It Goes Down in the DMs! Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams: A Timeline of Their Relationship

Credit: Getty Images (3); Courtesy Sarah Hyland/Instagram

It Goes Down in the DMs! Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams: A Timeline of Their Relationship

For the right reasons! Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams are proof that Instagram can be the beginning of a beautiful love story. Us Weekly exclusively revealed that the Modern Family star and the Bachelor in Paradise bartender were dating in October 2017. Months later, Hyland shared that the twosome met over social media. “Have you seen those memes of ‘Slide Into the DMs’? That. He slid into my DMs,” the actress explained on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in January 2018. “I thought he was funny, and he was a fan of [my] show. I saw him as the bartender and I was like, ‘That’s really cute!’” Hyland referred to Adams’ decision to privately message her as the perfect balance of “sexy,” but not “aggressive.” “I was single, obviously, and was like, ‘This is really awesome. You’re being very forward,” she said at the time. “But very confident and sexy, and I liked that.” The twosome took the next step in their relationship during the summer of 2018 when they decided to move in together in Los Angeles. [jwplayer BGtyhTIY-zhNYySv2] Hyland later credited Adams for helping her cope with with kidney dysplasia, a debilitating illness that once led her to contemplate suicide. “He’s seen me at my worst,” she told Self magazine in December 2018. “I think that’s why I feel the most beautiful in his eyes, because he still finds me beautiful after seeing all that. It was a really intimate start to a relationship to have to go through those hurdles at the very, very, very beginning when you’re just even getting to know a person.” Adams, in return, called his girlfriend the “real-life version” of Wonder Woman that same month. “Imagine having a vital organ replaced. Imagine having 16 surgeries, going to hundreds of doctors visits and taking thousands of pills. Imagine losing crazy weight because of dialysis, medication side effects and stress. Then imagine, having to do it all over again. This time keeping it quiet while you recovered, all while trolls on the internet judged you for your appearance,” the podcast host told Us Weekly exclusively of Hyland’s health journey at the time. “Oh, and throw in filming the funniest show on TV and executive producing and starring in a movie … and never breaking down. Never losing it. I know Gal Gadot is Wonder Woman on film, but Sarah is the real-life version.” Adams and Hyland got engaged in July 2019. “That can’t eat, can’t sleep, reach for the stars, over the fence, world series kind of stuff,” the comedy actress captioned a photo from the beach proposal, quoting the 1995 film It Takes Two.

After postponing their nuptials amid the coronavirus pandemic, Hyland and Adams finally tied the knot in August 2022.

Credit: Courtesy Sarah Hyland/Instagram

October 2017

Us broke the news in October 2017 that the twosome had been “seeing each other for months.” 

Credit: Courtesy Sarah Hyland/Instagram

November 2017

Hyland and Adams were heating up by November 2017. “It is getting more serious as time passes,” an insider told Us at the time. “They really like each other.”

Credit: Courtesy Sarah Hyland/Instagram

December 2017

The duo dropped the L-bomb on social media as they celebrated their first holiday season together in December 2017.

Credit: Courtesy Sarah Hyland/Instagram

January 2018

Adams accompanied Hyland to the 2018 Golden Globes in January. 

Credit: Courtesy Sarah Hyland/Instagram

June 2018

The Bachelorette alum supported the actress in June 2018 amid a major health scare years after her first life-saving kidney transplant.

Credit: Walter McBride/Getty Images

August 2018

The pair took their relationship to the next level by moving in together during the summer of 2018. “I think it’s brought us closer,” Hyland told Us in August 2018. “I don’t think it’s been long enough to discover pet peeves with each other. I think we’re in that honeymoon phase of living together, so it’s good that nothing is already starting because then I think that’d be a bad sign.”

Credit: Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images

September 2018

Shortly before their one-year anniversary, the Greek Charming star told Us that Adams was “The One.” 

“It’s been perfect,” she gushed at the time.

Credit: JB Lacroix/WireImage

January 2019

The radio personality confirmed to Us in January 2019 that he was going to propose in the future. “We just moved in together, so I think we’re still kind of, like, feeling each other out, but … it’s gonna happen eventually,” he explained at the time.

Credit: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Audi

February 2019

Hyland commemorated Valentine’s Day in February 2019 by sharing throwback text messages of Adams supporting during her second kidney transplant.

“Good luck! You’ll do great! FaceTime me after when you’re loopy. Also, I like you,” Adams texted Hyland back in September 2017 before they were official. 

Credit: Courtesy Sarah Hyland/Instagram

July 2019

Adams popped the question during a beachfront proposal on July 16, 2019.

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October 2019

Kids on the brain! Adams exclusively told Us Weekly that he "would love" to start a family with Hyland. "I’d like to have more than one,” the Bachelorette alum said. “I’m older, I’m mid-30s, but she’s still in her 20s, so I don’t think we’re there yet. But I think it’ll be a thing that eventually happens for sure.” He also noted that the airport TSA nearly ruined his proposal to the actress just months earlier. “I hid [the engagement ring] in my drone case and then when I flew into Fiji — if you have a drone, and they see it in the X-ray, they inspect it,” he recalled to Us. “I was really scared that they were going to open the drone case and she was going to see the box that said LS [for Lorraine Schwartz] and it was going to be over.”

Credit: Courtesy of Sarah Hyland/Instagram

October 2019

The couple celebrated their second anniversary by writing sweet tributes to each other on social media. "Two years ago I asked when you were going to ask me to be your girlfriend. This summer you asked me to be your wife. If two years feels like a lifetime then I can’t wait to spend my eternity with you. You’re the calm to my storm. The sun to my moon. The Chandler to my Monica. I can’t wait to marry you @wellsadams," the Modern Family star wrote via Instagram. "Happy two years baby #ToPlutoAndBack." In the comments section, Adams chimed in: "I love you +1 anything you say." He also posted his own message on his personal account, adding: "I knew I was gonna marry her the 1st night I met her. But I guess how anniversary’s work, it’s when you decide to become boyfriend/girlfriend. Whatever, I lost that battle. You’re my person and I can’t wait to drop this day as our anniversary and make a new one with all our friends watching, while they judge our wedding and eat and drink for free...buncha deadbeats."

Credit: Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

June 2020

In June 2020, the couple confirmed that all wedding planning was put "on hold" amid the coronavirus pandemic. "All of my family is mostly on the East Coast, so for them to fly out ... just ages and of course with my health risks, we want to be as safe as possible," she said.

Credit: Courtesy Sarah Hyland/Instagram

July 2020

The pair celebrated their one-year engagement anniversary via social media in July. "One year engaged to my best friend," she captioned two Instagram photos. "So grateful to be quarantined with the love of my life. One day we’ll get married, but for now, I’ll take eating junk food and Netflix all day every day. I love you to Pluto and back baby." He also shared pics from the proposal, writing, "A year ago today I asked my best friend to marry me. Best decision of my life. Happy engagement anniversary @sarahhyland, I love you +1 anything you say."

Credit: Courtesy Wells Adams/Instagram

October 2020

Hyland shared a series of throwback photos on Instagram in October 2020 to mark her third year of romance with the reality TV star. "Three years ago I asked you when YOU were going to ask ME to be your girlfriend. Now we're engaged and in the midst of surviving a global pandemic. There's no one else I'd rather be quarantining with," the actress wrote at the time. "Being with you literally 24/7 over the past several months has only made our relationship stronger and I'm so lucky to call you my fiancé. I love you to Pluto and back! Happy anniversary sugar balls 😜."

Adams penned his own tribute to his lucky lady, writing via Instagram, "Happy anniversary sugar tits! The list of things I love about you is longer than my tongue 😛😬love you +1 anything you say."

Credit: Courtesy of Wells Adams/Instagram

November 2020

"Happy 30th birthday @sarahhyland!" the Bachelor Nation alum wrote via Instagram alongside a slideshow of his favorite pictures of his future wife as she marked a milestone birthday in November 2020. "Here's a bunch of pictures that make me very excited about the next 30! Especially the last one  I love you the moistest! Sorry, mostest! To Pluto and back!"

Credit: Michael Simon/startraksphoto.com

January 2021

Adams opened up about how the coronavirus pandemic has changed the couple’s plans for their wedding, which was originally set for August 2020. “I don’t know if a lot of your fans know this, but [Sarah is] immunocompromised. She’s a transplant recipient, so she takes pills so that she doesn’t reject this new kidney in her body,” he explained on the “Click Bait with Bachelor Nation” podcast. “We have to be super careful about the pandemic, more so than most people our age. We had to push it the first time around, that was tough. The thought was to push it to this year.”

Although they intend to now say “I do” in the summer of 2021, he hinted at possible alternatives the pair have discussed in case they have to delay their in-person ceremony again. “If this thing continues and we’re not able to do it, we’ll do a courthouse. I’m really pushing for Vegas — powder blue suits, Elvis officiant,” he said. 

Credit: Courtesy of Sarah Hyland/Instagram

May 2021

The Lion Guard alum gushed over her fiancé on his 37th birthday in May 2021. “It’s the love of my life’s birthday!!!! Thank you for always dancing silly, singing loudly, laughing contagiously, and loving endlessly,” she wrote via Instagram alongside two photos of the couple. “I miss you more than words can say and, if it’s possible, I love you even more than that. Since we can’t be together, I’d like for everyone to do a classic @wellsadams shimmy in celebration of you! To Pluto and Back Sugar Balls. Can’t wait to finally marry you one day 💋.”

Credit: Courtesy of Sarah Hyland/Instagram

October 2021

The New York native shared poolside selfies with the radio personality via Instagram on October 15, writing, “Four years of love, travel, laughter, and trust. You’re my world and beyond. One day we’ll get married… and I CAN NOT WAIT for that day. But for now… posing with canned seltzers is more than enough 😂.”

She continued in her post, “I’m so grateful to be able to call you my life partner and best friend. I love you +1 anything you say @wellsadams I am the luckiest ❤️ *cue Ben Folds*.”

Credit: Rob Latour/MPTF/Shutterstock

November 2021

"Happy birthday to my beautiful bride-to-be. So often I’m in awe of your natural elegance that I have to capture it. Here are some of my favorite portraits that I’ve taken of you, my love. These are all pictures from epic adventures, and I just have to say ... get ready for another one 😏. I love you plus one anything you say. Happy birthday, baby!" Adams wrote via Instagram in November 2021. 

Credit: Courtesy of Sarah Hyland/Instagram

December 2021

“Fosse but make it Christmas 💃🏼🎅🏼,” Hyland captioned a series of photos via Instagram with her fiancé over the holiday weekend.

Credit: Courtesy of Sarah Hyland/Instagram

June 2022

"Soooooo I finally had my bridal shower yesterday!" Hyland shared via her Instagram Story, showing off photos from her fun-filled bash, which included a special surprise from her groom-to-be.

Credit: Courtesy Sarah Hyland/Instagram

July 2022

The actress celebrated her pending nuptials with a bachelorette party in Mexico. "I love these humans with all of my heart and feel so much gratitude for the space we hold for each other. You all are MAGIC ✨," she captioned an Instagram slideshow at the time.

Credit: Photo Image Press/Shutterstock

August 2022

The pair held their long-awaited wedding surrounded by their loved ones and several of her Modern Family costars. “#sarahandwells wedding❤️❤️❤️❤️,” Sofia Vergara captioned an August 20 Instagram photo with Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Nolan Gould.

Credit: Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

September 2022

The Best in Dough host admitted to Us that he “cried the entire time” during his wedding to Hyland.

“I was crying like a baby when she turned the corner with her dad and then I was hugging her dad and I was crying with him, then reading the vows, I was crying and you know what … she didn’t really cry at all,” Adams added, noting their reception was a lot of fun. “And I was like, ‘What the heck? What’s going on?!’”

Credit: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

October 2022

The pair celebrated their 5-year anniversary with a joint Instagram post.

"5 years of I love you's today 💕 Happy half a decade baby 💋," they both captioned a snap of themselves kissing during sunset.

Below the Modern Family alum’s photo, Adams commented, "✋ on butt. 😏" — referencing where his hands were placed on his wife in the snapshot.

In a follow-up post, the Bachelor in Paradise bartender revealed that the lovebirds were currently enjoying their honeymoon together. "Honeymoon Happy," he wrote alongside a picture of himself in a pool.

Credit: Courtesy of Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams/Instagram

January 2023

Hyland took to social media to share how the newlyweds rang in the new year together. 

“Ta-Hoes 2023 ✨🪩,” she wrote via Instagram alongside a carousel of images from the festive fun. In one photo, the couple shared a midnight smooch while donning their NYE best, while in a separate snap, Adams dipped his bride as he stuck his tongue out of the camera. Other stills included the twosome posing with other party guests including pal Chord Overstreet.