These days, it feels rare to see a celebrity couple who have been in a long-term partnership. Now we're not saying they're not out there. Still, it feels like being in the spotlight and having so many eyes interested in the details of a relationship is almost destined to be doomed. We can't even imagine the amount of pressure. But one thing we do know is Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos seem to have found the secret.
Kelly and Mark first met in 1995. Kelly had been working on All My Children, a soap opera that she joined in 1990, playing the role of Hayley Vaughan. Mark auditioned for the role of Hayley's love interest, a character named Mateo Santos. He got the part, and the chemistry was there between Kelly and Mark, both on the screen and off.
The duo started dating pretty quickly after that and secretly got married in 1996. This year, Kelly and Mark are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. The two have been inseparable since and have raised three children together: Michael, born in 1997; Lola, born in 2001; and Joaquin, born in 2003. Both have continued to be in the public eye in various forms.
Currently, Kelly hosts Live with Kelly and Ryan, where Mark has joined her several times as a guest host. Mark has landed several acting roles, both on TV and in the movies. And while the two are busy when it comes to their careers, they've been able to maintain a close-knit family bond with their three children.
In honor of their romantic relationship that's been burning for 25 years so far, we've rounded up the 15 sweetest family moments shared on social media.
Re-Creating an Old Classic
Something we really love about this Hollywood couple is they're never afraid to be silly. They're not stuck to the idea that to be taken seriously in their line of work that they have to pretend they're something they are not. This is proven in this adorable and hilarious throwback photo, which they re-created years after the original was taken.
Babies With Their Babies
Kelly and Mark have been in this industry for a long time, and they were still relatively young when they became parents, too. It's always fun and adorable when they share older photos from their collection. In this one, Kelly and Mark throw it back to the year 2001 when the family was enjoying some fun swimming in the sun.
Sunday Dinners
Family love radiates through this family, and it's evident in every image they share on social media. Although their kids are nearly all grown up, they still get together as a family. Sundays are a time for family dinners, and we can even see Kelly's reflection in the mirror as she takes the cute snap.
A Family Swim
When they're older teens or young adults, most kids don't want to have anything to do with their parents. Add in the fact that their parents are famous, and they've grown up with cameras interested in snapping a picture and we'd guess the embarrassing factor goes up. Not for these folk — they're not shy about taking advantage of a fun cheesy moment.
Throwback to Vacay
Another fun throwback photo, this time, we're taking a peek at a 2008 vacation. In the snap, it looks like Lola, who is only 7 years old in this picture, is holding a beer bottle. And Kelly makes a joke about that in the caption of the photo, joking that Lola was a beer drinker at this time. Adding, "obviously kidding, so calm the effffff down," because people like to judge.
A Newcomer
There was no social media when Kelly and Mark raised their kids, so the two are now taking full advantage of showing off adorable old school pics of their memorable family moments. In this one, Mark is holding a fresh new baby, or, as Kelly wrote in the caption, "a newcomer on the scene." The look Mark has as he's looking into Lola's eyes is so sweet.
Going From One to Two
Some parents say that transitioning from having one child to bringing home baby No. 2 comes with a big learning curve — and that's absolutely true. In another throwback photo from 2001, Kelly touches on their going from one kiddo to two. "Going from one to two seemed like a big deal at the time," Kelly wrote, adding that Mark has "always been a multitasker."
The Year 2000
For those of us who lived through it, New Year in 2000 was a funny one. Everyone was worried about the whole Y2K thing and what that could potentially do to the world (history lesson: nothing happened). People planned extravagant New Year's parties. This photo is a fun nostalgic trip between the crimped hair, the camcorder Mark is holding, and their kids in footy pajamas.
Consuelos Gang
There is no question that Mark and Kelly's kids are theirs because each of them looks like either their mom, their dad, or a perfect blend between the two of them. In this sweet family moment, the Consuelos group stop their shopping to pose for a really sweet picture. It's like Kelly knew this would be a frameable moment back then.
Walk of Fame Moment
One of the best jokes that is funny because it's so relatable is trying to round up all the kids for a photograph. Either someone is crying, missing, or no one is looking in the same direction, no matter how much we try to wrangle it all together. Looks like Mark and Kelly were hoping to send out a pretty amazing Christmas card that year.
Quick, Strike a Pose
The family that plays together and can be silly together probably means there are many happy childhood memories. Of all the photos Mark or Kelly have shared of their kids and family as a whole, it honestly looks like they enjoy one another's company. It doesn't seem like they have to fake it for the cameras. They all legitimately seem happy to be with each other.
Turkey Time
Thanksgiving in 2020 was a weird one for many families. It's usually a holiday that we all gather with the extended family. Still, that year it was advised to go virtual. The Consuelos family didn't let that hinder their fun, and they rolled with the Zoom punches. Also, they seemed to capture that rare moment when all the kids, plus Mark and Kelly, were all looking in the same direction with big smiles. Bonus!
Found on the Camera
It's hard to explain to people who didn't live through it, but there was a time before smartphones where it took time and planning to take a photo. Back in 2003 or 2004, Kelly and Mark had a photo taken … with film … that they had to get developed, which Kelly joked about in the caption of the share. One of the comments really stood out, too: "He's incapable of aging," speaking about Mark because he looks the exact same (Kelly does, too).
Visiting Dad on Set
Visit your parents at work day is vastly different for Michael, Lola, and Joaquin. This family moment is one where the whole squad takes a tour of dad's work. At that time, Mark was working on a TV show for Fox called Pitch. It was all about baseball and didn't last long on air (it should have). Still, Kelly and Mark got a great family photo out of it (minus Kelly because she was probably taking the picture cause that's what a mom does).
Band Is Back Together
This family does not need to have a staged photo to book a photographer and make sure everyone's looking their best. Nope, they have magical genes that are made for a random selfie. As one fan wrote, "You're gorgeous, your husband is gorgeous, and of course, your children are freaking gorgeous!" We love that the kids are always so open to taking a random picture with mom and dad (or at least they oblige once in a while).
