supermodel confirmed in June 2024 that she welcomed both her daugther in 2021 and her son in 2023 via surrogate.
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Casey Wilson & David Caspe
The Happy Endings duo welcomed their third child—a baby girl named Frances Rose—with help from an "angel" surrogate, Casey shared in January 2023. "A large factor of surrogacy was my postpartum depression that I had through both kids," she said. "It's actually a very strong choice to make when you're parenting other kids, and for myself."
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Nick Jonas & Priyanka Chopra
"We are overjoyed to confirm that we have welcomed a baby via surrogate," the singer and actress shared in January 2022. E! News later confirmed they named her Malti Marie Chopra Jonas.
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Khloe Kardashian & Tristan Thompson
In July 2022, The Kardashians star welcomed a baby boy, Tatum Thompson, via surrogate with the NBA player, though the pair split soon after their son was conceived.
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Rebel Wilson
The Pitch Perfect star welcomed a daughter named Royce Lillian in November 2022, writing at the time, "I can't even describe the love I have for her, she's a beautiful miracle!"
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Paris Hilton & Carter Reum
The couple, who wed in 2021, welcomed their first child together, a baby boy named Phoenix, via surrogate in January 2023.
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Alec & Hilaria Baldwin
In March 2021, the actor and his wife announced the arrival of baby no. 6, a daughter named Lucia. A source close to the couple confirmed to E! News she was born via surrogate.
Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Kristen Wiig & Avi Rothman
The Bridesmaids star and her husband welcomed twins via surrogate in 2020.
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Kandi Burruss
The Real Housewives of Atlanta star welcomed daughter Blaze Tucker via surrogate in Nov. 2019.
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Kim Kardashian & Kanye West
Following two high-risk pregnancies, The Kardashians star and the rapper, who have since divorced, enlisted the help of a gestational carrier to welcome daughter Chicago West in January 2018 and and a baby boy, Psalm West, in May 2019.
Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Variety/REX/Shutterstock
Gabrielle Union & Dwyane Wade
The Bring It On star and the retired NBA player welcomed a healthy baby girl, Kaavia, via surrogate on Nov. 7, 2018. "Our miracle baby arrived last night via surrogate and 11/7 will forever be etched in our hearts as the most loveliest of all the lovely days," the actress shared.
Instagram / Andy Cohen
Andy Cohen
The Watch What Happens Live host became a first-time dad with the arrival of his son, Benjamin Allen in February 2019. "I'm in love," he wrote on Instagram, adding, "And speechless. And eternally grateful to an incredible surrogate. And I'm a dad. Wow." Three years later, daughter Lucy joined their family.
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Tyra Banks
The supermodel and Erik Asla welcomed their first child, York Banks Asla, via a surrogate in 2016.
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Neil Patrick Harris
The actor and husband David Burtka welcomed their twins Gideon and Harper via a surrogate in 2010.
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Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban
The couple welcomed daughter Faith in December 2010 via a surrogate. She joined the pair's first child together, daughter Sunday Rose, and Kidman's eldest children with ex Tom Cruise, Connor and Isabella.
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Sarah Jessica Parker & Matthew Broderick
The Sex and the City star and the Ferris Bueller's Day Off alum welcomed twins Tabitha and Loretta in 2009. They joined big brother James.
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Elton John
The legendary British singer and hubby David Furnish welcomed sons Zachary and Elijah via surrogate in 2010 and 2013, respectively.
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Jimmy Fallon
The Tonight Show host and wife Nancy Juvonen welcomed two daughters, Winnie and Frances, via a surrogate in 2013 and 2014.
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Elizabeth Banks
The Pitch Perfect star and husband Max Handelman welcomed two sons, Felix and Magnus, via a surrogate in 2011 and 2012.
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Lucy Liu
In 2015, the notoriously private Charlie's Angel actress announced the birth of her son, Rockwell Lloyd Liu, via surrogate.
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Ricky Martin
The Latin performer became a father to twins Matteo and Valentino in 2008.
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Jordana Brewster
The Fast & Furious star and then-husband Andrew Form welcomed two sons, Julian and Rowan, via a surrogate in 2013 and 2016.
Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
Ellen Pompeo
The Grey's Anatomy star and husband Chris Ivery revealed in 2014 they recently welcomed daughter Sienna via surrogate. The actress gave birth to their first child, daughter Stella, in 2009, and the couple welcomed a third child, son Eli, in 2016.
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Family Equality Council
Ryan Murphy
The Glee creator and husband David Miller welcomed sons, Logan and Ford via a surrogate in 2012 and 2014, and son Griffin joined their family in 2020.
Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney
George Lucas
The Star Wars creator and wife Mellody Hobson welcomed their first child, daughter Everest, via a surrogate in 2013.
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Shayne Lamas
In 2015, a year after suffering a miscarriage, The Bachelor star and Lorenzo Lamas' daughter Shayne Lamas and husband Nik Richie welcomed their second child, son Lyon, via a surrogate —the reality star's stepmother, Shawna Craig. The child joined big sister Press Dahl.
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After battling fertility struggles for years, the actress and husband Carter Oosterhouse welcomed daughter Flora via surrogate in December 2016.
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Katey Sagal
The Married...With Children star and husband Kurt Sutter welcomed daughter Esme Louise in 2007 via a surrogate.
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Lisa Hochstein
The Real Housewives of Miami star struggled with infertility before she and husband Lenny Hochstein welcomed their first child, son Logan, via a surrogate in 2015. Just a few years later, daughter Elle joined their family.
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