The Complete Relationship Timeline Of Hollywood Darlings Blake Lively And Ryan Reynolds

To commemorate the recent news of their fourth child, here’s a breakdown of the timeline of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ relationship. 

July 2010: Blake Lively and Ryan Reynold’s First Appearance Together

Though not a couple, Ryan and Blake were seen together at Comic-Con to promote the film Green Lantern. At this time Ryan was still married to Scarlett Johanson, and Blake was dating her co-star, Penn Badgley. But by December, they both became single. In September, Blake Lively and Penn Badgley called it quits, and in December, Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett Johanson filed for divorce. 

October 2011: Dating Rumors Begin 

A little less than a year later, Blake and Ryan were seen leaving Ryan's apartment in Boston early in the morning. This is the first time they were seen alone together and speculation started about a relationship. Then, in December, they were spotted in Vancouver, visiting Ryan's family for the holidays. The couple was holding hands. 

It’s not known when their official first date was, but not long before they were seen in Boston together, they did go on a double date…both dating other people. Ryan reflected on the evening saying, “We were buddies then. I remember it was funny because, for about a year after Green Lantern had come and gone and all that stuff, we were both single. We went on a double date. She was on a date with another guy, and I was on a date with another girl. That was the most awkward date [from their perspective] probably because we were just like fireworks coming across."

September 2012: The Wedding

Fast forward almost a year later, and on September 10, they held a secret wedding ceremony at the Boone Hall Plantation in South Carolina. Critics later accused them of racism for holding the ceremony at this location. Ryan claims that they eventually held another small wedding at their home in an attempt to reconcile this “mistake.”

Blake later shared that she burnt her custom-made Marchesa wedding dress during the reception with a sparkler. She told Harper’s Bazaar, “Florence Welch was singing and they brought out these sparklers, and I'm watching her sing. I look down and my wedding dress has a big burn mark from one of the sparklers. Right on the front."

While she was upset, Ryan put a positive spin on the incident. "Later, my dress was hanging up and Ryan said, 'Isn't that beautiful?' I said, 'What?' And he pointed to the burn. My heart just stopped, because it was such a sensitive little subject. And he said, 'You'll always remember that moment with Florence singing and the sparklers. You have that forever, right there, preserved.' Now that's my favorite part of the dress,” she said.

December 2014: They Welcome Their First Child

The couple tends to keep their life fairly private, but reports came out that Blake Lively had her first baby, a daughter, on December 16, 2014. They named her James. 

Ryan told Good Morning Britain that she was named after his father, who died in 2015 after living with Parkinson’s Disease since 1995.

September 2016: Their Second Child is Born

In 2016, Ryan and Blake welcomed their second daughter, Inez. Their first daughter, James was 22 months old at this time. 

December 2016: Ryan Reynold’s Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

When Ryan Reynolds earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the ceremony was attended by the entire Reynolds family, including a rare public sighting of their young children. 

Ryan thanked Blake in his acceptance speech, saying, “You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. You make everything better, second to this star.” 

He continued, “You make everything in my life better. You’ve given me two of the most incredible children I’ve ever hoped to have. You made me the father of my dreams when I thought I only had fun uncle potential.”

October 2019: The Announcement of Their Third Child

On October 4, 2019, Taylor Swift, a close friend of the couple, proudly announced the name of Ryan and Blake’s third child, Betty Reynolds. It’s speculated that Blake gave birth sometime around September. Swift used both names, Inez and James, in her song “Betty.” 

In an interview, Ryan reacts to the Swift song saying, "I mean the names are of our kids, but we trust her implicitly and she's very sensitive to any of that stuff. And obviously the song has nothing to do with our kids other than our kids' names. We thought it was pretty, pretty damn amazing. We still do. You know, I still walk down the street and shake my head thinking ‘I can't believe that happened.’"

November 2021: Interview with Ryan About Being a Girl Dad

In an interview with Access, Reynolds talks about being a girl dad. “I love being a girl dad,” he said. “I have three daughters, which I never in a million years would imagine. I come from all boys, I have three older brothers. So for me to have three daughters has been such a ride and I love every second of it.”

“I grew up with boys, and I was constantly being thrown through walls when there was a perfectly good door five feet away,” Reynolds continued. “We love having our girls.” 

May 2022: Blake Speaks About Motherhood

In an interview with Forbes about her drink mixer company Betty Buzz, Blake also commented on how motherhood has changed her for the better. “Once I had children, that just became even more profound because my time was even more precious, but also I think having children for me made me feel so much more in my skin,” she said. “I never felt more myself or at ease in my own body or more confident—not to say that there aren't a bevy of insecurities coming at me a million times a day, but I just feel incredibly settled." 

September 2022: Blake Reveals Pregnancy of Fourth Child

In a recent appearance at the Forbes Women in Power event, Blake Lively reveals her pregnancy bump, confirming that she and Ryan are expecting their fourth child. Blake later shared more pictures of her bump on Instagram in an attempt to get the 11 paparazzi “waiting outside my home for a unicorn sighting” to “leave me alone.”

Closing Thoughts

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively keep their life extremely private, especially their children. But it’s no secret that they’re happy and in love. Their similar sense of humor makes their relationship all the cuter, and we love to see it. From meeting in 2010 to now expecting their fourth child in 2022, it's been a sweet journey. 

Love Evie? Sign up for our newsletter and get curated content weekly!