John Legend recently shared the secret to his marriage to Chrissy Teigen.
Speaking with PEOPLE at the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) Gala at The Beverly Hilton, Legend said he and his wife have “grown together as a couple” in their marriage.
“And I think being parents forces you to grow up, and it changes your priorities,” Legend said. “But also, [for] all the joy we’ve experienced together, we’ve also had tragedy together and challenges together.”
“I think all of that helps cement the bond and the relationship that you have. Because you know you can go through all this together with a partner, and I think that’s really been the story of our relationship,” Legend added. “We’ve grown up together and been through all the highs and lows together.”
To celebrate their 12th wedding anniversary, Legend and Teigen kept it simple.
“We had a nice dinner date. It wasn’t too crazy,” Legend recalled.
The couple have children together: Luna Simone, 9, Miles Theodore, 7, Esti Maxine, and Wren Alexander, both 2.
Legend and Teigen were engaged in 2011 while vacationing in the Maldives. On Sept. 10, 2013, they were legally married at a New York City courthouse with Irina Shayk serving as their witness. A few days later, the couple wed in Lake Como, Italy.
In a previous interview, Teigen revealed a hilarious moment that occurred during their wedding.
“Something funny that happened during our vows. John’s uncle was the pastor, and he was officiating our wedding, and I dropped the ring,” she said. “I, of course, said, ‘Oh, s—,’ into the mic, and he was just a little taken aback by it. He was like, ‘That’s Chrissy.’ “
She also recalled Stevie Wonder performing “Ribbon in the Sky” for their first dance.
Teigen said, “I really wasn’t dancing because I was just — I’m too nervous to dance in front of people.”
“That’s more of a regret of mine than a cherished memory, that I didn’t really have a first dance,” she added.