Shay Mitchell and Matte Babel have been together for nearly 10 years, but the actress says Marriage is not part of their plans for now. Mitchell, 39, and Babel, 46, began dating in 2017 after years of friendship and are parents to two daughters, Atlas, 8, and Rome, 4.
During a recent appearance on Khloe in Wonder Land with Khloe Kardashian, Mitchell explained how she responds when her daughters ask why their parents are not married. She said she tells them that she and Babel are partners and that she simply does not want a wedding because it is not something she needs.
Mitchell also said conversations about marriage often arise when the girls see someone get engaged or encounter the traditional “happily ever after” narrative in films and books. She wants her daughters to understand that marriage does not have to be the only version of a fulfilling relationship.
The actress noted that her perspective is not based on having lacked a positive example. Her parents have been together for 40 years, and she described their relationship as an incredible one. Still, Mitchell said she values the freedom of choosing to remain with Babel, and said that arrangement works for both of them.
Mitchell previously addressed the subject in 2024, saying that she had never imagined herself getting married. She described Babel as an incredible father and a great partner, adding that she sees them as “awesome partners in life.”
In 2021, she said there was no pressure for the couple to marry. Mitchell explained that she liked the feeling of choosing each other every day and the fact that either partner could leave without needing to go through a legal process. She said that dynamic helped keep their relationship exciting.
Sources: Just Jared.