‘Today Show’s’ Hoda Kotb Reveals How Fiancé Joel Schiffman Proposed
Hoda Kotb of the Today Show is clearly in the prime of her life. Engaged to beau Joel Schiffman and enjoying her role as mom to their two daughters, Haley Joy and Hope Catherine, Kotb has achieved both professional and personal success.
The Today anchor recently spilled some details on how Schiffman popped the question and when they are planning to tie the knot.
Started planning immediately
Kotb immediately got the ball rolling on wedding plans after Schiffman proposed in November. “I sort of think we probably want to do it sooner than later, because what are we waiting for? And I kind of think we might do a destination wedding,” Kotb shared in November, as reported by People. “We may go back to the place we were engaged. We haven’t thought about it too much, but we might do something like that. The place is special to us.”
The Today anchor was aiming for simplicity for her special day. “Nothing we do is about bells and whistles in that way,” Kotb said. “All I want it to be is fun and happy and I just want everybody to feel easy breezy. No coordinated bridesmaids. Come as you are. That’s the theme of the rest of my life.”
Still keeping it simple
Kotb stopped by The Ellen DeGeneres Show earlier this week and spoke of her upcoming nuptials. Aiming for a fall wedding, she is apparently keeping with the low-key theme.
“I think it’s going to be super simple, no big deal, we’ll bring some friends, we’ll probably be on a beach somewhere,” she told DeGeneres, according to People. “And I can’t believe how different I feel since that moment. I thought we were in love and love is love, so what? But I did feel different the minute he proposed.”
The journalist shared that her mom is picking out her dress for the big event. “It was so funny, cause she’s picked everything for me, and she said, ‘Honey, I don’t know, do you want me to pick your wedding dress?’” Kotb said of her mom on E!’s Pop of the Morning. “And I said, ‘Well, you picked the first one, so yes, please pick the second one!’” Kotb said laughing, referring to her former marriage to tennis pro Burzis Kanga.
While Kotb is still foregoing bridesmaids, she’s having someone special stand up with her. “Just my sister,” she said.
The proposal
Kotb gave DeGeneres some details on how her boyfriend of six years popped the question.
“One day we were at the beach, and we were hanging out, and we had tequila and churros. I mean, I was like, fingers into the churro sauce, and Joel started to give one of his — he likes to give little speeches about love,” she shared with DeGeneres. “So he’s like, ‘I’d like to say something.’ And he started talking and I was looking at him and I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is going somewhere.’”
The Today co-host described the moment Schiffman got into proposal position. “He literally kicked the seat out from under him and dropped down on one knee,” Kotb recalled. “I didn’t know I could be shocked [like that]. And I actually didn’t know could love him more, but I did, in that moment. And I’ve felt different ever since.”
Now 55, Kotb realizes that the best things in life often come later. “Isn’t it so crazy how your life, like, throws everything at you in different ways?” Kotb said on Pop of the Morning. “I was gonna say, at age 49, that was the year I met Joel, when I was 49 years old. I feel like everything in my life, every good thing, has happened since.”
Congratulations to the happy couple!
