Vows

Madison Chock and Evan Bates found chemistry when she picked him to be her ice dance partner in 2011. Then they found even more.

Aggie Lal and Jacob Riglin first met as travel influencers in Thailand, got together in California and got back together in Bali (thanks, in part, to rescued puppies).

After meeting at a jewelry shop, Alexis Major and Luka Butler developed a partnership in cannabis and in life. Their wedding reception featured performances by Ronald Isley, Davido, Quavo and more.

Shira Zilberstein and Emmanuel Cantor connected at a dinner celebrating Sukkot in 2021. Like every couple starting their lives together, they didn’t know yet what challenges lay ahead of them.

After 32 years of platonic friendship, Sheri Cole and Beth Moore decided to marry for the security and legal protection.

Jonathan Stewart was dating a woman and grappling with his sexuality when he met Enrico Lagasca. Mr. Lagasca, who developed a crush on him, was surprised to learn that Mr. Stewart felt the same way.

The actress Maria Bello and the Michelin-starred chef Dominique Crenn said they owe their journey to the “three C’s”: cancer, Covid and, now, commitment.

Sandy Yawn of “Below Deck Mediterranean” married Leah Shafer on — what else? — a superyacht in Florida.

Lindsay Mendez, nominated for a Tony in “Merrily We Roll Along,” married actor J. Alex Brinson in a Monday ceremony officiated by castmate Jonathan Groff. Daniel Radcliffe was their ring bearer.

When Natalie Joy sent Nick Viall a direct message on Instagram in 2019, she said she had no idea about his run on reality TV. About a year after meeting in person, their casual arrangement got serious.

Evan Ross Katz, a writer and podcaster, and Billy Jacobson, an engineer, exchanged vows on 4/20, complete with a weed-infused reception, pop culture references and fashionable guests.

Ashleé Miller, a musician, expanded her dating profile to upstate New York and Massachusetts. She didn’t expect to end up in Alaska with Francis Marley, a search and rescue operator.

Elaine Hall and Roland Passaro, both 88, met in junior high school in 1950 but lost touch before acting on their connection. They finally did, five decades later.

Anika Bieg was ready to swear off dating. Then she met Dr. Olivia Sacks — and after 10 minutes, kissed her.

Alexandra Plzak and Sharif Farrag met in college and had very little in common on paper. But you know what they say about opposites.

After connecting on Instagram, Bianca Brunette and Ethan White grew closer when they happened to be visiting their families in Panama at the same time.

Twelve years ago, Melanie White sold Drew Trotter nine pairs of jeans. She also won his heart.

Just minutes after Eli Newell and Dr. Erika Amundson exchanged vows last spring, he was rushed to the hospital. Their second go-round was far less traumatic.

Andrew McCaskill was happy to provide career advice when Marcus Johnson reached out, but he was also hoping for something more.

Danni Liu and David Choi, who was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy as a child, quickly embraced the joys and challenges in their relationship together.

For Jill Rafson and Zach Miller, the worlds of New York theater and trucking made a surprisingly perfect match.

Yuna Yang and Christopher Seck became good friends before she proposed becoming something more. He took three months to consider.

Daniela Blum and Dr. Robert Flowers didn’t quite intend to be the first couple to be married at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau this year.

In 1998, Timothy Braun and Peter Arnold fell in love fast. Once gay marriage became legal, they were so busy raising daughters and building a life that they never got around to making it official.

Josh Radnor, the star of “How I Met Your Mother,” and Jordana Jacobs, a psychologist in Brooklyn, met while exploring the far reaches of consciousness and later said “I do” in a winter storm.

Nadya Tolokonnikova, a founding member of Pussy Riot, and John Caldwell have always prioritized being “helpful,” he said, over being happy.

Spencer Hatcher and Crystal Carmichael met in 2012 through a dating app, and at the time, both were going through transitions in their lives.

Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist married before 150 guests (and even more TV viewers), then enjoyed a more intimate, off-air reception with family and friends.

Once Margaret Kretzmer got past the photo of Patrick Pennel on a flamingo float on his dating profile, the pair bonded over their mutual love for baseball.

Barbara Guggenheim and Alan Patricof had socialized since the 1970s. By the end of 2022, everything had changed.

Lamis Azazy and Sherif Abdelhalem celebrated their marriage at one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, complete with a concert by a pop star.

Julie Estrada Ewart, a single mother for 11 years, was not sure she would ever find true love. Enter Robert Bishop, a hockey coach who said he had been waiting his whole life for her.

Verity Elks and Benjamin Riches found that while they looked alike, they had opposite, and complementary, personalities. (For starters, one is a big Britney Spears fan.)

When Tinsley Mortimer met Robert Bovard two years ago, it didn’t take her long to embrace the serenity of Georgia, thanks to Mr. Bovard’s Southern charm.

A bite of bruschetta helped lay the foundation for the relationship between the conductor Michael Repper and Vanessa Moody. That honesty served them well when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Zeke Smith of “Survivor” and Nico Santos of “Superstore” describe themselves as “cartoon characters that live with one another.”

As Morgan Hartman and Phillip de Amezola supported each through personal health crises, their relationship and a “love plant” flourished.

When performers Kayla Pecchioni and Colin Barkell met at a Tonys viewing party, a kitten named Paw McCatney helped break the ice.

When Jirair Ratevosian, a Congressional candidate, and Micheal Ighodaro, an activist and filmmaker, first met, both were so busy with work that sometimes a date meant meeting in an airport lounge.

When Kendra Morris first met Randall Woodfin, the mayor of Birmingham, Ala., she didn’t think anything of it until she had a vision about their future.

Yan Fu and Leslie Hamilton, the marathon sea swimmer, were on opposing New York City teams. But after late-night hot dogs and a swipe of Chapstick, they joined forces forever.

Michael Mendieta, a comedy writer, and Whitaker Irvin Jr., an energy executive, blended their different backgrounds into a happy life together.

Dalijah Franklin first met Willie Francois III after church. She was captivated by his sermon, and he was intrigued by her beauty.

Sasha DiGiulian, a world champion climber, and Erik Osterholm, an Emmy Award-winning producer, met while documenting her ice climb of New Hampshire’s Mount Washington in 2017.

The couple were wed Sept. 8 in an intimate ceremony at their home in Farmington, Conn. The newlyweds spoke to The New York Times in an exclusive interview about their relationship.

Ladi Fatade felt an instant attraction to Kimberly Alexander after seeing her dating app profile three years ago. “It gave me a window into her personality,” he said.

Jennifer Lee and Dr. Sachin Jain bonded over commonalities in their upbringings. They also discovered, after separate car accidents, that they could count on each other.

Bri Scalesse, model and disability advocate, knew Sheldon Nguyen was different right away. “We knew we could spend forever together,” she said, after quarantining together during the pandemic.

When Christopher Anderson and Joan Winter first met in elementary school, they felt an instant connection. They picked up where they left off when they reunited as adults over a half-century later.

When Kenneth Felts began work on a memoir at age 90, he found himself filled with regrets over a secret gay love affair. So he came out — privately and publicly — which inspired Johnny Hau to do the same.

Neither Olivia Amitrano nor Nicholas Vazquez are afraid to change their minds, whether it’s about living off the grid, work or a wedding dress.

Before meeting Jennifer Ziegler, Rebecca Woodfork said she was always “looking down and getting through life.” One month together in Boston and a trip to St. Lucia changed that.

Kelley Carter’s fantasies of meeting a man while shopping for almond milk took a back seat when Moreno McCalpin unexpectedly commented on her Tweet. From there a long-distance romance followed.

It was a long road to self-acceptance and happily ever after for Joseph Jones and Isaac Archuleta, who struggled to accept his sexuality.

When her first marriage ended badly, Brooke Rinehart swore never to marry again. Then she met Tom Sinnott. The two developed a special closeness and agreed to start a family together.

Sahra Nguyen and Erics Kun’s connection grew slowly during early morning meetups at Brooklyn cafes. Now, they are partners in life and at Nguyen Coffee Supply, founded by Ms. Nguyen.

Six months after seeing Alexis Bittar at the gym, Jack Miner remained intentionally “aloof” toward him. Once the silence was broken, a relationship and a family followed.

Atlanta buzzed with Pinky Cole’s plant-based creations for Slutty Vegan, while Derrick Hayes brought Philly cheesesteaks to the South. When they met, they shared a deep connection despite their culinary differences.

Sydney Lotuaco, a contestant on “The Bachelor” more than four years ago, may not have gotten the final rose, but she did meet her future husband, Nick Wehby, as a result of her appearance on the show.

Ross Uhrich and Jessica Carter Altman, the daughter of Lynda Carter Altman, who played Wonder Woman in the 1970s, expected their first encounter to be brief. It wasn’t.

Tristan Thompson and Tyla Wade’s passion for their community was the inspiration for their podcast “Black Love is Resistance” and their wedding celebration that featured mostly Black vendors.

Samiyyah Ali wasn’t sure how Krystal Ramseur felt about her until Ms. Ramseur made her the equivalent of a comedic mixtape.

Friendship came naturally to Ande Flower and Veronica Savage, but romance was more difficult to foresee. However, they persisted — all the way to the ‘yacht rock’ altar.

Rachel Liverman had grown weary of dating apps and was beginning to wonder if she would ever find a partner. Then Jeremy Crane came along.

Jhanaë Bonnick and Patrick McDonnell, who both worked in theater, connected on a dating app just before the pandemic began. They grew closer virtually with the help of “36 Questions.”

Kim France and Paul Green agreed to Google each other before meeting. By the end of their first date, the creators of Lucky magazine and the School of Rock knew enough to make it official.

Hannah Shaw, a kitten educator and advocate, and Andrew Marttila, a feline photographer, are a “meow” made in heaven.

When Robert Hall and Amy Cheng, who bonded over Chinese art, first started dating, only Mr. Hall was aware of the change in their relationship status. Months later, Ms. Cheng finally caught on.

Caitlin Reichel and Kristy Graziano met at a holiday party in Orlando, Fla., in 2016, but it would take three more years to become a couple.

Ilson Goncalves, who runs a popular Brazilian restaurant in New Jersey, never thought he would have a meaningful relationship — until he met Yasar Sakman on a summer vacation in Turkey.

Grace Fooden and Michael Correy met on Bumble and quickly bonded over similar family backgrounds and a Phish cover band.

Nora Achmaoui and Khalid Alherani met on Instagram. One month later, they started a TikTok account that now has 1.3 million followers.

Ariana Rueda and Nicolas Norena were friends in college. Five years later, they reconnected one fateful night in Madrid.

When they fell in love on a Florida island, Beth Sharer and Jay Goad couldn’t imagine that months later it would be devastated by Hurricane Ian, throwing their wedding plans into the winds.

Lisa Smartt, a writer, and Kevin Gleeson, a former graphic artist for the N.Y.P.D. and Keith Richards tribute guitarist, found harmony — and within four months, marriage — in each other.

Angelique Velez Sina and José Cardona Crespo met while ordering post-golf drinks in Puerto Rico. Now they are partners in business, and in life.

Shuo Chen and Gorick Ng were introduced in 2012 when both were in college and he was seeking some professional advice from her. They didn’t become a couple until almost 10 years later.

Rachel Honig had been on hundreds of dates. Grad Conn could barely muster the courage to go on one. But after canceling four times, the fifth time was a charm.

Harish Vemuri and PD Akita, who met at Harvard Law School, found a way to honor all of their families’ cultures and traditions — and their own wishes — when they married.

William Wildman and Parker Kennedy began dating as students at the University of Mississippi before going their separate ways for four years.

Dr. Femi Kuti and Dr. Ugochi Nwosu met in the Bay Area but soon entered a relationship that stretched from Lagos, Nigeria, to the United States.

Lauren Hobbs and Neal Yakopin were in sync from the moment Mr. Yakopin became the drummer for her country duo, the Hobbs Sisters. But it took Mr. Yakopin a beat to ask her out.

Charmaine Gomez and Joseph Contreras first met during a dress alteration in his parents’ kitchen. But it would be another couple of years before he gathered the courage to ask her out.

Kelly Daniels and Emir Muhovic were married by a graffiti artist they love, during a pop-up wedding at SCOPE art show in Miami Beach, Fla.

When Emily Todebush was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, her passion for affordable health care led her to contact Garrett Arwa.

Alison Ramos knew T.J. Vogel was the one when he received a stamp of approval from the ultimate judge of character — her dog, Hershey.

Unity Phelan and Cameron Dieck, who met while Ms. Phelan was an apprentice and Mr. Dieck a corps member at the New York City Ballet, kept their courtship a secret for months before going public.

Caroline Vazzana and David Lopes met as college students. Nine years later, they had a fashion-filled wedding befitting of a style influencer.

Maggie Doherty attended a lot of weddings as an entertainer. So when she married Josh Zager, there was no doubt what the focus would be.

Jennifer Douglas was “avowedly anti-marriage” after her divorce; Kent Shell, too. Until she got down on one knee.

Months after Bradley Carbone met Barbara Torasso, he broke his neck snowboarding. A long recovery brought them closer together.

Katherine Bonneau was charmed by Mikhail Kosyan’s ability to be himself, along with his sense of humor and thoughtfulness. They were engaged after seven months.

Brittney Adu was smitten when she saw Aaron Canales on the first day of their freshman year of high school. Despite their cultural differences and the trials of a young romance, their love endured.

Levi Duchman and Lea Hadad brought together a diverse swath of guests for an unusual event: a large Hasidic wedding in the United Arab Emirates.

Marley Brown had no appetite for dating when she met Akeel Shah, her colleague at the restaurant SingleThread. But after they bonded over passions for cooking and their careers, love was on the menu.

Yolka Gessen and Mohamad Eisa were nearly introduced by journalist Masha Gessen, who is the bride’s parent. But they found each other first.

Months before their wedding, Emily Thompson and Stefan Kienle lost most of their possessions in the Marshall fire that destroyed their home and many others in Louisville, Colo.

When Carly Stein and Oliver Kremer matched on Hinge, they didn’t make it past the messaging stage before she ghosted. But he persisted.

Mike Taylor Jr. said Celeste Northern was “the Detroit girl I had always been looking for.” The two began dating after they both relocated to New York City.

When Chelsea White, a writer and producer, first met Tash Neal, a musician, their attraction was instant. By the end of their first date, he felt “butterflies” and she found her “dream man.”