‘Today’: Hoda Kotb Officially Pulls the Plug On Her Wedding For Now
2020 has been the year of cancellations. From graduations to vacations to sporting events, the pandemic has slowed life down to a crawl.
Another casualty of social distancing of late? Today co-host Hoda Kotb’s long-awaited, long-planned wedding to her fiancé, Joel Schiffman.
Here’s what’s known about the couple’s decision to cancel the wedding for now, and when the morning show star thinks it will be rescheduled.
Hoda Kotb’s engagement to Joel Schiffman was a big reveal on the morning show
Kotb, 55, announced the huge news of her engagement to her Today family on the air in November 2019.
At her announcement, the cast and crew in the studio were in stunned delight, congratulating Kotb, all while she showed off her shimmery engagement ring.
The Today with Hoda and Jenna host explained that Schiffman, 62, had surprised her with the ring at that time, in an emotional proposal.
During a beach vacation, Kotb told Good Housekeeping in 2019, her boyfriend surprised her with his proposal after six years as a couple.
“And he was like, ‘I have something else I would like to say,’ and he said some beautiful things, and then he got down on one knee. Then he said, ‘Would you be my wife?”’
She met Schiffman, an investment executive, in 2013 at an event. While signing autographs for fans, Schiffman approached her, asking her to ‘Make it out to me.’ Once she discovered from another attendee that Schiffman was available, she gave him her email address, and their relationship took off.
The couple was looking forward to finally tying the knot
While the couple had been eager to get married, they are aware of the season the entire world is living through during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The I Really Needed This Today: Words to Live By author told People in April 2020 that COVID had caused the couple to consider a new wedding date.
“We are literally about to push the button on the save the dates just because … we kind of have our reservations,” she said at that time, “we know what we want to do, but who’s to know if it’s going to need to be delayed? So Joel and I have been discussing it.”
The difficult decision to cancel and when the couple’s wedding might be rescheduled
Speaking with Entertainment Tonight in July 2020, Kotb revealed the pair’s most recent decision to wait until later on, when all circumstances ensure safety for their guests and everyone involved.
“We did have to officially postpone it, which was a super bummer, because it was going to involve people getting on planes,” Kotb admitted. “We haven’t picked our new date. We’re just waiting to see what is what with everything.”
“And, look, it’s just like the show. I don’t care where we do it, as long as we do it,” she said. “I want our friends and family to be there, obviously, but the location is kinda secondary.”
