Denise Richards shares the simple monthly ritual that's key to her marriage
Charles Sykes/Bravo
- Denise Richards prioritizes monthly staycations with her husband, Aaron Phypers, for quality time.
- Richards emphasizes the importance of dedicated couple time, especially for new parents.
- Celebrity couples like Gordon Ramsay also prioritize personal time to strengthen relationships.
Denise Richards makes sure to have quality time with her husband, Aaron Phypers, despite their hectic schedules.
The "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star told Interview magazine that the secret to keeping her relationship strong is to have dedicated time together.
"And my advice, especially to couples who just had a child, is to do a staycation at least one night a month, even if you don't have kids," Richards said. "Just so you can have your romance, no distractions, and just reconnect as a couple."
"We have made a point of doing that one night a month at least, just to have that time for ourselves and not feel guilty about it," Richards said.
Richards and Phypers have been married since 2018. She has two daughters, Sami and Lola, with her ex-husband, Charlie Sheen. She is also a mother to a daughter, Eloise, whom she adopted as a single mom in 2011. Since then, Phypers has also adopted Eloise.
Reflecting on her marriage to Phypers, Richards says that their relationship works because they accept each other as they are.
"He's my best friend and we don't try to change each other," she said.
They're not the only celebrity couple who've established rules around protecting their personal time together.
Gordon Ramsay and his wife have regular date nights where they dress up for the occasion.
"In our relationship, having little kids again, our present to each other on our last anniversary was, we have to go to the theater once a month, and we have to go out three times a month, and we're not allowed to wear trainers," Tana Ramsay said during a podcast in 2024. The couple have been married since 1996 and have six children together.
Robert Downey Jr. and his wife, Susan, also don't go more than two weeks without seeing each other or having their family together.
Research has shown that having strong personal connections can lead to increased happiness, better health, and even a longer life span.
But creating a strong, healthy relationship requires effort.
Several married couples who have been together for over four decades previously told Business Insider that their top tips for a successful relationship include being active outside the house, growing together, and expressing gratitude often.
A representative for Richards did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by BI outside regular hours.