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Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos Mark 30 Years of Marriage, Calling It 'Destined'

The couple, who eloped in Las Vegas in 1996 after meeting on the set of 'All My Children,' reflected on their spontaneous decision during a live broadcast.

3 min
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos Mark 30 Years of Marriage, Calling It 'Destined'
The couple, who eloped in Las Vegas in 1996 after meeting on the set of 'All My Children,' reflected on their spontaneouCredit · People.com

Key facts

  • Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos married on May 1, 1996, in Las Vegas.
  • They met as young actors on the set of 'All My Children.'
  • The couple celebrated their 30th anniversary on the May 1, 2025, episode of 'Live with Kelly and Mark.'
  • Consuelos said, '30 years! We did it,' and Ripa called it 'the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.'
  • They have three children: Michael, 28; Lola, 24; and Joaquin, 23.
  • Consuelos described the marriage as 'destined' and 'one big adventure.'

A Spontaneous Union That Defied Expectations

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary on Friday, marking a rare milestone in Hollywood. The couple, who eloped in Las Vegas on May 1, 1996, after meeting on the set of the soap opera 'All My Children,' reflected on their relationship during the live broadcast of 'Live with Kelly and Mark.' Consuelos, 55, high-fived Ripa before pulling her into a hug, exclaiming, '30 years! We did it. 30 years, holy smokes.' Ripa, also 55, responded, 'Best thing I’ve ever done in my life.' The pair admitted that their relationship once seemed unlikely, even to them. 'It wasn’t supposed to work out,' Consuelos joked. 'Two kids meet on a soap opera?' Ripa laughed back, 'Is that what you were hoping for?'

A Decision That Felt Inevitable

Despite the odds, both agreed their connection felt inevitable from the start. 'I feel like it wasn’t even a decision,' Consuelos said. 'It was like, it was a thing that was destined to happen.' Neither of them saw marriage coming until the moment it did. 'If you had asked me if I wanted to get married even a week before I asked you, I would have said, “I’m not getting married,”' Consuelos recounted. Ripa echoed the sentiment: 'It was the most ludicrous idea until you asked. And then I was like, “Okay!”' The couple’s spontaneous elopement in Las Vegas, a city synonymous with quick weddings, has turned into one of entertainment’s longest-lasting relationships.

Three Decades of Adventure and Family

Three decades later, that spur-of-the-moment choice has become what they describe as 'one big adventure.' 'It really has,' Ripa said. 'I think every day is our anniversary in a weird way.' The couple are now parents to three children: Michael, 28; Lola, 24; and Joaquin, 23. Their family life, built on the foundation of a whirlwind romance, has endured the pressures of fame and the entertainment industry. Consuelos and Ripa have continued to work together, co-hosting 'Live with Kelly and Mark,' a daytime talk show that keeps their partnership in the public eye.

A Rare Hollywood Milestone

In an industry where marriages often falter, Ripa and Consuelos’s 30-year union stands out. Their relationship began on the set of 'All My Children,' where both were rising actors in the 1990s. The couple’s decision to marry in Las Vegas, without fanfare or family present, was a stark contrast to the elaborate weddings typical of celebrity culture. Yet that simplicity may have contributed to the relationship’s durability. Their anniversary celebration on live television offered a rare, unfiltered glimpse into a marriage that has weathered three decades of change.

What the Future Holds

As they enter their fourth decade together, Ripa and Consuelos show no signs of slowing down. Their professional collaboration on 'Live with Kelly and Mark' continues to thrive, and they remain actively involved in their children’s lives. The couple’s ability to balance work and family, while maintaining a sense of humor about their unlikely beginnings, suggests that their 'big adventure' is far from over. For fans, the anniversary broadcast served as a reminder that sometimes the most improbable stories have the happiest endings.

The bottom line

  • Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos celebrated 30 years of marriage on May 1, 2025.
  • The couple eloped in Las Vegas in 1996 after meeting on 'All My Children.'
  • Both described their marriage as 'destined' and 'one big adventure.'
  • They have three adult children: Michael, Lola, and Joaquin.
  • The couple co-host the daytime talk show 'Live with Kelly and Mark.'
  • Their relationship is a rare example of a long-lasting Hollywood marriage.
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Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos Mark 30 Years of Marriage, Calling It 'Destined' — image 1Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos Mark 30 Years of Marriage, Calling It 'Destined' — image 2Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos Mark 30 Years of Marriage, Calling It 'Destined' — image 3
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