Neil Patrick Harris: I married husband so our kids understand our family
Neil Patrick Harris has opened up about his wedding to husband David Burtka earlier this month.
The How I Met Your Mother star tied the knot this month to his partner of over a decade – with whom he has twins – in an intimate ceremony in Italy.
The pair’s daughter Harper served as the flower girl, while son Gideon was supposed to be the ring bearer.
Appearing on The View, Harris explained: “We were not trying to do it to elicit any kind of reaction from anyone. We had been together over 10 years.
“I think when our kids got to the age when they were having reasonable conversations, where they’re asking lots of ‘why’ questions, then it seemed [important] to be able to have a real clear-cut explanation of who their daddy is — that he’s my husband, it was easier than partner or boyfriend or something like that.
“I just wanted to be able to say nice things about David, to David, in front of the people that matter the most to us.
“It was less about a proclamation and more about a declaration that I was able to share in front of our kids, and that he could do back for me.”
“It was nice, very small and intimate. Only about 45 people were there.
“We did it as a destination wedding, and it kept the numbers down.”
Host Rosie O’Donnell added: “Who’d have thought when we were kids that we’d be on a TV show talking about our spouses and children?”
Whoopi Goldberg added: “I never gave it much thought, but as you say I realise it is a huge deal.”
Same-sex marriage is not legal in Italy, meaning that Burtka and Harris will likely have to file paperwork elsewhere to recognise the marriage.
