All About Danielle Brooks' Relationship with Husband Dennis Gelin

'The Color Purple' actress and her husband got married in January 2022 and share a daughter named Freeya together

Danielle Brooks and Dennis Gelin have a lot of love for each other.

Over the years, The Color Purple actress and her husband have kept their relationship fairly private, only giving a few glimpses of their love story over the years.

After welcoming their daughter Freeya in November 2019, the couple tied the knot during a stunning ceremony in Miami, Florida, at the historic Alfred DuPont Building.

Though they have kept their romance out of the spotlight, they have gushed about each other from time to time. In addition to sharing details about how their love story came to be in interviews, Brooks has shared a number of sweet tributes to her man online.

“When I reflect on our first year of marriage, I know in my heart, through all the ups and the downs this year came with, I still choose you,” Brooks wrote on Instagram as she celebrated their first wedding anniversary. “I love you Dennis. Cheers to a lifetime together.”

Here’s everything to know about Brooks’ husband and their relationship.

They met during a game night

While speaking with Vogue about their wedding, Brooks revealed how their romance first came to be. She explained that she decided to throw a party with a friend who worked at a gym at the time, and her friend invited “over some good-looking prospects she had met while working there to play some Mafia and Taboo.”

Gelin was invited by a friend of a friend who also worked at the gym and the two ended up hitting it off. At the end of the night, when he asked if she needed help taking out the trash, it piqued her interest. “I was so taken aback because there had been at least 10 guys in the room, and no one had thought enough to ask such a thoughtful question,” Brooks told the publication.

Later that night, fate stepped in as Gelin “accidentally butt-dialed” Brooks.

“On my drive, all I could think about was Danielle’s Southern voice and brilliant smile,” Gelin told Vogue. “I eagerly looked forward to our next encounter. During my journey, an act of divine intervention took place as I accidentally butt-dialed her. I was at the time, and still am to this day, so glad that it happened because we talked for hours and an instant bond between us formed. The rest of my journey was like floating on cloud nine.”

Danielle Brooks knew he was the one early on

The next afternoon following their first encounter, Brooks told Vogue she was surprised to receive a delivery of roses at her doorstep. “My heart started to flutter,” she told the publication. “I could feel it. At that moment, I said to myself, ‘If this card says ‘From Dennis’ I have found my husband.’ Sure enough, I opened the card, and it said, ‘To Danielle, Thank you for an amazing night. See you soon. Dennis.’”

“This man had gone above and beyond,” she added of the sweet moment. “He had flowers delivered to my house, and we hadn’t known each other for more than 24 hours. In that moment, I knew this was a man who was going to always love and appreciate me. I had found someone who wasn’t going to take me for granted, someone who knew my worth.”

They have a daughter together

On Nov. 16, 2019, Brooks and Gelin welcomed their first child together, a baby girl named Freeya. Brooks announced the happy news on Instagram, sharing a sweet black-and-white photo of her baby girl resting on her chest.

The actress previously announced her pregnancy in July 2019 in a post showing off a positive pregnancy test with a giant grin.

“So elated to finally share this news with you all. I’m happily pregnant!” she wrote.

Danielle Brooks announced their engagement on New Year’s Eve

Over a month after she welcomed her first child, Brooks announced she was engaged on New Year’s Eve in 2019, though she kept Gelin’s identity private at the time.

“I never thought one of the best days of my year would happen the last week of the year,” the actress captioned her Instagram post. “I get to marry my best friend. We’re ENGAGED!! So excited to become your wife. D&D until the end. ❤️?”

In August 2021, the couple showed off their romance as the actress shared a number of engagement photos. “We gonna ride til we die baby,” she wrote alongside photos of them riding a motorcycle. “🤎D&D FOREVER🤎.”

They got married in January 2022

In January 2022, Brooks and Gelin made their love official as they tied the knot in Miami at the historic Alfred DuPont Building. For the special day, Brooks wore two dresses, one by her longtime friend Christian Siriano and another by designer Oluwagbemisola Okunlola.

For the latter, Brooks said it was very important for her to “highlight a Black designer” at her wedding. “I feel like when it comes to the wedding process, Black creatives aren’t highlighted enough,” she told Vogue. “Alonuko gave me the dress of my dreams. Wearing her dress made me want to get married every day, I loved it so much.”

Their daughter was a flower girl at their wedding

Brooks and Gelin were surrounded by their closest friends and family for their wedding, including their little girl. Their daughter Freeya, who was two years old at the time, served as the flower girl for their nuptials.

They tend to be a private couple

Brooks and Gelin have kept their relationship mainly out of the spotlight over the years. While Gelin has only attended a handful of public events with the actress, Brooks has gushed about him on social media from time to time.

In addition to celebrating their first wedding anniversary with a sweet throwback video from their nuptials in January 2023, she also posted a heartfelt tribute to Gelin in honor of Father’s Day.

Alongside a photo of Gelin with their little girl, she wrote, “I always said I wasn’t going to have kids unless I found the right person to have them with, and then you came along. Best two decisions I could’ve ever made right here in this picture ❤️.”

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