Relationship on the Rocks? These Magic Words Can Save It

Sam And Aaron Taylor-Johnson's Full Relationship Timeline

Early 2008 — Sam Taylor-Woods And Aaron Johnson Connect Via Nowhere Boy

After audition for a role in Sam Taylor-Woods' debut film Nowhere Boy, Aaron Johnson piqued Hollywood's interest with his portrayal of a younger John Lennon (via The Guardian). According to reports, that's not the only thing that made people curious.

It became apparent their interactions on set had ventured into romantic territory when they were spotted "arm in arm" and acting like "teenagers in love," (via The Guardian).

2009 — The Couple Gets Engaged A Year After Filming Nowhere Boy

Aaron Johnson eventually proposed to Sam a year later, despite maintaining boundaries while filming Nowhere Boy. They claimed to Harper's Bazaarthey were "very professional" even though "everyone on set knew" there were something budding between the two.

Aaron didn't hesitate to say, "And a year to the minute after we met, exactly one year to the minute, I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me."

It didn't take long for Sam to become pregnant with their first child either. "I knew I wanted a family with her, I knew I wanted kids, and a month later she was pregnant with our first child," Aaron admitted to The Telegraph UK.

April 2010 — Aaron Johnson Shares His Thoughts About Being A First-Time Dad

Aaron sat down with Jonathan Ross of Friday Night with Jonathan Ross and talked about the new role he was prepping for outside of acting. He said he was "not really" nervous about becoming a father because he'd been interacting with Sam's daughters from her previous marriage to Jay Jopling.

July 2010 — Sam And Aaron's First Daughter Is Born

Per reports fromDaily Mail, the couple's first daughter was born a few months after Aaron's appearance on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. They didn't go into depth about baby Wylda Rae's birth nor were updates shared during the months following her arrival.

January 2012 — The Couple's Second Daughter Is Born

This time a rep announced the birth of Sam and Aaron's second daughter, Romy Hero to People. They experienced a home birth and a rep reported "mother and daughter are well" at the time.

June 2012 — Wedding Bells Ring As Sam And Aaron Get Married

The couple got married in Somerset during the summer of 2012 and it was immediately noticed that Aaron partially changed his last name. "I just don't see why women need to take the man's name. I wanted to be a part of her just as much as she wanted to be part of me," he said (via The Standard).

Sam Taylor-Johnson later praised the "stability" of their marriage by saying to The Guardian, "Being in an amazing relationship, having come out of a difficult one, it felt so good."

January 2017 — Aaron Taylor-Johnson Mentions Sam During His Golden Globe Speech

When Aaron won an award for appearing in Tom Ford's Nocturnal Animals, he made sure to express his love and gratitude for Sam Taylor-Johnson during his speech. "I want to thank my wife for being there with me and supporting me through this." He openly admitted his role wasn't "pleasant," but continued to thank her for "putting up" with him.

He also gave a shout out to their daughters "Anjelica, Phoenix, Wylda, and Romy."

February 2017 — Aaron Admits He's Not A Fan Of Everyone's Prying Eyes

The actor didn't shy away from talking about his great dislike for everyone's opinions about he and Sam's relationship when they first started dating. He told New York Magazine, "The attention was intrusive." At the same time, he said it helped him develop thicker skin so he can let things roll off his shoulders instead of feeling riled up.

March 2017 — Aaron Reveals He Has A Tattoo Of Sam's Name

Aaron took his love for Sam Taylor-Johnson a step further when he let the world see his tattoo of her name in celebration of her 50th birthday (via Daily Mail). Though the focus was meant to be on his new ink, his chiseled abs were also on display.

The actor appeared in Mr. Porterand revealed he'd rather stick to family life than acting. "I get more fulfillment from being a father than I do from being an actor" and even said he thought about "wanting to give it up."

June 2017 — Sam Taylor-Johnson Gushes About Aaron

It seems this couple was in-sync with each other because Sam later gushed about him during an interview with The Times UK. She said, "I literally found my soulmate" in Aaron and talked about not being ashamed of their large age difference. "When you're solid with someone in your own love, you don't think about it."

She later posted a moving Instagram post dedicated to her husband's birthday and wrote, "HBD to the most incredible husband, father, man @aarontaylorjohnson I ❤️U."

June 2019 — Sam And Aaron Taylor-Johnson Look Spiffy At Zoë Kravitz's First Wedding

Sam posted a stylish photo of herself and Aaron getting ready to attend Zoë Kravitz wedding to her first husband Karl Glusman. Aaron wore a tailored marl gray suit while Sam looked amazing in a leopard print dress.

"To the wedding we go... 🎩 @karlglusman @zoeisabellakravitz," she wrote in the caption.

November 2019 — The Couple Reveals What It Was Like Working On A Million Little Pieces Together

Joint projects can cause disagreements to occur between couples, but Sam and Aaron admitted they enjoyed the process of making A Million Little Pieces a reality. "It was the best thing we've ever done," Sam told Harper's Bazaar.

Unfortunately the author, James Frey, admitted to sharing false information in the memoir the film was based on and was even removed from Oprah Winfrey's book club (via New York Times).

June 2020 — Sam Taylor-Johnson Celebrates The Couple's Wedding Anniversary

Sam took to Instagram to share a black and white photo of the couple together in honor of their wedding anniversary. They looked like they'd stopped to take a quick photo while on a hike as they were both wearing hiking boots. "8 years later. Happy anniversary ❤️ #aarontaylorjohnson ❤️," she wrote in the caption.

She shared another photo of Aaron because Father's day coincides with their wedding anniversary. Her caption simply read, "Happy Father’s Day ❤️ #aarontaylorjohnson 🔥."

March 2021 — Sam And Aaron Taylor-Johnson Set To Work On "Rothko" Together

It was revealed the married couple were set to being bringing the film Rothko to the silver screen in 2021 with Russell Crowe and Aisling Franciosi set to star in it alongside Aaron (via Deadline). It's a film adaptation of The Legacy Of Mark Rothko by Lee Seldes, but nothing else has been reported about a possible release date.

May 2021 — Sam Taylor-Johnson's Excited About Aaron's Latest Project

After it was announced Aaron would star in Kraven the Hunter, Sam Taylor-Johnson couldn't contain her excitement. She posted a comic book version of the titular character on Instagram and wrote, "My husband ❤️ #kraventhehunter #aarontaylorjohnson."

The film will release in Theaters December 13, 2024, but you can watch the official trailer now! Based on what we've seen, it looks full of action and shirtless moments that will keep us warm during winter.

June 2021 — Sam Also Gets A Tattoo Dedicated To Aaron

Tattoo artist Docta Woo gave Aaron some new ink of the form of a humming bird and also revealed Sam's dedicated tattoo for her husband. "Captured a healed hummingbird on Aaron and added some love ✍🏼 for Sam ✨❤️," his caption on Instagram reads.

June 2022 — The Couple Renews Their Vows

In honor of their 10th wedding anniversary, Aaron posted a lengthy tribute to he and Sam's marriage on Instagram. He partially wrote, "we renewed our vows to one another and confessed our love in front of our nearest and dearest friends and family it was a celebration of love and joy," in his caption.

Sam also posted her own feelings about their vow renewal in a separate post. "10 glorious years 💕 My incredible husband, father to all 4 girls. I love you, I love you, I love you 💕 love conquers all."

September 2024 — Fans Speculate There's Trouble In Paradise

Despite their public love and support for each other, fans are convinced Sam and Aaron Taylor-Johnson are having marital problems. The actor was recently seen without his wedding band while he was out and about (via The Mirror). Instead of commenting on the pics, Aaron simply uploaded a series of photos of him enjoying vacation with Sam by his side. According to his caption, the coupled enjoyed a "little get away" that included soaking up the sun and enjoying beach scenery.

Sometimes the best way to debunk rumors is to live an unbothered life.

@lexihaen First time i witnessed a love story proposal and I got to be the one to record! #tstheerastour#taylorswift#swifttok#lovestory#ttpd♬ original sound - L E X 🪩

"I started recording early because I thought it'd be so cute to have the moments of before she knew," Lex writes on the video. If you didn't know what was about to happen, you'd think the couple was dancing to the song without a care in the world. But look close enough and you can see just a bit of nervous fidgeting. And NYT Bestselling Author Allison Raskin promises nerves are a normal experience.

Is it normal to be nervous for a proposal?

"I think it is helpful for the proposer to remember the moment will be special even if it isn't perfect," Raskin, whose book I Do (I Think): Conversations About Modern Marriage comes out October 15, says. "You don't have to pull off every elaborate detail flawlessly to show your partner you care and can't wait to build a life together. Also, nerves aren't inherently bad! They can be a signal that you are excited and care about what you are about to do, which can be a helpful reframe from thinking you are just panicking."

"It's very exciting to propose but also deeply vulnerable," Krystal Mazzola Wood, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at Confidently Authentic & The Healthy Relationship Foundation, agrees. "You’re truly being honest about how much someone means to you and risking rejection which is scary. It’s natural to be nervous even if you have discussed this issue before and 'know' you will get a 'yes.'”

In the event you're feeling an extra bout of nerves, Mazzola Wood has a few exercises that can help you feel more prepared. "You will want to breathe into your belly (rather than your chest) and try to make your exhales longer than your inhale," she says, like breathing in for four seconds and out for seven seconds. Visualizing the proposal going well can give you a boost of confidence, but for those of us who like to have a plan for every possible situation, it can also help to envision the worst case scenario.

"No amount of coping well with your nerves will make them go away necessarily," she continues. "This is a big step – it’s natural to be nervous. And most people will say that they didn't feel 'ready' to take the biggest risks of their life i.e. proposing, going after their dream job, but they acted courageously anyway!"

@karolinaski2024 Help me find Jason (i think his name was) who proposed to Megan at the Eras tour Melbourne Night 2! @taylornation #melbournetstheerastour#tstheerastour#taylorswift#taylorsversion#theerastour#proposallovestory#proposalvideo♬ original sound - Karolina💕

Taylor Swift proposals have created a lot of conversation online about whether such a public proposal is appropriate or even enjoyable. "I would be so mad if my nonexistent partner did this to me lol," one Reddit user says. "I actually have a friend who is going with his girlfriend to Eras in Scotland this summer, and they are likely getting engaged fairly soon, and I’m like 'just don’t propose during Love Story.'"

Another disagrees, saying, "If a public proposal is your thing, and you’re a Swiftie, AND a conversation has previously taken place about actually wanting to marry said person, BY ALL MEANS! That is adorable!"

Should your partner have the same interests as you?

While I personally wouldn't want to get engaged in front of so many strangers, these proposals always make me emotional. Because for there to be a proposal in that environment at all, both partners have to actually be at the concert in the first place. After having countless conversations with people who totally dismissed my 14-year love for Taylor Swift's music, and its impact on my own writing, knowing these partners agreed to go to the Eras Tour just because they love their significant other brings a smile to my face. And showing an interest in your partner's hobbies & interests, even when you're not interested in them yourself, can be the sign of a healthy relationship.

"You don't need to have the exact same interests as your partner to be compatible," Raskin says. "But it is important to respect what your partner loves — even if it's not your thing. It can also be lovely to take the time to learn more about why they like it and what parts excite them to understand the appeal — and your partner — better. You might even find you enjoy it more than you originally thought!"

"At the very least you want your partner to feel encouraged to talk about their interests with you because it's a wonderful thing to see the person you love excited about something," she adds. "And it's a horrible thing to feel like you need to hide parts of yourself from the person you love."

Getting to know your partners' interests better can, in turn, help you get to know them better. "One of the best ways to build on your friendship with your partner is to show interest in what brings them joy," Mazzola Wood says. Ask questions about their interests, and dive deeper in to why they love a musical artist, a TV show, or a video game.

"This is what it means to build a 'love map' of your partner which is recommended by relationship researcher John Gottman," she continues. "To strengthen a relationship both partners must build their love map by seeking to understand their partner’s interests and dreams. However, it’s also okay and healthy to take time to enjoy your separate interests alone. Healthy relationships which are centered around friendship do involve balance."

How to make a proposal perfect?

Before you pop the big question, Raskin recommends making sure you're on the exact same page. "Ideally you wouldn't propose to someone before discussing that you both feel ready to get married first. While a surprise proposal is fun, a surprise engagement is a bit too risky for my blood," Raskin says. "You want to have talked about what marriage means to each of you before committing to it."

To make a proposal go as smoothly as possible there are a few things you can do to make the process more enjoyable. "The proposal itself is normally so fast and overwhelming it can be hard to remember later," Raskin admits. "That's why I think having a plan to celebrate more intimately right afterwards can be a great addition. It will give you both a chance to process what happened and rewatch the video (a few thousand times). So maybe have a second spot in mind or a plan to go back home to celebrate just the two of you."

"The best proposal is unique and personal to each couple," Mazzola Wood says. "Trying to make it 'perfect' can take all the joy and fun out of it. Rather the best proposals are ones that honor the unique couple’s journey and interests."

While a world tour might be the perfect place for one couple, another might choose to propose at the spot the couple went on their first date, a local garden, or even at home. "The best proposal goes back to having a clear 'Love Map' of your partner," she says. "If you’re building the friendship and paying attention, you’ll know the right proposal for the two of you."

Peiduo Small LED Light Birch Trees

These tiny trees lit by twinkly LED lights are perfect for topping your mantle or dinner table. I think they add just the right amount of whimsy to your space, no matter how you decorate with them! They're not necessarily Christmas-specific, either. Their simple design allows you to spruce 'em up in all kinds of ways year-round. Similar pieces at Target and Anthropologie range from $21 $68 for one tree, but you can get two trees for just $25 on Amazon right now.

Plaid Throw Pillow Covers

Plaid – specifically red plaid – is timeless when it comes to Christmas decor. It never fails to make a space extra cozy! These 18x18-inch covers are perfect for throw pillows on your bed and couch alike. You can snag this set of 2 in a few other holiday-ready colorways for just $10, and they'll likely last you a while with the right care.

Artgar Real Touch Pine Garland

If you have a mantle, use it! A mantle is prime real estate for Christmas decorations like stockings, candles, and cards – but none of that is truly complete without a good garland! This 6-foot faux pine garland can easily span your mantle to fill in any negative space and simply make things cozier. It comes with attached LED lights (no wall plug necessary, just a few batteries) as well as pinecone accents to make the garland itself feel fuller. Plus, $30 isn't so bad for a statement piece like this!

Vintage Bow Decorative Tray

This piece reminds me of a tray Pottery Barn Teen and LoveShackFancy sells in their collaborative collection, except it literally costs $60 less. It's not a total dupe, but the one thing it does have in common is bows: the most adorable reference to gifting season! I think this $9 pick could be so cute as a serving platter for Christmas desserts or even as a festive catchall you keep on your coffee table throughout the holidays.

Kate Aspen Retro Floral Drinking Glasses

The intricate design on these green-tinted glasses really has me hooked. They'd look so good with any sort of Christmas party tablescape – as long as you're sipping Christmas cocktails out of them! A similar set of 6 is currently being sold on Quince for $48. This one's only $26.