A glamorous English rock star and a shy Canadian advertising executive meet at a dinner party and a love story begins. The romantic relationship between Elton John and David Furnish is anything but dull!
It was three years after Sir Elton John committed to a sober lifestyle when he asked a friend to host a dinner party so he could meet some “new people”. David Furnish, an Ogilvy & Mather ad exec, was one of those people. This chance meeting led to a rapid courtship. The two were married in 2014, with their two sons, Zachary and Elijah featuring in the ceremony.
Read on to learn about Elton John and David Furnish’s love story, as well as how they keep the romance alive today!
The Love Story
When Furnish arrived at the dinner party at John’s Windsor estate, John was “attracted to David immediately.” John was drawn to Furnish’s sartorial style, shy demeanour, intelligence and independent lifestyle. Despite the 15 year age gap, and John’s insistence he wasn’t looking for a relationship at the time, the two went to dinner together the very next night.
They grew their love slowly but surely, however, they never spent time in Furnish’s flat in Clapham (a neighbourhood of London) as it didn’t jive with John’s way of living. They had to work to integrate their lifestyles and Furnish was very conscious to not get swept up into John’s life, but to maintain his independence.
Three months after meeting, John and Furnish moved in together. It wasn’t in Furnish’s Clapham flat though.
In 2005, they were one of the first couples in the United Kingdom to form a civil partnership and in 2014, they were married as soon as it was legal to do so in the United Kingdom. They paved the way and celebrated this momentous occasion by marking their own love.
They had a beautiful and deeply personal wedding in England and John launched his Instagram account specifically to share the day with the public! They tied the knot on their ninth anniversary with many glamorous guests, including the Beckham family, Elizabeth Hurley, Lulu, Hugh Grant, and Ed Sheeran.
John speaks openly about his relationship and the way he and Furnish make it work.
Lasting Love
John and Furnish have a long lasting love and they work at it. John, speaking with Piers Morgan, noted that they have arguments, but “never go to bed angry.” This seems like advice we could all learn to live by!
They work to keep the magic alive through one very special ritual. They met on a Saturday evening (at the aforementioned fortuitous dinner party!). So, every Saturday they write each love notes – no matter where in the world they are, together or apart – they make sure to remind the other of how much they love them.
John and Furnish expanded their family with the birth of son Elijah Joseph Daniel in 2013 and son Zachary Jackson Levon in 2010, both via surrogate. It seems both dads are absolutely smitten with their children.
John is so happy with his family that he announced after the completion of the Sir Elton John’s Farewell: Yellow Brick Road tour, he would be stepping away from performing because he wanted to spend more time with his family.
John and Furnish mix work and play together. Furnish sits on the board of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Both John and Furnish have been recognised by the Human Rights Campaign for their work.
It seems like John and Furnish have thriving individual lives and have found a way to bring those vibrant lives together to form an extraordinary romance and a deeply loving family.
Who knew a rock star and an advertising executive could come together and make such sweet music?