Nikki Reed Reveals How Her and Ian Somerhalder’s Romance Began

Nikki Reed Reveals How Her and Ian Somerhalder’s Romance Began

E! News·2025-06-17 06:01

Nikki Reed is swooning over her latest love at first bite.

The Twilight alum recently shared insight into the early days of her relationship with husband Ian Somerhalder—parents to daughter Bodhi, 7, and an 11-month-old son—including how their romance blossomed after a yearslong friendship.

“I was doing something somewhere for 13,” Nikki, 37, said during her June 7 appearance at Vampire Fan Weekend. “He was with a friend and he asked, ‘Who is that person?’ Shortly after that, we were introduced by a friend because we had similar philanthropic goals. We worked in similar areas in that capacity, so we stayed in touch as friends for many many years.”

During that time, she and Ian, 46, were each in relationships with other people. He dated his Vampire Diaries costar Nina Dobrev from 2010 to 2013, while Nikki split fromAmerican Idol alum, Paul McDonald, in 2014 after nearly three years of marriage.

In fact, it was a fateful question about her then-divorce that changed the trajectory of their friendship.

“We were hanging out one day and he asked me, ‘How’s Paul?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, he’s great! We got divorced, but he’s great and we still play music together,’” Nikki explained. “But then he was like, ‘Do you have time for dinner?’”

Then during that dinner, the Lost alum dropped some major news.

“He immediately said, ‘Well, I’m dating someone but I’m gonna go tell her that this is over because it’s always been you,’” she continued before laughing at the memory. “And I was like, ‘No, don’t do that!’ But he was like, ‘No, I waited a certain amount of time.’”

After remaining friends for a little while longer, the two started dating in 2014 and got married a year later in a private ceremony in California. 

Indeed, the Golden State has become a staple in their romance, as the duo relocated from Hollywood to a quiet farm in California over two years ago. And while their move has allowed their kids to reconnect with nature, it’s also influenced them to focus on their future

“He talks about walking away a lot. I don’t view it like a walk away,” Nikki said on the April 24 episode of SiriusXM’s The Julia Cunningham Show. “I sort of view a nice transitional moment right now of figuring out how to really marry business with passion, with, you know, truly walking the walk.”

Keep reading to see more of Nikki and Ian’s cutest moments…

Nikki and Ian pay tribute to their Twilight and Vampire Diaries characters in the actress' first TikTok, shared Jan. 18, 2024.

The Vampire Diaries actor wrote on Instagram Dec. 31, "Yeahhhhhhh 2024!"

The Lost actor praises his wife for helping him get "out of a terrible business situation" that left him in the hospital. "This woman here decided that she didn't want to see her husband ruin his body/mind/spirit and pulled up her bootstraps and got down in the trenches assembling a team to get to the negotiating table to find a way out," he shared. "She devoted her life to getting me out of that mess and it almost killed her along the way. I am where I am BECAUSE of this woman. Brothers Bond Bourbon is actually here today because of this woman. I was able to start my life over because of this woman."

In December 2020, Nikki shared a sweet birthday tribute to her husband, writing, "Happy Happy birthday to this man right here. The most creative, certifiably genius, deepest thinker of anyone I have ever known with the most giving spirit."

Ian and wife Nikki celebrated spring (and being married four years) by sipping on bush chai in the rainforest in April 2019. 

The actor shared this romantic photo, along with a sweet caption about his lady love on their fourth wedding anniversary in 2019. "I'm completely blown away by you...," he began, adding, "Whether dancing at our wedding, swimming across the seas, cuddling one of our furry creatures, jumping on airplanes around the world, snapping beautiful photos or sitting hand and hand looking at the ocean with a beer: we do it all together. It's been nothing short of amazing to breathe the air of the bright blue sky all over this planet with you."

This duo's love is one that clearly defies the laws of physics.

The lovebirds really like locking lips with each other!

In this throwback picture from 2015, the precious pair enjoyed some not-so-covert makeout time.

In another flashback photo—this time from 2014—the Vampire Diaries actor whisked his wife right off her feet!

During New York Fashion Week, the cute couple shared a sweet smooch in the rain.

For Father's Day, the CW star threw it back to this adorable moment where he planted a peck on Nikki's growing baby bump.

The two showed off their fit figures while out on the water in this photo. And clearly, they couldn't keep their hands off each other!

The actress loves doing acrobatics and her hubby loves supporting her (literally!).

This precious photo was posted in honor of the couple's third anniversary and we can't get over the cuteness.

Aw, how romantic. The lovebirds smooched under the setting sun on Valentine's Day.

Aren't these two so cute sharing a kiss at the Golden Globes?

The animal lovers look so cozy laying on the grass next to some beautiful horses in this snap.

The couple loves their PDA.

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