Justin Hartley Recalls Spontaneously Marrying Wife Sofia Pernas in Their Bathing Suits: 'Got Right Back in the Pool'

Mar. 15, 2025

Sofia Pernas and Justin Hartley.Photo:Dan Doperalski/Golden Globes 2024/Golden Globes 2024 via Getty

Dan Doperalski/Golden Globes 2024/Golden Globes 2024 via Getty

Justin Hartleyand his wifeSofia Pernasmay have had a low-keywedding— but they still managed to make a splash!During an appearance onThe Tonight Showon Monday, Oct. 21, theThis Is Usstar, 47, recounted how he and Pernas, 35, had a spur-of-the-moment poolside ceremony in May 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.After hostJimmy Fallonasked if the couple had “a Zoom wedding,” Hartley explained, “How we did it was, we actually had a justice of the peace come over to the house with a mask on. Sofia and I got out of the pool, and we had our bathing suits on.“Justin Hartley and Sofia Pernas.Paul Morigi/GettyHartley said they first got the idea for the unconventional ceremony … while in their pool.“We were talking about it in the pool. We were like, ‘We should do this,’ " he recalled. “We should get married. We love each other. This is gonna be amazing.““Then within a week, we were able to coordinate this, I guess, lawyer to come over and said, ‘Do you do this?’ " he continued. “And we were like, ‘Yeah, we love it.’ And we’re married.“The actor described the intimate nuptials as “the best wedding in the world.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“Because we got right back in the pool. We were like, ‘Margaritas!’ " he said, prompting Fallon, 50, to jokingly yell, “Cannonball!“Sofia Pernas and Justin Hartley.John Salangsang/Golden Globes 2024/Golden Globes 2024 via GettyThe couple, who first began dating in 2020, later celebrated a second ceremony with a close circle of loved ones — this time, wearing more traditional wedding attire. “Just the family. Really small, but it was nice,” Hartley said, adding, “I wanted to see [Pernas] in a wedding dress, and she wanted to do it … we had to go through it.“As Fallon displayed a framed photo of Hartley and his dog, theRevengealum noted that the pup, named Paisley, completely “stole the show” on his wedding day with her cuteness.Months after quietly tying the knot with Pernas, Hartley opened up about married life with his new wife. “Even though we’ve only been married a few months, it’s hard to remember what it was like without her,” he toldHaute Livingat the time.“When I re-met her, I just knew … It’s not a codependency; I’m just at peace with myself. I feel loved and I feel appreciated. I know she feels the same way,” he added. “We just have a really great relationship and a really terrific family. It’s healthy and it’s wonderful.“Sofia Pernas and Justin Hartley.Vivien Killilea/GettyThe pair not only share their life together but the screen as well. They first met as costars on the soap operaThe Young and the Restlesswhen Pernas joined the cast in 2015. Over the years, they have continued to work together whenever opportunities arise.Back in March, Pernasmade a cameoon Hartley’s CBS action dramaTracker, playing a reward seeker named Billie, who was a nemesis of her husband’s character Colter Shaw. She alsoappeared alongside Hartley in a cameoon NBC’sQuantum Leapreboot in 2022.At the time, the actress spoke to PEOPLE about what it’s like to film with her husband.“It’s play. It’s not work,” Pernas said. “I get this question a lot where it’s like, ‘Do you guys work well together?’ ‘Would you want to work together?’ Because there are people out there that are like, ‘We can’t. We need a break from each other.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, I want to do everything [with him].’ We work very well together.”

Justin Hartleyand his wifeSofia Pernasmay have had a low-keywedding— but they still managed to make a splash!

During an appearance onThe Tonight Showon Monday, Oct. 21, theThis Is Usstar, 47, recounted how he and Pernas, 35, had a spur-of-the-moment poolside ceremony in May 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

After hostJimmy Fallonasked if the couple had “a Zoom wedding,” Hartley explained, “How we did it was, we actually had a justice of the peace come over to the house with a mask on. Sofia and I got out of the pool, and we had our bathing suits on.”

Justin Hartley and Sofia Pernas.Paul Morigi/Getty

Paul Morigi/Getty

Hartley said they first got the idea for the unconventional ceremony … while in their pool.

“We were talking about it in the pool. We were like, ‘We should do this,’ " he recalled. “We should get married. We love each other. This is gonna be amazing.”

“Then within a week, we were able to coordinate this, I guess, lawyer to come over and said, ‘Do you do this?’ " he continued. “And we were like, ‘Yeah, we love it.’ And we’re married.”

The actor described the intimate nuptials as “the best wedding in the world.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“Because we got right back in the pool. We were like, ‘Margaritas!’ " he said, prompting Fallon, 50, to jokingly yell, “Cannonball!”

Sofia Pernas and Justin Hartley.John Salangsang/Golden Globes 2024/Golden Globes 2024 via Getty

John Salangsang/Golden Globes 2024/Golden Globes 2024 via Getty

The couple, who first began dating in 2020, later celebrated a second ceremony with a close circle of loved ones — this time, wearing more traditional wedding attire. “Just the family. Really small, but it was nice,” Hartley said, adding, “I wanted to see [Pernas] in a wedding dress, and she wanted to do it … we had to go through it.”

As Fallon displayed a framed photo of Hartley and his dog, theRevengealum noted that the pup, named Paisley, completely “stole the show” on his wedding day with her cuteness.

Months after quietly tying the knot with Pernas, Hartley opened up about married life with his new wife. “Even though we’ve only been married a few months, it’s hard to remember what it was like without her,” he toldHaute Livingat the time.

“When I re-met her, I just knew … It’s not a codependency; I’m just at peace with myself. I feel loved and I feel appreciated. I know she feels the same way,” he added. “We just have a really great relationship and a really terrific family. It’s healthy and it’s wonderful.”

Sofia Pernas and Justin Hartley.Vivien Killilea/Getty

The pair not only share their life together but the screen as well. They first met as costars on the soap operaThe Young and the Restlesswhen Pernas joined the cast in 2015. Over the years, they have continued to work together whenever opportunities arise.

Back in March, Pernasmade a cameoon Hartley’s CBS action dramaTracker, playing a reward seeker named Billie, who was a nemesis of her husband’s character Colter Shaw. She alsoappeared alongside Hartley in a cameoon NBC’sQuantum Leapreboot in 2022.

At the time, the actress spoke to PEOPLE about what it’s like to film with her husband.

“It’s play. It’s not work,” Pernas said. “I get this question a lot where it’s like, ‘Do you guys work well together?’ ‘Would you want to work together?’ Because there are people out there that are like, ‘We can’t. We need a break from each other.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, I want to do everything [with him].’ We work very well together.”

source: people.com