If you spent any time on Twitter back in 2017, you probably remember the "Bachelor" bartender and the Modern Family star flirting in the DMs. It was weird. It was public. Honestly, it felt like a crossover episode nobody asked for but everyone secretly wanted to watch.
But here’s the thing: most people think Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams just had a lucky social media encounter and sailed off into a sunset of red carpets and Rose Ceremonies. The truth is way more intense. Behind the Instagram filters, their relationship was forged in hospital waiting rooms and recovery wards before they even had their first anniversary.
The Twitter Manifestation That Actually Worked
Sarah Hyland basically spoke her husband into existence. Long before they met, she was live-tweeting The Bachelorette like the rest of us. When Wells appeared on JoJo Fletcher’s season in 2016, Sarah didn't hold back. She tweeted about his Lord of the Flies references and called him "the best from the start."
Fast forward to August 2017. Wells is the bartender on Bachelor in Paradise. Sarah tweets her excitement. Wells replies, "The job is yours @Sarah_Hyland."
It’s the kind of interaction that usually dies in the "likes" tab. But Wells actually slid into her DMs. He didn't play it cool; he told her he was taking her out for tacos next time he was in LA. No "hey," no "u up." Just tacos.
The Secret Trial by Fire
Two dates. That’s all they had before things got heavy.
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Most couples are still arguing over where to eat for their third date. Sarah and Wells were dealing with a failing kidney. Sarah has struggled with kidney dysplasia her entire life, and shortly after she started seeing Wells, she needed her second transplant. Her father had donated the first; this time, it was her brother, Ian.
Wells Adams didn't run.
He was living in Nashville at the time, and Sarah was in Los Angeles. He flew out every weekend to sit by her hospital bed. Think about that for a second. You’ve known someone for a few weeks, and suddenly you’re meeting their parents while they’re hooked up to machines. It’s a lot. Sarah later admitted that this was the moment she knew he was "the one." He saw her at her most vulnerable—swollen from steroids, in pain, exhausted—and he stayed.
Why the Wedding Took Forever
By July 2019, Wells popped the question on a private island. The ring was massive. The photos were perfect. Then, the world shut down.
The couple became the poster children for "COVID wedding delays." They postponed their nuptials not once, but twice.
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"We were supposed to get married in 2020. Then 2021. It honestly started to feel like the universe was trolling us," Sarah joked in an interview.
They finally tied the knot on August 20, 2022. It wasn't just a wedding; it was a Modern Family reunion. Jesse Tyler Ferguson (who played Sarah’s uncle Mitch) officiated the ceremony at Sunstone Winery in Santa Barbara. The guest list was a mix of Hollywood royalty and Bachelor Nation—Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, and even Chris Harrison made an appearance.
The Mid-Wedding Venue Swap
Here is a detail most people missed: they had to change locations in the middle of the party.
Santa Barbara has some pretty strict noise ordinances. By the time the after-party rolled around, the couple had to load everyone onto school buses and head to a different winery. Sarah changed four times that night. Her final look was a short, beaded Georges Hobeika Couture dress. By 2:30 a.m., they were back at the winery singing show tunes and Alanis Morissette with a handful of friends.
Life in 2026: More Than Just a Power Couple
As of early 2026, the dynamic between Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams has shifted into a new phase. Sarah has been crushing it on Broadway and Off-Broadway, recently finishing stints in Little Shop of Horrors and The Great Gatsby. Wells is still the resident "wise sage" of the Bachelor franchise, but he’s also leaning heavily into his hosting and podcasting career.
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They’ve been vocal about the "red flags" people try to project onto them—the age gap (he’s six years older) and the income disparity (Sarah's Modern Family money is legendary). But honestly? They seem to ignore the noise.
They live in a massive $4 million home in Los Angeles with their dogs, Carl and Boo. They’ve basically become the "normal" couple in an industry that is anything but.
Lessons from Their Playbook
If you're looking for why they actually work, it's not the fame. It's the "unsexy" stuff:
- Support through the "Ugly" stuff: Don't wait for things to be perfect to commit. Wells showed up when Sarah was at her physical lowest.
- Patience with the Timeline: They waited five years to actually get married. There’s no rush if the foundation is solid.
- Keeping the Humor: If you follow them on social media, they’re constantly roasting each other.
Next Steps for Fans
If you're looking to keep up with the latest on Sarah and Wells, skip the tabloid rumors and go straight to the source. You can listen to Wells' podcast, Your Favorite Thing, where he frequently gives "normal life" updates about their marriage.
For those following Sarah’s health journey, she remains a massive advocate for the National Kidney Foundation. Supporting these organizations is the best way to honor the struggle she’s been so transparent about.
Ultimately, their story isn't a fairy tale—it's a story of resilience, a few well-timed tweets, and a lot of hospital visits that turned into a life together.