Ellen DeGeneres marks her and Portia de Rossi's 18th anniversary with heartfelt tribute: 'I fall in love with her more every day'

Ellen DeGeneres marked her 18th anniversary with wife Portia de Rossi by sharing a heartfelt tribute on Instagram with her 127 million Instagram followers on Thursday.

In addition to posting a sweet selfie of them outside as the Australian actress, 49, wrapped one arm around her at sunset, the 64-year-old former daytime talk show host gushed in her caption that she falls 'in love with her more every day.'

'I’m so grateful for her love,' the Emmy Award-winning comedian, who began dating de Rossi  in 2004 after first meeting three years prior at a party, gushed. 

Celebrating: Earlier in the day, DeGeneres shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram to mark their anniversary with her 127 million Instagram followers on Thursday

Going strong: Ellen DeGeneres marked her 18th anniversary with wife Portia de Rossi by sharing a heartfelt tribute on Instagram with her 127 million Instagram followers on Thursday

The happy couple married back in August 2008, following the overturn of the same-sex marriage ban in California. 

After their initial meeting, the the Arrested Development star said she 'really never stopped thinking about' DeGeneres, despite being in a relationship with Francesca Gregorini, at the time.

'I just haven't felt that kind of energy with anyone in my life. So there's that,' she said of their immediate spark. 

'I’m so grateful for her love,' the Emmy Award-winning comedian, who became a couple in 2004 after first meeting three years prior at a party, gushed

'I’m so grateful for her love,' the Emmy Award-winning comedian, who became a couple in 2004 after first meeting three years prior at a party, gushed

While looking back at their first introduction, de Rossi said she was still 'closeted' and 'wasn't comfortable' with her sexuality.

'I just knew that being with her would be a bit of a thing for me, so we didn't get together after that for about three years,' she reflected to People last year.

During the same interview, DeGeneres noted in 2004, they reunited at a party and her now-wife: 'opened up and said she'd been thinking about me.'

Blissful: In addition to posting a sweet selfie of them outside as the Australian actress, 49, wrapped one arm around her at sunset, Degeneres gushed in her caption that she falls 'in love with her more every day'

Happily ever after: The happy couple married in August 2008, following the overturn of the same-sex marriage ban in California

'It surprised me. It was a big deal for her to be seen with me. The very first time we were photographed together was when I joined her at the Golden Globes after-party. And that's when everyone knew that we were together,' DeGeneres said.

Ultimately, de Rossi said: 'I just got to a point where I chose love over anything else. This was a once-in-a-lifetime feeling.' 

'Ellen really did help me through it just by being there and making me feel more comfortable about who I am — like there was nothing wrong with being gay. I think that's the first time in my life I felt that was true,' she explained. 

Her rock: DeGeneres said she 'couldn't have gone through' the stress of being accused of fostering a toxic work environment on her show without her other half

Her rock: DeGeneres said she 'couldn't have gone through' the stress of being accused of fostering a toxic work environment on her show without her other half

DeGeneres went on to praise her wife for always leaving 'little notes around if she's going somewhere' and always being 'thoughtful.' 

Additionally, DeGeneres said she 'couldn't have gone through' the stress of being accused of fostering a toxic work environment on her show without her other half. 

'It was a horrible time in my life, and she was a rock. She kept me going and tried to help me put things in perspective,' the comedian said.