Reese Witherspoon to marry Jake Gyllenhaal

Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal are getting married.

The couple have been dating since 2007, but Reese has been reluctant to tie the knot as she found her divorce from Ryan Phillippe so hard to cope with. She has now decided she is ready to fully commit, and the pair are planning a wedding sooner rather than later.

"Reese told Jake about a month ago that she's ready to get married and he's over the moon," said a source. "He feels like he's been wanting to marry her forever and he can't wait until it happens. He'll be 29 on December 19 and told her that would be the best present she could give him.

"They've only told a few close friends and relatives that plans are in the works for a small, secret wedding, hopefully before the New Year."

Reese, 33, was reluctant to fully commit to Jake until she was sure her children with Ryan, Ava, 10, and six-year-old Deacon, were comfortable with him. After seeing how happy they are around him she decided to make things more permanent.

The source told the National Enquirer magazine: "Reese wanted to be ultra-cautious not just because of her own fears but for her kids. She never wants them to go through another divorce."