What happens when two people spend years unknowingly crossing paths, only to finally meet at the exact right moment?

On this episode of the Anniversary Podcast, Mary sits down with Christopher and Teinamarrie to talk about the love story that began while volunteering for Utah Pride in 2002 and grew into a 24-year partnership built on honesty, playfulness, and intentional love. From Christopher buying the ring just weeks into dating to late-night conversations about life, healing, and the universe, this episode dives deep into what it means to truly know and choose each other.

They share how their relationship moved past superficial dating almost immediately, why communication and “disconnects” matter more than fighting, and how giving each other space has strengthened their marriage over the years. The conversation also explores soulmates, emotional safety, staying playful in long-term love, and the little rituals that keep connection alive — from music dedications and handwritten notes to blowing kisses in parking lots and saying “I love you” even during hard moments.

This episode is warm, emotional, funny, and deeply reflective. A reminder to us all that love isn’t about perfection, but about building a foundation strong enough to weather every season of life together.

Find Teinamarrie:

Instagram/Facebook: @teinamarrie_treasures

Website: rise.tmtreasures.net

Check out Teinnamarie on Good Things Utah: https://www.abc4.com/gtu/grati-tools-to-help-us-feel-grateful/

Find Christopher:

Website: universalheartministry.com

Connect with Mary and The Anniversary Podcast here

Personal Instagram @maclward

Podcast Instagram @theanniversarypod

More links: ⁠linktr.ee/theanniversarypodcast⁠

On this episode of the Anniversary Podcast, Mary sits down with Braeden and Madison to talk about building a marriage through heartbreak, entrepreneurship, infertility, and nearly a decade of choosing each other again and again. From meeting on Tinder after a divorce and a broken engagement to eloping just a few months later, their story is honest, vulnerable, and deeply grounded in intentional love. They open up about navigating miscarriages and infertility together, what it means to “lean in” during the hardest seasons of marriage, and how they’ve stayed connected while running businesses side by side. This conversation is full of raw honesty, emotional resilience, and reminders that love isn’t about perfection — it’s about continuing to choose your person, even when life doesn’t go according to plan.

Connect with Venn
Instagram & TikTok @vennsocialapp
Website www.FindMyVenn.com

Connect with Mary and The Anniversary Podcast here
Personal Instagram @maclward
Podcast Instagram @theanniversarypod

More links: linktr.ee/theanniversarypodcast

What happens when you fall in love, get engaged, and start a business all within a year?

On this episode of the Anniversary Podcast, Mary sits down with Madie and Matt, the couple behind The Empty Cup, to talk about building a relationship and a business at the same time. From meeting while Matt was working at Disney and navigating a whirlwind long distance relationship to launching a mobile coffee trailer together in Utah, their story is full of intentionality, humor, communication, and learning how to keep choosing each other even in stressful seasons. They open up about blending very different personalities, showing up for each other through chaos and exhaustion, and why love is less about perfection and more about being willing to grow together.

Connect with Madie and Matt
Instagram @theemptycuput

Connect with Mary and The Anniversary Podcast here
Personal Instagram @maclward
Podcast Instagram @theanniversarypod
More links linktr.ee/theanniversarypodcast

What happens when a strong early connection turns into marriage, college life, and growing up all at the same time?

On this episode of the Anniversary Podcast, Mary sits down with Nicole and Taylor to share their story of getting engaged young, navigating missions, school, finances, and very different communication styles, all while learning how to build a life together. They open up about the real work of marriage in your early twenties, from balancing individuality and shared goals to figuring out how to support each other through changing seasons.

Connect with Mary and The Anniversary Podcast here
Personal Instagram @maclward
Podcast Instagram @theanniversarypod
Linktree: linktr.ee/theanniversarypodcast

What happens when the person you can’t stand in high school turns out to be the one you can’t imagine life without?

On this episode of the Anniversary Podcast, Mary sits down with Tabitha and Jeffrey to unpack their unexpected love story that started in seminary classrooms and debate team banter. From first impressions of “loud and annoying” and “grumpy and rude” to slowly realizing there was something deeper underneath it all, their story is full of humor, honesty, and a whole lot of growing up together.

They talk about going from enemies to best friends to lifelong partners, what it looked like to build trust over time, and how their friendship became the foundation of their marriage. They also open up about emotional growth, codependency, learning to slow down, and what it really means to choose each other through every season of life.

Connect with Tabitha
Instagram @tabithawoodward_

Connect with Mary and The Anniversary Podcast here
Personal Instagram @maclward
Podcast Instagram @theanniversarypod
More links linktr.ee/theanniversarypodcast

Ever fallen for your best friend and thought, this might ruin everything? On this episode of the Anniversary Podcast, Mary sits down with Ian and Genevieve to talk about what happened when their lifelong friendship turned into something more. From growing up together and navigating different relationships to finally choosing each other, their story is full of timing, trust, and taking a risk on something that already felt like home. They share how they support each other without trying to fix everything, why being 1 percent better matters, and what it looks like to build a relationship rooted in friendship first.

Connect with Genevieve

Instagram @cozzi_color_and_cuts

Connect with Mary and The Anniversary Podcast here

Personal Instagram @maclward

Podcast Instagram @theanniversarypod

More links linktr.ee/theanniversarypodcast

What does it really take to build a relationship that lasts, especially when it begins in uncertainty and asks you to take big risks before you feel ready? On this episode of The Anniversary Podcast, Mary sits down with Jonathan and Amy to talk about their journey from coworkers on a video call to building a life together. From dating during COVID and buying a house just eight months in, to cross country moves, a full home renovation, and starting a sourdough pizza business, their story is shaped by doing hard things side by side. They reflect on what it means to live with an “us versus the problem” mindset, stay connected through daily habits, and keep choosing each other through every season.Connect with Jonathan and Amy’s businessInstagram @quailstreetcoWebsite https://quailstreet.coConnect with Mary and The Anniversary Podcast herePersonal Instagram @maclwardPodcast Instagram @theanniversarypodMore links linktr.ee/theanniversarypodcast

What does it really take to build a relationship that lasts, especially when it starts with long distance, emotional baggage, and a whole lot of uncertainty?

This week on The Anniversary Podcast, Mary sits down with Kaitlyn and Tommy to talk about the journey from strangers on a group camping trip to partners preparing for marriage. From motorcycles in the Tetons to late night phone calls, long drives between Salt Lake and St. George, and learning how to communicate through discomfort, their story is full of honesty, growth, and intention.

Together, they open up about navigating trust after toxic relationships, what it actually looks like to choose each other on hard days, and how working in mental health has shaped the way they show up for one another. They share practical tools like their “don’t slip” rule for tough conversations and reflect on how love evolves from fireworks into something steadier, deeper, and more intentional.

This episode is for anyone who has ever questioned whether love should feel easy, struggled with communication, or wondered what it means to truly commit to another person. Kaitlyn and Tommy remind us that love is not just about the highlight moments. It is about choosing the same person again and again, even when it is uncomfortable.

Connect with Mary and The Anniversary Podcast here:
Personal Instagram: @maclward
Podcast Instagram: @theanniversarypod
More links: linktr.ee/theanniversarypodcast

Ever wonder what happens to a marriage when life takes an unexpected turn? In this episode, Mary sits down with Tim and Laura, a couple celebrating 20 years of marriage, to talk about love in its most real and tested form. From a fast-moving romance to navigating faith differences and the devastating loss of their daughter, their story is one of heartbreak, growth, and choosing each other again and again.

Tim and Laura open up about what it looks like to rebuild trust after a faith transition, how they learned to communicate through deep grief, and why shared values matter more than shared beliefs. Their journey shows that strong relationships are not built on perfection, but on respect, intentional effort, and the willingness to grow together even when it is hard.

If you have ever wondered how couples stay connected through life’s hardest moments, this conversation offers an honest look at what it takes. You will hear how small daily rituals, emotional validation, and learning how to truly listen can transform a relationship over time. Tim and Laura’s story is a reminder that even in the most painful seasons, love can deepen, evolve, and endure.

This episode includes discussions of child loss and may be heavy for some listeners.

Connect with the Host!
Podcast Instagram: @theanniversarypod
Mary's Instagram: @maclward

https://linktr.ee/theanniversarypodcast

If you loved this episode, follow the podcast, like the video, and share it with someone who believes lasting love is worth celebrating.

What does it really take to keep choosing each other when things get hard, communication feels different, and the future feels uncertain?

In this episode of The Anniversary Podcast, Mary sits down with Franco and Kenna, a couple whose story begins in an unexpected place and unfolds into something deeply intentional, honest, and full of growth.

From a memorable first date with a picnic, thoughtful snacks, and a surprise bald reveal, to navigating real challenges like different communication styles, big life decisions, and moments where everything felt uncertain, their relationship offers a refreshingly real look at what it takes to build something lasting.

Franco and Kenna open up about how they have learned to meet in the middle, how they decide what truly matters in conflict, and why seeing each other as teammates instead of opponents has shaped the way they move through both small frustrations and big turning points.

They share the quiet moments that made them realize they work well together, the ways they have influenced each other to grow, and the mix of excitement and fear that comes with building a future side by side.

This episode is for anyone who wants a grounded and hopeful look at modern relationships, where love is less about perfection and more about intention, effort, and continuing to invest in something meaningful.

Connect with the guests:
Kenna on Instagram @kennajonees

Connect with Mary and The Anniversary Podcast here:
Personal Instagram @maclward
Podcast Instagram @theanniversarypod
More links https://linktr.ee/theanniversarypodcast

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow, like, and share The Anniversary Podcast so more people can discover stories of love, growth, and commitment.