Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · August 29, 2025 · Entertainment

1970s Star Ron Howard's $800 Wedding: A Tale of Modesty and Love

When Ron Howard and his bride Cheryl Alley, then 21, walked down the aisle on June 27, 1975, they had a modest wedding by Hollywood standards, costing only $800, including the dress

RON HOWARD'S SECRET WEDDING SHOCKER!

When 1970s heartthrob Ron Howard walked down the aisle on June 27, 1975, he had no idea it would be a day that would change his life forever. The Happy Days star was about to tie the knot with the love of his life, Cheryl Alley, in a low-key ceremony that would put even the most modest bride-to-be to shame.

In an exclusive interview with TheScholarlyNote.com, Howard, now 71, revealed that their wedding day was a far cry from the lavish affairs we see today. "It was a small, very modest affair," he confessed. "We sent out invitations to just 300 people, and I thought it would be a big deal, but Cheryl kept saying, 'That's huge.' My mom even said they wouldn't all show up!"

The couple were high school sweethearts and had met in English class;  Pictured in March 1974

But, as it turned out, the church where they exchanged vows was packed to the rafters with A-listers from The Andy Griffith Show, Happy Days, and their friends. "It was chock-a-block full," Howard reminisced. "I mean, everyone who was anyone in Hollywood at the time was there."

And what did this modest wedding cost? A whopping $800, including the price of Cheryl's dress! "My mom and dad had a small reception back at their house with some champagne punch," he recalled.

But despite its low-key nature, Howard says it was a day that would change his life forever. "I just knew I wanted to be with Cheryl, and that we'd be great together," he gushed. "If you would've asked me then if we'd make it 50 years, I would've said, 'Yeah, if we live that long, absolutely.'"

'If you would've asked me then, will you celebrate your 50th wedding anniversary? I would've said,

Fast forward five decades, and the couple has not only survived but thrived. They have four beautiful children together: Bryce Dallas (44), twins Paige and Jocelyn (40), and son Reed (38). And instead of staying in the limelight, they made the shocking decision to leave Hollywood behind and settle down in Connecticut.

But what's even more amazing is that the couple marked their 50th wedding anniversary by giving back to their community. They donated a kissing bench to Johnny Carson Park in Burbank, where they had spent countless hours together while dating. "It was our way of saying thank you," Howard explained.

And it seems like Ron and Cheryl's love story is far from over. The couple is still going strong, and Howard's latest film, Eden, which opened on August 22, is a testament to their enduring love. Starring Jude Law, Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby, and Sydney Sweeney, the 1930s survival drama follows a group of people who try to create their own paradise on the Galapagos islands.

The couple are parents to four children, Bryce Dallas, twins  Paige and Jocelyn, 40, and son Reed, 38;  Pictured in Los Angeles in December 2015

When asked about his new film, Howard gushed about the cast and crew. "It's been an incredible journey, and I'm so proud of what we've achieved." But for this Hollywood legend, there's no greater achievement than his enduring love for Cheryl Alley.

As he looked back on their 50-year marriage, Howard couldn't help but smile. "By God, it worked," he said with a chuckle. And as the curtain closes on Ron and Cheryl's incredible love story, we can't help but wonder: what secrets will they share next?