Jessica and Ben Mulroney 'forgot' their 16th wedding anniversary: 'I feel lucky everyday, so what's a number?'
The 44-year-old stylist and 48-year-old former TV personality's love story began when they were just teens in Montréal.
Jessica and Ben Mulroney's wedding anniversary came and went with zero celebration due to a “slight oversight.” On Sunday, the 44-year-old stylist and entrepreneur took to Instagram to share a sweet video to Instagram celebrating her relationship with the 48-year-old former host of CTV’s Your Morning. The video included candid photos of the couple, as well as their three children, 14-year-old twins Brian and John and 9-year-old daughter, Isabel (Ivy).
“OK so our wedding anniversary was a slight oversight this year (i.e… we forgot). But the love all year round makes up for it,” Jessica wrote. “Which reminds me, how many years has it been [Ben Mulroney]? I feel lucky everyday, so what’s a number?”
The post earned well wishes from followers including some who empathized with their forgetfulness.
“Happy anniversary,” one follower wrote. “I knew I would have this problem, so I got married on my birthday!”
“That happened to us one year too,” another said. “Happy anniversary!”
“Happy anniversary. Don’t sweat the small stuff — being in it year long is better than a dinner out one day,” someone said.
As the son of former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Ben and Jessica are members of Canada’s most influential families. Below, we take a look back on what we know about the Canadian power couple's love story
Mid-'90s: Ben and Jessica meet
Ben and Jessica (then Brownstein) first met when they were just teenagers. At the time, 15-year-old Jessica was friends with 17-year-old Ben's younger brother, Mark — and the future couple met at a party in the Montréal suburb of Westmount.
Ben described Jessica as "the most beautiful girl he had ever seen" but it would be years before Ben would "make a move on his long-time crush."
2007: A first date years in the making
In 2007, Ben had a break while filming Canadian Idol and decided to ask Jessica on their first date: Sushi followed by karaoke.
"I knew about halfway through the date that we would eventually get married," Ben told PostCity in 2020.
Although Ben was living in Toronto at the time and Jessica was in Montréal, the pair began a long-distance relationship that quickly became serious. He proposed nine months after their first date at Chez Nick's Diner, a Montréal restaurant thwy both frequented as kids.
"When I would visit Jessica, while we were dating, we’d always stop in so that I could have a bacon cheeseburger, fries and gravy and a black cherry cola (the only thing I have ever eaten at Nick’s)," Ben said. "I mentioned how I hoped that, when we had kids, they would have a chance to make memories at Nick’s, too. At which point, I got on one knee, whipped out a ring and popped the question."
October 2008: Ben and Jessica marry
Ben and Jessica were married on Oct. 30, 2008 in a three-day wedding event in Montréal. According to Today's Bride, the couple officially tied the knot in a private, 60 person inter-faith ceremony at St. Patrick's Basilica that combined aspects of both Catholicism for Ben and Judaism for Jessica.
The next day, the pair hosted a "Hallowedding" costume party for their friends followed by a 350 person formal reception on Nov. 1.
“The moment I saw Jess walk down the aisle. It was the first time in my life that my breath actually left my body and I could not catch it," Ben told Today's Bride.
Aug. 2010: Baby joy
Ben and Jessica became parents on Aug. 12, 2010 to twin boys, Brian Gerald Alexander and John Benedict Dimitri. Although the boys were born six weeks premature, Ben told reporters that the babies were "healthy and beautiful."
"Jessica is radiant and in great health and spirits," he added. "I am the happiest man alive."
In 2021, Ben shared one of the first photos of the twins to Instagram to celebrate their birthday and reflected on life as a father.
"When we found out we were having twins, we laughed our asses of for a few minutes," he wrote. "Then, the reality set in and we appropriately freaked out. Then we met them and Brian and John have been a blessing for which I will never truly be able to thank God, the universe or Jessica. B and J, I’m sorry but in my mind and in my heart you will always be this small and this extraordinary."
June 2013: 'Ivy' Mulroney is born
Ben and Jessica welcomed Isabel Veronica "Ivy" on June 12, 2013. Ben announced their youngest child's arrival on Twitter, writing: "She is as beautiful, happy and healthy as mommy who is resting well."
The pair spoke to Modern Mama blog in October 2013 about adjusting to life as a family of five, noting that having twins worked in their favour when Ivy was born.
"I think because the boys were twins and were used to sharing us from day one, I think that made the transition easier than for a singleton," Jessica said. "Ben and I really tried to get them involved in all aspects of baby’s arrival and prepare them. They were included in all aspects from nursery design to name selection and feeling the baby kick."
October 2021: Celebrating the next chapter
In October 2021, Ben announced that he would be leaving his role as an on-air personality for CTV after 20 years. He announced his departure on-air and said he was looking forward to developing scripted and un-scripted projects.
Jessica celebrated Ben's new venture by sharing a message from their three children to Instagram. "We’re so proud of you that we can see you in the mornings now. We’re very proud of you and we love you so much,” the pyjama clad trio said in unison.
Months earlier, Ben reflected on his milestone anniversary in television with a message to viewers and fans on social media. Although proud of his work, the father-of-three made it clear his family were his greatest joy.
"The older I get, the luckier I know I am. I married the woman of my dreams. She makes the world better in a million little ways and I will never fully understand how I was able to trick her into being mine," he wrote. "Together, we have three children who amaze me with their kind souls and sharp wit. They make my heart sing with joy. Nothing gives me more pride than the family I come home to every day and nothing I will ever accomplish at work means a thing compared to the love I feel for them.”
Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
