Entertainment

Chip & Joanna Gaines: How Their Love Story Began

EntertainmentPublished Jan 17, 2019
By Bethany Quinn
Chip and Joanna Gainesjoannagaines/Instagram

Chip and Joanna Gaines are goals -- relationship goals, decorating goals, parenting goals ... pretty much just everything goals. But their marriage and the sweet chemistry they share is probably the best thing about them. They stole our hearts when their hit HGTV show, Fixer Upper, debuted in 2013, where they took old homes that desperately needed a renovation and turned them into beautiful spaces. They have since capitalized on the success of the show, growing their Magnolia business into a major lifestyle brand. What started as Magnolia Market is now a full-fledged empire that includes a restaurant, bed and breakfasts, a line of furniture, home decor, and so much more.

But how did it all get started? Well, any fan of the show will say it began in Waco, Texas, where Chip and Joanna lived and went to college. More than 15 years of marriage and five kids later, the couple is still going strong.

(They certainly created quite the life for themselves and their family.)

Though they announced  in 2017 that they would no longer be continuing Fixer Upper, the couple has many other projects in the works -- including their own television network. They've also penned a memoir called The Magnolia Story, which gives readers some insight into their lives as a couple and their road to success. From retail to restaurants, television to books, Chip and Joanna are our favorite couple that give us inspiration from everything from parenting to home decor.

Take a look at Chip and Joanna's relationship timeline for even more inspiration.

1/23
Texas or Bust-placeholder
Texas or Bust
joannagaines/Instagram

Texas or Bust

Both Chip and Joanna moved to Waco, Texas, as children with their families who unknowingly set in motion the future of their relationship.

2/23
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Baylor Grads
chipgaines/Instagram

Baylor Grads

They both ended up attending Baylor University in Waco, although they graduated three years apart -- Chip in 1998, and Joanna in 2001.

3/23
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Chip Was Sprung
chipgaines/Instagram

Chip Was Sprung

After college, Joanna worked in her father's auto shop. That's where Chip first saw a picture of her and was instantly smitten.

4/23
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First Meeting
chipgaines/Instagram

First Meeting

When they finally met face to face, they sat outside the auto shop and talked for 30 minutes. The next day, Chip called to officially ask Joanna out.

5/23
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First Date
joannagaines/Instagram

First Date

Chip and Joanna had their first date in 2001, and spent it like true Southerners: eating fried chicken on the porch of a restaurant in Texas.

6/23
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Their Differences United Them
joannagaines/Instagram

Their Differences United Them

Despite having many differences, the two fell in love. Joanna, who was shy, was drawn to Chip's extrovert personality. They shared a common ground in their religious upbringing, which strengthened their relationship.

7/23
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Date #2
joannagaines/Instagram

Date #2

Several months (yes, months) later, Chip asked Joanna on a second date. Even though they hit it off, Chip made a bet with his friend to "see who could hold out the longest before calling [their] dates back," Chip explained in their memoir, The Magnolia Story.

"I really wanted that $50 from John! That's the only reason I didn't call," he wrote.

8/23
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The Proposal
joannagaines/Instagram

The Proposal

After a year of dating, Chip proposed, and it was truly epic. They revealed in their memoir that Chip proposed in front of both their families, and afterward, took Joanna to a jewelry store where she was able to design her own engagement ring.

9/23
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They Got Hitched
joannagaines/Instagram

They Got Hitched

In 2003, Chip and Joanna made it official by getting married in Waco (of course) in a place that looked very much like where the two had their first date, Joanna told Us Weekly.

10/23
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Passions Ignite
joannagaines/Instagram

Passions Ignite

After their honeymoon, Joanna joined Chip flipping houses and discovered her passion for home decor. They bought and renovated their first home together in 2003, when they were just barely getting by as small-business owners.

11/23
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Magnolia Is Born
joannagaines/Instagram

Magnolia Is Born

In 2003, they opened Magnolia Market with a $5,000 loan and started the process of expanding their business and their vision.

12/23
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And Baby Makes ... Six!
joannagaines/Instagram

And Baby Makes ... Six!

Chip and Joanna welcomed their first child, Drake, now 13, in 2005. He was followed by daughter Ella Rose, 11, Duke, 9, and Emmie Kay, 7.

13/23
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Let the Hustle Begin
joannagaines/Instagram

Let the Hustle Begin

Chip and Joanna spent 2003 to 2013 expanding their business and their family. And in 2013, Joanna was approached by a producer for HGTV who had seen her design blog.

14/23
'Fixer Upper' Is Born-placeholder
'Fixer Upper' Is Born
joannagaines/Instagram

'Fixer Upper' Is Born

Fixer Upper became an instant hit with 1.9 million people tuning in to watch the pilot episode. Chip and Joanna quickly became household names, and the beloved TV show was renewed for five seasons.

15/23
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Success & Silos
joannagaines/Instagram

Success & Silos

With the success of their show, Chip and Joanna began a new venture. In 2015, they transformed abandoned silos into a retail center -- subsequently the center of their business -- and turned Waco, Texas, into a tourist destination in the process.

16/23
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Magnolia Multiplied
joannagaines/Instagram

Magnolia Multiplied

With the success of their brand came many new projects -- including a line of paint colors and wallpaper designs, and a bed and breakfast aptly called The Magnolia House. They even launched a quarterly lifestyle magazine called The Magnolia Journal.

17/23
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Their Story, Their Words
joannagaines/Instagram

Their Story, Their Words

In 2016, Chip and Joanna published their memoir The Magnolia Story and gave fans an in-depth look at their relationship and how the Magnolia brand was born.

18/23
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Denying Divorce Rumors
chipgaines/Instagram

Denying Divorce Rumors

In 2017, rumors began to swirl that Chip and Joanna were getting divorced. Chip quickly cleared that up by responding to a fan on Twitter who wrote, "I'm so sick of these 'stories' claiming @joannagaines and @chippergaines breaking up."

"Won't ever happen ... you can take that to the bank! #loveOfMyLife," Chip responded, denying a divorce is on the horizon.

19/23
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Family Over Everything
joannagaines/Instagram

Family Over Everything

With success and fame, Chip and Joanna still manage to focus on each other and maintain a strong marriage. Chip told People magazine in 2017, "For us, the most important thing in the world is Jo and I’s relationship followed very quickly by these four beautiful kids."

20/23
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'Fixer Upper' Ends
joannagaines/Instagram

'Fixer Upper' Ends

After five seasons, Chip and Joanna announced that Fixer Upper would be coming to an end. Chip has since hinted he felt "caged" on the show and that it was a lot for his family to juggle.

21/23
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A Fifth Baby
chipgaines/Instagram

A Fifth Baby

Chip and Joanna surprised the world when they announced they were expecting their fifth child on January 2, 2018. "Gaines party of 7. (If you're still confused, WE ARE PREGNANT)," Chip captioned photo of a pregnant Joanna.

22/23
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Welcome Crew
joannagaines/Instagram

Welcome Crew

Baby Crew was born in June and was the little bundle who completed this family. "Our baby boy, Crew Gaines, is here and we couldn’t be more in love," Joanna Gaines gushed in this Instagram post. "He made an unexpected (and speedy) entrance into the world two and a half weeks early - which is fitting given he was a sweet surprise from day one. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. We are so grateful."

23/23

They're Each Other's Biggest Fans

There's no denying how much Chip and Jo are in love with each other.

(This is seriously cute.)

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