Jessica Alba shares the secret to her 14-year-long marriage to Cash Warren

When it comes to relationships, there is no “one size fits all” format – and Jessica Alba’s 14-year-long marriage to producer Cash Warren proves that. The Sin City actor turned Honest Beauty entrepreneur – who is GLAMOUR’s July 2022 cover star – met her husband on the set of Fantastic Four in 2004, and they started a relationship shortly afterwards. 

The Hollywood couple now have three children together, daughters Honor Marie, 14 and Haven Garner, 10; and son Hayes, 4. But their wedding was far from the traditional big white wedding – despite the fact that Jessica grew up in a religious Catholic family, and had previously been engaged at the age of 20 to boyfriend of three years, actor Michael Weatherly. Instead, it was a casual, last-minute courthouse affair when Jessica was in the late stages of pregnancy with the pair’s first child, Honour.

“We eloped and I think I was nine months pregnant!” Jessica, shares exclusively to GLAMOUR’s  Emily Maddick.  “It wasn’t planned. It was literally, ‘Honey, do you have anything to do this morning?’ And he was like, ‘No.’ So I said, ‘Should we go to the courthouse and get married?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah.’” Rather than a lavish celebration afterwards, the newlyweds marked the occasion with a delicious-sounding brunch. Jessica continues: “And then I said, ‘Can we get waffles afterwards because I have a doctor’s appointment? Will you come to my doctor’s appointment?’ And that’s how it happened!”

When it comes to romance, it seems the rules are that there are no rules. See also Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, who recently remarried in a secret ceremony at the Little White Wedding chapel in Las Vegas – nearly 20 years after first getting engaged in November 2002, and 18 years after announcing they were breaking off their engagement in January 2004 (their planned September 2003 never went ahead). Then there’s Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham, who have never tied the knot but have been together for 36 years. So – casual, last minute wedding; secret wedding; or no wedding at all, it seems the best philosophy for any couple to stand the test of time is “you do you”.

As for the secret of sustaining a long marriage? In her cover interview, Jessica acknowledges that is isn’t always easy – but champions “over-communicating” as the secret to her relationship success with Cash. “I think just over-communicating, not letting things build up for too long,” she adds.