Celebrity News

A secret wedding, a surprise baby and a shock split: Inside Zoe Ventoura and Dan MacPherson’s ill-fated love story

The low-key couple have sadly called it quits.
Loading the player...

Few celebrity couples have kept their relationship as low-key as Daniel MacPherson and Zoe Ventoura.

While many stars in the spotlight struggle to keep their private lives, well, private, Dan and Zoe kept their entire romance away from public eyes.

From their secret wedding to surprise baby – fans actually had no idea the couple was expecting when Zoe resurfaced with their baby boy months after giving birth! – it’s no wonder fans were mesmerised by the couple.

“In terms of my privacy, it’s something I have been very protective about from the start. It’s just always felt like it needs to be protected as much as possible to keep a sense of normalcy,” Zoe told WHO of her decision to stay as private as possible.

Zoe, known best for her roles on Packed To The Rafters and Home And Away, and husband Dan, known for Neighbours and Dancing With The Stars, first met on the set of Wild Boys in 2011.

Four years later the couple got engaged over the Christmas holidays, only announcing the news after friends began congratulating her online, sparking some (very true) rumours.

Months later, in November 2015, Dan and Zoe secretly tied the knot in Noosa with “a small celebration, surrounded by family, friends and lots of love” Dan revealed via Instagram.

The couple again sent fans into a frenzy in May 2019 when Zoe was spotted holding a baby.

With no signs Zoe had been pregnant, the photographs came as a shock.

Days later, the happy couple confirmed they had become parents to a healthy baby boy months earlier.

“I am very happy to confirm that Zoë and Dan welcomed a baby boy in December last year,” a spokesperson for the couple told the Herald Sun.

“Austin Xavier arrived healthy and smiling. Mum, Dad and baby are all happy and well.”

Just over a year after welcoming their son, Zoe and Dan sadly announced they were separating in a shared Instagram post that shocked fans.

“With the greatest respect for each other, Dan and I have separated,” former Packed To The Rafters star Zoe wrote.

“Together, we will continue wholeheartedly to raise our beautiful boy Austin. He is, and will forever be, our greatest priority ❤

“We ask for your respect and will be making no further comment.”

See the quiet couple’s love story in photos, below.

(Supplied)

Wild-Boys

Dan and Zoe first met in 2011 on the set of Wild Boys.

(Instagram)

AACTAs

Sometimes date night and a red carpet event clash, for instance the 2018 AACTA Awards.

Valentines 2

The couple spent some time doing long distance, with Zoe working in Australia and Dan working in the US. Zoe shared this birthday message to her hubby while they were apart: “Sending love across the seas to @danmacpherson for his BIRTHDAY TODAY!!🎉 Happy birthday my love.”

(Instagram)

Dan Zoe

The pair in happier times!

Loading the player…

Dan MacPherson on spending time with wife and newborn son in self iso

(Instagram)

Wedding

“Mr & Mrs…..Proud to say that Zoe and I were married last Thursday in a small celebration, surrounded by family, friends and lots of love. It’s been a beautiful few days. We couldn’t be happier. D&Z,” Dan wrote when announcing the couple’s nuptials.

(Instagram)

Cowboys

We love a matching couple costume!

(Instagram)

Gold

Proving once again their couple costumes are absolute gold, Zoe and Dan rang in the New Year in dazzling fashion.

(Instagram)

Valentines 1

If this Valentines snap dedicated to Zoe doesn’t make you smile, we don’t know what will.

(Instagram)

Dancing

“There’s no one I’d rather dance through life with (see what I did there?!) Happy V day my love ❤️ and of course to all the lovers (and haters, let’s be real, it can be a shitty day for some) out there,” Zoe shared in a Valentines Day post dedicated to Dan.

(Instagram)

St Patricks

Okay, seriously, how do we get access to their costume closet?

(Instagram)

split

Zoe and Dan shared the same photograph to announce they were separating. “”Together, we will continue wholeheartedly to raise our beautiful boy Austin. He is, and will forever be, our greatest priority ❤” they both wrote.

Related stories