More than ten years of marriage mark the union of Aaron Paul and Lauren Parsekian. Since their initial encounter in 2010, they have consistently showcased their affection, whether through heartfelt social media posts or Aaron’s endearing nickname for Lauren, calling her his “pretty bird.” Their engagement was nothing short of a fairy tale, taking place in Paris on New Year’s Eve in 2012 after dating for several years.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Aaron reminisced about the memorable moment, revealing he proposed on a stoop in the St. Germain neighborhood. “It’s just this little courtyard outside of this hotel, and we were dancing to Édith Piaf on New Year’s, and then I begged her to marry me,” he shared in October 2012.
Their Paris engagement under Édith Piaf’s music remains a cherished memory
The couple exchanged vows in May 2013 at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, California. “It was beautiful and so emotional,” Lauren expressed to PEOPLE, adding that the first time she saw Aaron remains an unforgettable memory. They welcomed their daughter, Story Annabelle, in 2018, followed by their son, Ryden Caspian, in 2022.
Following Ryden’s birth, Aaron made a personal change by legally adopting his stage name, Paul, as his last name, a change that also extended to Lauren and their children.
Lauren Parsekian, who is married to Aaron Paul from Breaking Bad, is also a director and activist. Motivated by her own challenging childhood experiences, she co-founded the Kind Campaign in 2009 with her friend Molly Thompson while they were students at Pepperdine University. This nonprofit organization aims to combat girl-on-girl bullying.
To promote their message of kindness, Lauren and Molly traveled across the country to engage high school students. The Kind Campaign organizes numerous assemblies each year and equips schools with resources to establish their Kind Clubs. Discussing the campaign in 2014, Thompson noted the universal nature of bullying and emphasized the need for a conversation about it in schools.
Lauren’s initiative was born from her battle with bullying during her formative years. In 2014, she revealed to PEOPLE that her experiences had led to severe depression and an eating disorder, stating, “These girls did whatever they could to make me feel alone and ugly and worthless.” She described the toll that bullying took on her confidence and academic performance.
Her recollections of being bullied were revisited in 2018 during an interview with The Good Trade, where she recounted incidents of her bullies throwing objects at her during lunch and destroying her homework. “This group of girls did whatever they could possibly do to make me feel alone and ugly and worthless,” she reiterated.
Lauren and Molly’s friendship blossomed during their time as film majors at Pepperdine, where they decided to create the documentary Finding Kind. “We just sat down and considered what we would have liked to hear when we were in school,” she shared with The Good Trade, explaining their goal of creating impactful programs for young girls.
In 2009, they began filming Finding Kind, which marked the launch of the Kind Campaign. The duo traveled over 10,000 miles across the U.S., interviewing girls and women about their experiences with bullying. The documentary addresses the societal pressures girls face and the subsequent effects on their relationships, featuring discussions with experts in various fields.
The couple’s love story began at Coachella in 2010, where they initially established a platonic friendship. However, their relationship blossomed at the festival the following year, culminating in a romantic connection.
“We’d met at Coachella, became friends, and then a year later, we fell in love at Coachella,” Aaron recounted to PEOPLE in July 2012, adding that they felt an undeniable connection from the start.
Soon after their rekindled romance, they got engaged on New Year’s Eve 2012. Aaron described his feelings for Lauren, stating, “I’m the luckiest man on the planet. It doesn’t make sense to me. The way she looks at me … she has that magical glow about her.”
Their profound bond almost led to an impromptu wedding. Aaron recounted in a 2014 Elle interview that their first date following Coachella took them to Las Vegas, where they impulsively sought a chapel to get married.
“The Little White Chapel ended up being closed. We probably would have gone through with it,” he laughed, appreciating that they chose to marry a year later instead.
On May 27, 2013, the couple finally tied the knot at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, surrounded by 250 guests, including Bryan Cranston, Aaron’s co-star from Breaking Bad.
The bride wore a stunning Amsale gown, and the reception featured a 1920s Parisian carnival theme, a nod to their romantic engagement in Paris. Over the years, the couple has celebrated their anniversary with heartfelt tributes on social media.
Lauren shared a collection of photos on their eighth anniversary, expressing her deepening love, while Aaron celebrated their tenth anniversary by posting a black-and-white wedding photo and praising Lauren’s impact on their family and the world.
As devoted parents, Lauren and Aaron welcomed their first child, Story Annabelle, in February 2018. Lauren shared her emotions surrounding motherhood on Instagram, saying, “There are no words that will ever be able to explain what just happened to my heart.”
She commemorated her first Mother’s Day in May 2018 with a heartfelt post about her experience as a mother, highlighting the profound magic of her bond with Story.
The duo’s journey includes creating impactful programs for young girls facing challenges
During an appearance on The Tonight Show in April 2022, Aaron announced the arrival of their son, Ryden Caspian, revealing that Bryan Cranston serves as his godfather. The story appears to embrace her role as a big sister, with Aaron playfully noting her affectionate antics towards Ryden.
A quick look at Lauren’s Instagram reveals her love for nature, as she frequently shares outdoor photos and discusses her affinity for escaping to the natural world. In one post from a bamboo forest, she quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson, sharing that “the happiest man is he who learns from nature the lesson of worship.”
Lauren also mentioned the transformative impact of spending time in nature, particularly through e-biking as a family, which she described as “the most important and healing thing for me this year.” Her memorable hiking experience to Machu Picchu, detailed in a 2017 interview with USA Today, highlighted her adventurous spirit and love for nature.
Dedicated to her activism, Lauren is unafraid to address pressing social issues. Following the tragic Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, she shared a passionate Instagram post advocating for gun control, expressing her disappointment over the lack of change since previous tragedies.
In response to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, she urged her followers to consider the relationship between abortion access and comprehensive sex education, sharing maps to illustrate her point.
Lauren shares a close bond with her mother, Debra, who accompanied her during the filming of Finding Kind. Reflecting on their relationship in a 2014 interview with Elle, Lauren noted, “My mom and I made that transition from mother-daughter to friends.”
In her conversation with USA Today, Lauren acknowledged her parents as pivotal influences, highlighting their encouragement of her passions and their role in fostering an open-minded and compassionate family environment.
The couple frequently makes public appearances together, walking the red carpet at various events. In October 2024, they attended the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Gala, where Lauren donned her wedding rehearsal dinner gown from 2013, humorously noting its vintage status after being stored for over a decade.
