Barack and Michelle Obama celebrate 33 years of marriage with touching tributes and timeless memories

Posting on Instagram, Barack wrote: “The best decision I ever made was marrying you, @MichelleObama. For 33 years, I’ve admired your strength, grace, and determination — and the fact that you look so good doing it all. Happy anniversary!”

The Obamas, among the world’s most admired couples, have shared more than three decades of partnership, raising two daughters — Malia, 26, and Sasha, 23 — while navigating public life with warmth and humour.

How their story began

Their romance began in 1989 at a Chicago law firm where Michelle Robinson, a Harvard Law graduate, was assigned to mentor a promising young intern — Barack Obama.

Michelle initially dismissed the idea of dating him as “tacky” since they worked together, but after Barack offered to quit his job, she agreed to go out with him.

Their first date — a stroll through Chicago, a visit to the Art Institute, and a shared scoop of chocolate ice cream — became the stuff of legend. “

That was our first kiss!” Barack fondly recalled years later in a video marking their 20th anniversary.

From courtship to commitment

Two years later, Barack proposed in a way only he could — mixing wit with heart.

As Michelle recounted during a 2018 appearance on The Late Show while promoting her memoir Becoming, Barack often questioned whether marriage was necessary for two people in love.

During dinner one night, as they debated the topic yet again, a waiter arrived with dessert — and a ring box.

Barack opened it and said, “Now that ought to shut you up.” Michelle laughed, “And it did.”

They married in Chicago on October 3, 1992.

Michelle once shared that Barack had woken up with a nasty cold on their wedding day but that it “miraculously disappeared” by the time he met her at the altar.

“We ended up dancing almost all night,” she recalled.

“Thirty-three years later, we’re still having fun while doing the hard work to build our partnership.”

A partnership that continues to inspire

Over the years, the Obamas have celebrated their relationship with public notes, heartfelt posts, and glimpses into the life they’ve built together.

On their 31st anniversary in 2023, Barack described Michelle as “brilliant, kind, funny and beautiful,” while she wrote, “I love going through life with you by my side.”

As they mark 33 years of marriage, Barack and Michelle Obama remain a portrait of enduring companionship — a partnership grounded in mutual respect, laughter, and unwavering love that continues to inspire millions around the world.