Mariska Hargitay Celebrates 19 Years with Husband — They Almost Split While Dating but They’re a Family of 5 Now

• Mariska Hargitay shared some endearing words for her husband on their 19th anniversary.
• While they were still dating, there was a time when they almost broke up but they are now a family of five.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" star Mariska Hargitay, 59, and her husband, Peter Hermann, 56, recently celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary. The couple married in 2004 and share three children.

Hargitay took to Instagram to post a tribute to Hermann for their special day. In the picture she posted, the lovebirds are embracing each other closely as they share a dance at their wedding.

Hermann, who looked dapper in his black suit with a pink tie, held onto his wife's hand and back as he smiled lovingly at her. Hargitay, who wore her locks in a chiffon bun pinned with a pretty flower, captioned the beautiful image:

"19 years. Best dance of my life. Only dance of my life."

The pair first met on the "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" set, and their first date took place at a church. Of her feelings when she first encountered Hermann, Hargitay expressed:

"I thought he was Superman."

When Hargitay and Hermann met initially, their chemistry could be felt even by Hargitay's friend and co-star, Christopher Meloni. During a previous interview, he spoke about how he could sense that Hargitay had a crush on Hermann (who came on the show as a guest) by her actions.

Although Hargitay and Hermann started dating not long after this, there was a time when the couple nearly split. Meloni described a day when Hargitay came to him and confided about a conversation she and Hermann had that almost ended things between them:

"...She goes, 'Peter and I had a really deep, long conversation. We cried, and I just don't think it's going to work out.' And she's sobbing, and the whole time, the [thought] bubble in my head was just: 'You'll be married within five months.' "

A Detailed Look inside Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann's Wedding

As it turned out, Meloni was right on the money when it came to his prediction. On August 28, 2004, Hargitay and Hermann wed in a beautiful ceremony.

According to a media outlet that covered the momentous occasion, the day kicked off with a stunning-looking Hargitay escorted to the wedding venue in Santa Barbara by her dad. The bride, dressed in a beautifully classic sleeveless blush-colored Carolina Herrera gown and delicate veil, rode in an antique Jaguar.

Upon entering the venue, Hargitay, who adorned her hair with gardenias and roses and had her husband's initials and wedding date sewn on the hem of her dress, walked down the aisle holding her father's hand. As she and Hermann, who was dressed in a black Dolce and Gabbana suit with a pink tie, stood at the altar, her father read an E.E. Cummings poem.

After exchanging vows at the chapel where they wed, the ceremony ended with a melodic rendition of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" performed by a gospel choir as the newlywed couple exited the venue. With Hargitay holding a beautifully arranged bouquet in one hand while the other held onto her husband's hand, the happy pair and their guests traveled to the reception.

Some big names on the guest list of family and friends included Jodie Foster, Joely Fisher, Hilary Swank, Chad Lowe, and Christopher Meloni. The private estate nearby Montecito, where the reception occurred, was decked out to the nines in a lush setting. The forest-inspired venue had lovely floral arrangements, vine-covered alcoves, and dining tables peppered with roses, lilies of the valley, dahlias, fruit, and grasses.

Additional unique touches included Hargitay's jewelry, which had special meaning. In addition to wearing stunning diamond earrings and a bracelet, she wore a locket with photos of her mom and grandmother pinned to her dress.

Although Hargitay and Hermann may have gone through a bit of a rough patch when they almost split, the couple is still going strong and living a happy life as a family of five. They share sons August, 17, and Andrew, 12, and daughter Amaya, 12.

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