Live Wire summary

On paper, Kelly Ripa’s marriage to Mark Consuelos shouldn’t have lasted for more than two months – never mind over two decades. 

That may sound a bit judgmental, but here are the facts: They met as young costars on the set of the hit ’90s soap opera All My Children. They were both involved with other people when they got together. And they got married on a whim in Vegas, after having broken up and gotten back together only five days earlier.

This sounds more like a recipe for a brief, misguided fling than the recipe for a long and stable marriage. But, more than a quarter century and three grownup children later, their partnership has proved to be one of the most enduring unions in the entertainment industry. No unconscious coupling for them. These two are well and truly coupled. 

So, what is it that has allowed their marriage to be so resilient – to truly stand the test of time? 

Well, the first thing is that the couple has unmistakable chemistry, and an almost irresistible attraction to each other. Ripa swears that she fell in love with Mark the moment she first saw his headshot. She had an uncanny instinct that he was The One. Then he came to audition for a role of her lover in All My Children. In person, the attraction was even more overwhelming. Ripa was usually the one being hit on by aspiring actors on set. But, in this case, she was the one doing the chasing. Whenever she was around Mark, she found herself gabbering uncontrollably in an attempt to impress him. 

After meeting him just once, Ripa had a vivid dream – she and Mark were flying together to Rome, accompanied by their baby daughter. The next time she ran into Mark on set, she informed him of the dream, much to his surprise. He played it cool at the beginning, but eventually he succumbed to her charms. They started secretly dating, their electric on-screen chemistry blurring into their private lives. That magnetic attraction is still there, over 25 years later. Ripa credits Mark’s talents as a “mindful lover” for the longevity of their marriage. In spite of all the stresses of everyday life, they’ve kept the spark alive. 

But great chemistry alone won’t make your marriage endure for decades. Ripa is clear that the real secret to a long-lasting marriage is work and commitment. Spending decades with one person is not for the faint-hearted. In fact, it’s an incredible act of bravery. You have to go through all the messy emotional stuff that life can bring. You have to learn to compromise. And, sometimes, you have to have incredible amounts of patience. You may wonder what you ever saw in your partner.

But when the going gets tough, think back to the early days of your relationship. Why did you choose the person you’re with? What drew you to them? Allow yourself to remember the sheer delight you experienced in their company, the shock of attraction that coursed through your body. Marriage, like life, is long. But there’s nothing sweeter than being able to experience that rollercoaster together.