When Julia Garner decided to get hitched, she didn't go for the typical Hollywood production. No sprawling Malibu estate. No 500-person guest list with a step-and-repeat for the paparazzi. Instead, the Julia Garner wedding was a masterclass in New York City cool, proving that you can be one of the most recognizable faces on Netflix and still keep things low-key.
Honestly, it’s refreshing.
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The Ozark and Inventing Anna star married Mark Foster—the brain behind the band Foster the People—on a chilly December day in 2019. If you're looking for the glitz of a royal wedding, look elsewhere. This was about family history, a "Carrie Bradshaw moment," and a surprise DM that saved the day.
The City Hall Tradition You Didn't Know About
Most people assume celebrities only go to City Hall when they’re eloping or trying to hide something. For Garner, it was deeply personal. She and Mark actually got married at New York’s City Hall in lower Manhattan. Why? Because her parents did the exact same thing 40 years earlier.
That’s basically the ultimate "something borrowed."
They went back and forth for a while. At one point, they even considered eloping in Vegas. You can almost see the internal debate: the neon lights of the Strip versus the gritty, romantic aesthetic of New York in the winter. In the end, the city won. It wasn't just a venue; it was a tribute.
That Danielle Frankel "Instagram Miracle"
Let’s talk about the clothes. Because, wow.
Julia Garner didn’t spend months browsing bridal boutiques with a champagne flute in hand. She was busy. Specifically, she was in a trailer on the set of Ozark. She literally didn't have a dress ten days before the wedding.
Enter Danielle Frankel.
The designer reached out to Garner via Instagram DM—the ultimate 21st-century "meet-cute" for fashion. Garner had always envisioned a wedding suit for a courthouse ceremony. She wanted that specific vibe. Frankel delivered a two-piece textured co-ord: a tunic-style turtleneck with long sleeves and wide-leg slacks with ruffles at the hem.
It was unconventional. It was bold. It was exactly what you'd expect from the woman who played Ruth Langmore.
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The Reception Swap
Once the legal bits were done at City Hall, the party moved. They headed to Locanda Verde for dinner—Robert De Niro’s spot in TriBeCa—and then loaded everyone onto a bus. Destination? The Public Hotel.
For the reception, Garner swapped the pants for something "softer." Ironically, she chose a lace dress from Frankel that was already named the "Julia" dress. If that isn't a sign from the universe, nothing is.
A Relationship That Started with a Stalker Scare
The timeline of their romance is kind of hilarious when you hear Julia tell it. They met at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013. They hit it off because their families were both from the same small town outside Cleveland, Ohio. But they didn't exchange numbers.
Years later, Mark Foster started liking all of Julia's photos on Instagram.
"I was like, ‘Who’s this guy liking all my photos? Is this a stalker?’" she told The Hollywood Reporter. Once she realized it was just the "Pumped Up Kicks" guy, she followed him back. He DM'd her. The rest is history.
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The Proposal in the Wild
Mark didn't just buy a ring; he wrote a poem. During a road trip to Yellowstone National Park and Montana in May 2019, he read it to her in the middle of nowhere. When the poem ended, he dropped to a knee. It’s a far cry from the loud, crowded world of indie rock and Emmy-winning dramas.
What Really Happened at the Reception
While the ceremony was private, the reception gave us a few more glimpses of the couple. Designer Zac Posen was there, and he basically became the unofficial wedding photographer for the internet. He shared clips of the couple slow dancing and cutting a three-tier cake.
Mark also had a surprise up his sleeve. He released a song called "Lovers in a Stream" specifically for the occasion.
It’s these small, hyper-specific details that make the Julia Garner wedding so memorable. It wasn't a "brand activation." It was a wedding.
Why This Wedding Still Matters in 2026
We're currently in an era of "quiet luxury" and "micro-weddings," but Garner was doing it before it was a TikTok trend. She showed that you could have a high-fashion moment without the high-stress logistics of a massive event.
If you're planning your own nuptials and feeling the pressure to go "big," take a page out of the Garner-Foster playbook:
- Prioritize Sentiment: Choosing a venue with family history (like City Hall) adds a layer of meaning that a five-star hotel can't buy.
- Be Spontaneous with Style: Don't be afraid to wear pants. Or to trust a designer who slides into your DMs.
- Keep the Guest List Lean: An intimate dinner at a local bistro often leads to better memories than a crowded ballroom.
- Music is Personal: Whether it's a custom song or just a playlist of things you actually like, don't let a "wedding band" dictate the vibe.
The legacy of the Julia Garner wedding is simple: do what makes sense for your story. For them, it was a cold New York night, a white faux fur coat, and a bus ride to a party. It was perfect.
Next Steps for Your Own Planning
If you're feeling inspired by the "City Hall chic" aesthetic, start by researching the marriage license requirements for your specific city—New York, for example, requires a 24-hour waiting period between getting the license and the ceremony. You should also look into non-traditional bridal designers like Danielle Frankel or even vintage boutiques to capture that "Carrie Bradshaw" energy without the cookie-cutter bridal shop experience. Finally, consider booking a small private room at your favorite local restaurant rather than a traditional wedding venue to keep the atmosphere intimate and the food top-tier.