The Touching Way Mariska Hargitay Honored Her Late Mom on Her Wedding Day
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Peter Hermann and Mariska Hargitay are celebrating their 13th wedding anniversary in August, but they still look like love-struck teenagers. The couple, who first met on the set of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit in 2001, have a picture-perfect family of five and an even sweeter love story. After engaging in a conversation about religion when they first met, their faith brought them even closer as they started attending church together. It didn't take long for Mariska to realize she had found "the one." Peter proposed in 2004, and they tied the knot shortly after in a ceremony with their closest friends and family. Relish in some of the sweetest details about their big day below.
1. Mariska had her father by her side. The actress, who lost her mother Jayne Mansfield when she was only 3, rode to the ceremony in an antique Jaguar with her father, Mickey.
2. Their wedding venue brought things full circle. Mariska knew that Peter was her future husband when she saw him on their first date in church, so it was only fitting that they go back to their roots for their big day. The two tied the knot at the Unitarian Historical Chapel in Santa Barbara.
3. Mariska's dress was nontraditional. Instead of wearing white, the bride donned a pale pink Carolina Herrera strapless gown that featured the groom’s initials and their wedding date sewn into the side.
4. The two approached their vows in completely different ways. While Peter admits that he recited his vows so loudly "you could have heard them in Oregon," Mariska's were quiet and small.
5. Mariska's wedding band has a special meaning. Peter proposed with a weathered platinum band set with nine round diamonds. The style symbolizes that even though they will face rough patches, they will always find happiness ahead.
6. It was a star-studded event. The actress's Law and Order costar Christopher Meloni was one of the 200 wedding guests alongside Jodie Foster, Hilary Swank, and Chad Lowe.
7. Mariska kept her mother and grandmother close. The actress carried a locket with photos of her late grandmother and mother for her big day.
8. A gospel choir sang them out. Following the ceremony, a gospel choir sang "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" as they exited the church. During the reception, they shared their first dance to "Over the Rainbow" before being seated for dinner.
9. Their wedding cake had a personal touch. For dessert, the couple ordered a seven-foot tall, six-tier chocolate and vanilla cake from Very Different Cakes. Aside from being extremely colorful with orange, magenta, and green color palettes, it also included their initials spelled out in Swarovski crystals.