Today alum Kristen Welker has found her happily ever after with her loving husband, John Hughes. As a dedicated White House correspondent, Kristen’s life is full of excitement and responsibility, but her personal life shines just as brightly. The couple tied the knot in 2017, and their journey together has been nothing short of inspiring.
How Kristen Welker Met Her Husband John Hughes
Kristen Welker and John Hughes met in October 2014, thanks to a mutual friend who set them up on a date in Philadelphia. It was love at first meeting—or at least, a strong connection. At the time, Kristen was already making waves in the television world, having started her career in the early 2000s. Meanwhile, John was carving out his own path in marketing, working for the pharmaceutical giant Merck. Their initial meeting went so well that they planned their second date in Washington, D.C., where Kristen happened to be on assignment.
Now, here’s where the story gets extra special. Kristen arrived late to their second date—something that might’ve thrown a wrench into things for some couples. But John didn’t miss a beat. He had prepared a presidential-themed crossword puzzle for her, a gesture that spoke directly to her heart as a White House correspondent. Kristen was utterly charmed by his thoughtfulness and knew right then that John was the one for her.
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As she told the New York Times in March 2017, “That’s the moment he got me. As a White House correspondent, it was so touching, and it marked him as different from anyone else I’d ever dated.”
Despite her busy schedule covering the presidential campaign, Kristen and John managed to build a strong relationship through phone calls and occasional visits. In June 2016, John proposed to Kristen in front of the iconic Lincoln Memorial. Talk about a romantic gesture! They said “I do” at the historic Bellevue Hotel in June 2017, and Weekend Today cohost Peter Alexander even attended the ceremony. Guests received copies of the very same crossword puzzle John had created for Kristen on their second date—a sweet nod to their love story.
Welcoming Their First Child
In April 2021, Kristen shared some exciting news with the world: she and John were expecting their first child via surrogate. The couple had previously opened up about their struggles with infertility and their journey through IVF, so this announcement was a moment of triumph and joy for them. “Like many people going through the same thing, we felt very alone,” Kristen wrote in a heartfelt letter about their struggles. “Your daddy and I cried a lot during that time, but we never ever gave up.”
That June, the Welker-Hughes family welcomed their daughter, Margot Lane Welker Hughes. Kristen described the experience to People: “Margot is truly the love of our lives. Seeing her precious face and looking into her eyes has made every minute of our journey worth it.” Since then, Kristen and John have shared glimpses of Margot’s milestones on social media, celebrating her first birthday in June 2022.
“Happy 1st Birthday, Margot Lane!” Kristen wrote in a caption for a series of photos. “Celebrating you this weekend has been the greatest joy. You amaze me every day. Your dada and I couldn’t love you more. We’re so grateful for our family who made this an unforgettable weekend and for Uncle Ed who gave us the best new kicks! We’re also thinking of Grandpa Hughes, who we lost this year, but who was thankfully able to meet baby Margot.”
The Arrival of Their Second Child
Fast forward to May 2024, and Kristen and John appeared on Today to announce they were expecting their second child via surrogate. Margot, now older and wiser, couldn’t contain her excitement about becoming a big sister. “Margot has told all of her schoolmates that her parents are getting her a baby brother for her birthday!” Kristen told Today.com at the time.
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Even more adorable? Margot came up with a name for her sibling. “She’s very proud of the fact that her baby brother will be sleeping in her old crib, and she’s even come up with a name for him: ‘Lolo,’” Kristen revealed to People. To help Margot understand what was happening, Kristen and John gave her a book explaining that the family was expanding. “The book explained that she was going to be a big sister [but] it took a couple of weeks to get through … but now, she has just been so excited and we are thrilled about that,” Kristen said. Margot would often ask things like, “Baby brother coming tonight?” proving just how eager she was to meet her new sibling.
