Hoda Kotb celebrated a wedding live on the Today show on Thursday – nearly seven months after the couple got engaged in the square on Valentine’s Day.
The co-host, who is an ordained minister, married Ben Hebert, 30, and Mindy Shore, 29, in front of family and friends outside Studio 1A at Rockefeller Center in New York.
Because the bride’s father recently passed away and her mother was unable to travel for the event, Al Roker, 69, stepped in and walked her down the aisle.
The ceremony lasted years for Shore, who grew up watching the Today’s show and met Kotb when she visited the place with her mother to celebrate her 20th and 21st birthdays.
Hoda Kotb married Ben Hebert, 30, and Mindy Shore, 29, in front of family and friends on the Today show on Thursday
“When they were planning their wedding, I bet no one thought they would be sitting here in the square live on TV, but guys, isn’t life such a funny and surprising thing?” Kotb recognized at the start of the ceremony
Because the bride’s father recently passed away and her mother was unable to travel for the event, Al Roker stepped in and walked her down the aisle.
“When they were planning their wedding, I bet no one thought they would be sitting here in the square live on TV, but guys, isn’t life such a funny and surprising thing?” Kotb, 59, acknowledged this at the start of the ceremony.
“I think you are living on the edge. You take risks and take chances. Ben and Mindy knew that maybe after one hit they would date. But did they know they were going to get married? It went as it should,” she continued.
“And, Mindy, that first trip to the square you took with your mom. Look at how it kind of blossomed. This is the place where you said “yes” to Ben after a proposal, and it’s the place where you’re going to say yes.
“This is a special place for you, for your mother, for your family, and we are so honored that you have decided to choose us as your wedding venue. We hope you have a memory that you will cherish throughout of your beautiful life together.
The couple fell in love during the pandemic after Hébert saw Shore’s profile on a dating app and messaged her.
“There was this cute picture where you were smiling really, really nicely, and I was like, ‘I want to make her smile like this,’ he told his fiancée in a pre-wedding interview that aired on the show. .
Shore and Hebert went on their first date at Welles Park in Chicago in August 2020 and have been together ever since.
“The last three years have been full of adventures. We’ve had so many cool trips,” she shared.
The ceremony lasted years for Shore, who grew up watching the Today show and met Kotb several times when she visited the square with her mother.
The couple fell in love during the pandemic after Hébert saw Shore’s profile on a dating app and messaged her. They went on their first date in August 2020 and have been together ever since
Knowing Shore’s love of the Today show, Hébert popped the question in front of Kotb on the Square on Valentine’s Day.
Hebert added that they also “went on TV and got engaged” — a perfect proposition for the Today show superfan.
Not only does Shore watch the show religiously, but she also has a collection of today-themed mugs, wine glasses, and wrapping paper.
“Before that, it was just, ‘Oh, she likes TODAY’ — and then I saw the wrapping paper,” he told Today.com. “That’s when I understood exactly the depths of his relationship with Toda and especially with Hoda Kotb.”
Shore and Hébert had previously talked about marriage when he came across the Today show’s post on X, formerly known as Twitter, looking for couples about to get engaged.
“I grew up watching the Today show and I think he realized that those memories I had with my mom were so special and so important to me,” she explained.
Three weeks after being selected for the segment, Hébert surprised Shore by taking a knee in front of Kotb in Today plaza.
“I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to do this, and that’s exactly how I wanted to do it: At 8 a.m. on live TV, Hoda Kotb was silently judging me,” he began. “So I now kneel before you and America. Mindy, there’s no one else I’d rather spend my life with. Would you marry me?’
After accepting his proposal, they shared a sweet kiss — then she walked over to Kotb for a hug.
When a Today producer contacted the couple about their wedding live on the show, it was an offer they couldn’t refuse.
“May you always remember how you feel right now in front of your family, friends and these wonderful strangers here on the Today Show plaza,” Kotb said before declaring them husband and wife.
The newlyweds, who plan to go to Greece for their honeymoon, also received luggage and $3,000 for their trip after the ceremony.
Shore and Hebert had planned to have their wedding ceremony in 2025, followed by a small dinner with her family in New Orleans and a big reception with their friends in Chicago.
However, when a Today producer asked them to get married live on the show, it was an offer they couldn’t refuse.
“The fact that I have such an affinity for Hoda and that we have such fond memories of our time in New York, it just seemed like a wild, crazy, spontaneous thing that felt so right for who we are as a couple.” , Shore told Today. .com.
The groom was dressed in a blue suit from Men’s Warehouse, while the bride dazzled in a ‘princess’ dress from Kleinfeld Bridal for their big day.
Shore and Hébert added a personal touch by writing their own vows, which they exchanged during the televised ceremony.
“I promise to build the fun, colorful and spontaneous life we’ve always dreamed of,” she told her groom.
“I promise that as long as I’m yours and you’re mine, I’ll never stop fighting for the best day of our lives,” he said.
After exchanging their wedding rings, Kotb declared them husband and wife.
“May you both always remember how you feel right now, in front of your family, friends and these wonderful strangers here in the Today show plaza,” she said before spitting. to kiss.
The newlyweds also received luggage and $3,000 for their honeymoon.
They shared that they would “probably” go to Greece in honor of the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, which hits theaters this weekend.
Roker noted that Focus Features, NBCUniversal’s distribution company, helped plan the couple’s dream wedding.
“Maybe we can get you a screening of the film and you can watch it on (the plane),” the meteorologist joked.
