They met on an app. It's the most "modern romance" cliche ever, but for Abbi Jacobson and Jodi Balfour, it worked. Honestly, the world was basically falling apart in 2020, and everyone was stuck inside staring at their phones. So when the Broad City creator and the Ted Lasso star both swiped right on Raya, they weren't looking for a red-carpet spectacle. They were just looking for a connection in a very lonely time.
What followed wasn't just a celebrity fling. It was a slow-burn evolution that eventually led to one of the most talked-about, "cool-girl" weddings in recent memory. If you've been following the timeline, you know they didn't just walk down an aisle. They pivoted through a torrential rainstorm, got ready in a supply closet, and turned a fancy dinner into a "sweaty shoulder" dance party in a windowless Brooklyn basement.
How Abbi Jacobson and Jodi Balfour Redefined the Celebrity Power Couple
The thing about Abbi Jacobson and Jodi Balfour is that they don't feel like a manufactured Hollywood pair. They feel like people you’d actually want to grab a beer with. Abbi, known for her sharp wit and the chaotic energy of Broad City, and Jodi, the South African actress who has played everything from a queer astronaut in For All Mankind to a high-stakes venture capitalist in Ted Lasso, found a weirdly perfect rhythm together.
The Lockdown Love Story
It started virtually. For months, they were just faces on a screen.
Balfour later told Cultured Magazine that she had a "very complex theory" about her own relationship to romance before she met Abbi. Basically, she’d overthought it. But when she finally saw Abbi standing outside her front door for their first real-life meeting, all that theory went out the window. She just knew. Abbi felt it too—she actually made Jodi walk into the backyard alone for a second just so she could have a private freak-out moment to tell herself, "Oh God, I'm in love."
- 2020: Met on Raya during the height of the pandemic.
- October 2021: Officially "hard-launched" the relationship on Instagram for their one-year anniversary.
- August 2022: The engagement happened in London.
- June 2024: The wedding that broke the internet (and several pairs of tights).
The proposal was typical for them. Abbi flew to London to visit Jodi on set, carrying a toy ring from her childhood. She popped the question, only for Jodi to reveal she’d also bought a ring. It was kismet. Or maybe just two people being very much on the same page.
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The Public Records Wedding: "Gay Chaos" in Brooklyn
When the news dropped in June 2024 that the couple had finally tied the knot at Public Records in Gowanus, the photos were everywhere. But the behind-the-scenes details were what really made it human. New York weather is notoriously unpredictable, and a massive rainstorm decided to crash the party right as things were supposed to start.
Instead of an outdoor ceremony, everything got crammed inside.
Abbi and Jodi ended up getting ready in a literal supply closet because the venue's layout had to be completely flipped. Think about that: two of the most successful women in television, huddled among mops and extra chairs, putting on their wedding dresses.
The "Sweaty Shoulder" Vibe
They didn't go for the traditional bridal boutique look. Both wore off-the-rack dresses from The Row (Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s brand). Abbi went with a sleek black gown, while Jodi wore white. Later, they swapped into vintage pieces—Versace chainmail for Abbi and Vivienne Westwood for Jodi.
The goal for the night was "sweaty shoulders."
When they first started texting, Abbi asked Jodi what she missed most about pre-COVID life. Jodi’s answer? The feeling of being in a crowded room where everyone is dancing and shoulders are touching. They got exactly that. Because of the rain, their friends were packed onto stools, peeking through plants, and sitting on top of booths in a dark, wooden room with a massive disco ball.
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It wasn't a stiff, curated event. It was a "different dimension." Their moms did the hora. People who don't even smoke were lighting up. It was a raucous, beautiful mess.
Why This Relationship Resonates in 2026
We're currently in an era where celebrity relationships often feel like branding exercises. But with Abbi Jacobson and Jodi Balfour, there’s a level of transparency that feels refreshing. They’ve been open about the "dark night of the soul" vibes of meeting during a pandemic and the evolution of their own identities.
Jodi only publicly came out as queer in 2021, shortly before they went public as a couple. She’s spoken about how meeting Abbi was the "pinnacle" of her own self-discovery. For Abbi, who came out as bisexual in 2018, the relationship has been a visible extension of the authenticity she’s always brought to her work, from Broad City to the queer-centric reboot of A League of Their Own.
Beyond the Wedding: What’s Next?
As of 2026, both are busier than ever. Abbi continues to develop projects that center on underrepresented voices, while Jodi has become a staple of prestige TV. They still show up on red carpets—most recently at the Lilies Not For Me premiere—looking like they’re having more fun than anyone else in the room.
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What You Can Learn From Their Story
If you're looking for "relationship goals," stop looking for the perfect, polished version. The Jacobson-Balfour saga proves a few things about making it work in the real world:
- Embrace the Pivot: Whether it’s a career change or a rain-soaked wedding, the ability to laugh in a supply closet is more important than a perfect plan.
- Vulnerability Wins: Both women have been vocal about their "complex theories" on love. Being honest about your hesitations makes the eventual "yes" much more meaningful.
- Community Matters: They didn’t just invite celebrities; they invited their "partners in crime"—the chefs, florists, and friends who helped them turn a potential disaster into a legendary night.
Keep an eye on their upcoming projects, as both are slated for major production roles this year. Their partnership isn't just a personal success; it's becoming a creative powerhouse in the industry. For more on how to maintain a grounded perspective in a high-pressure environment, look at how they’ve balanced their public personas with their private lives—keeping the "sweaty shoulder" moments for themselves and their closest circle.