Chris Tomlin’s songs are heard in churches around the world. Away from the stage, he shares his life with Lauren Bricken, his wife and the mother of their three daughters. Lauren rarely gives interviews, but when she does, she speaks with warmth and humour about a marriage that began with an awkward first date and took time to find its footing.
Their story includes a break-up, a reunion and the sudden changes that came with becoming parents. It also includes work they have chosen to do together for children and families affected by foster care. So what is known about Lauren herself? Her own interviews give a more interesting answer than the usual account of life beside a famous singer.
Quick Bio
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Lauren Bricken |
| Also known as | Lauren Tomlin |
| Known for | Her family life with Chris Tomlin and work with For Others |
| Husband | Chris Tomlin |
| Husband’s profession | Christian singer and worship leader |
| How they met | A friend introduced them after Chris moved to Atlanta |
| First date | A double date in Atlanta |
| First impression | Lauren felt Chris barely spoke to her during the meal |
| How they grew closer | They got to know each other through phone calls |
| Relationship before marriage | They separated briefly, then reunited |
| Marriage year | 2010 |
| Wedding location | Kona, Hawaii |
| Wedding guests | Family and close friends |
| Number of children | Three daughters |
| Daughters’ names | Ashlyn, Madison and Elle |
| Early family milestone | Their first daughter arrived before their first wedding anniversary |
| Creative interest | Make-up and colour |
| Education detail she has shared | She attended make-up school in California |
| Organisation she helped found | Angel Armies, later renamed For Others |
| Current role at For Others | Board member |
Who is Lauren Bricken?
Lauren Bricken, now also known as Lauren Tomlin, is Chris Tomlin’s wife. They have three daughters: Ashlyn, Madison and Elle. While Chris’s career has put him before large audiences, Lauren has shared relatively little about her private life.
That makes the moments when she speaks for herself especially revealing. In a joint interview with Chris, she talked about family routines, her interest in make-up and colour, and the small group she hosts at home. She described colour as a creative outlet. Chris spoke about her care for individuals and the way she takes time to check on people.
These details show someone with her own interests and relationships. They also help explain why a simple description such as “Chris Tomlin’s wife” feels incomplete. Lauren has a family life, a circle of people she cares for and a role in the couple’s work for vulnerable children.
She has spoken publicly about faith and motherhood, including in a 2026 podcast interview. Still, much of her life remains private. There is no need to fill those gaps with guesses about her childhood, career or personal circumstances. The story she has chosen to share is compelling on its own.
An awkward first date and a second chance
Lauren Bricken and Chris Tomlin met after Chris moved to Atlanta. A friend encouraged him to meet her, and the two went on a double date. Chris remembered being struck by Lauren when he first saw her. Lauren’s memory of the meal was rather different.
At the restaurant, she felt that Chris spoke mainly to the other couple and hardly talked to her. For a man who was comfortable singing in front of crowds, he had made a surprisingly poor impression across a dinner table. It was hardly the start either of them might have imagined for a lasting relationship.
The evening did not end their story. Lauren later went to California for make-up school while Chris was away touring. They began talking on the phone, and those conversations let her see another side of him. She found him funny and more relaxed than she had expected.
Even then, the relationship did not move smoothly towards marriage. Chris has said he was slow to commit. Lauren ended the relationship, and they spent time apart. When they eventually got back together, Chris said he understood that he wanted a future with her and was ready to commit to it.
They married in 2010 in Kona, Hawaii. Chris described their wedding as a small gathering with family and close friends. Years later, Lauren said she would love for the two of them to return to the place where they were married. It is one of the personal memories she has shared publicly about their early years.
Marriage, three daughters and everyday life
Marriage changed quickly for the couple. Their first daughter arrived before their first wedding anniversary. Chris and Lauren have both said that they were still getting to know each other when they became parents.
They now have three daughters, and family life has grown alongside Chris’s music career. Touring can shape the household calendar. Lauren has spoken about how she and the girls arrange parts of their lives around his schedule. At home, both parents have described the importance of paying attention to their children as individuals.
In interviews, the couple tend to tell stories about ordinary moments rather than grand romantic gestures. Lauren once explained that Chris prepares the room when she hosts her small group during the winter. He lights candles and makes a fire, taking care over an evening that matters to her. She said she had never had to ask him to do it.
Chris gave a similarly everyday example when asked how Lauren makes him feel cared for. He spoke about the thought she puts into preparing meals when he is home. The two also joked about how hard it can be to fit in time for a meal out together.
There have been difficult adjustments, too. Lauren and Chris have spoken openly about how little they knew each other at the start of their marriage and how much changed once they had a baby. They have not presented those early years as effortless.
What comes through in their later conversations is a clearer understanding of each other. Chris admires Lauren’s attention to people one at a time. Lauren values how involved he is with the family when he is home. Their account of marriage centres on those repeated choices, made around busy schedules and the needs of three growing children.
Lauren Bricken’s work with For Others
Family is also part of the reason Lauren Bricken is connected to a wider cause. She and Chris founded an organisation called Angel Armies, which later became For Others. It focuses on children and families affected by the child welfare system in the United States. Lauren is a member of its board.
For Others works with other organisations and communities to support families facing crisis and children who need safe, stable care. Its work includes efforts to help families stay together where possible, support foster care and improve the prospects of young people affected by the system.
Chris can bring attention to that work through his concerts and public profile. Lauren’s place on the board shows that her connection to the cause goes beyond appearing beside him at events. The organisation does not publicly describe every part of her day-to-day involvement, so it is best to be precise about what is known.
The work also offers a fuller view of the couple’s shared priorities. They are raising their own children while supporting efforts aimed at other families who need help. Lauren’s public life may be quiet, but this is a part of it that reaches well beyond her home.
Conclusion
Lauren Bricken’s life with Chris Tomlin began with a date that nearly went nowhere. They found their way back to each other, married and became parents sooner than either had much time to prepare for. Since then, they have built a family and taken on work that supports other children and parents.
Lauren has kept much of her life to herself. What she has shared offers a clear picture of a woman who values her family, makes time for people and has helped turn a shared concern into practical work.
Also read: Keilani Bautista: The Family Story Behind Dave Bautista’s Eldest Daughter
(FAQs)
Who is Lauren Bricken?
Lauren Bricken, also known as Lauren Tomlin, is the wife of Christian singer Chris Tomlin. She is a mother of three and a board member of For Others, an organisation focused on children and families affected by the child welfare system.
How did Lauren and Chris Tomlin meet?
A friend introduced them after Chris moved to Atlanta. They first went out on a double date. Lauren later said that their phone conversations helped her get to know him better after an awkward first meeting.
Did Lauren and Chris break up before they married?
Yes. Chris has said he was slow to commit while they were dating, and Lauren ended the relationship. They later got back together and married in 2010.
Where did Lauren and Chris get married?
They married in Kona, Hawaii, in a small ceremony attended by family and close friends.
How many children do Lauren and Chris have?
They have three daughters named Ashlyn, Madison and Elle.
What does Lauren do with For Others?
Lauren is listed as a board member of For Others. She and Chris helped found its earlier organisation, Angel Armies. Her exact day-to-day duties are not set out publicly.
