8 Real-Life Couples on the 'Gilmore Girls' Set

Choosing a favorite Gilmore Girls on-screen couple has been a years’ long debate amongst fans and co-stars alike. But whether you love Rory with Jess, Logan or Dean, those couples were only for the show’s purpose. Take a peek at the Gilmore Girls real-life couples over the years to see what really went on!

1. Lauren Graham (Lorelai Gilmore) and Peter Krause (together from 2010-2021)

Although the two actors initially met in 1995 on the set of Caroline in the City, it was 15 years before they began dating. In 2010, they were cast as siblings Sarah and Adam Braverman on the drama, Parenthood. Graham and Krause never married, but they were longtime partners until 2021, when they announced their split.

2. Alexis Bledel (Rory Gilmore) and Jared Padalecki (2000-2001)

Before the actress began seeing Milo Ventimiglia, who played Jess Mariano, Bledel and her first on-screen boyfriend, Jared Padalecki, dated for a short time. The two, who met while on the set of Gilmore Girls, began dating in 2000 when the series began. Although  just a rumor for a time, Padalecki confirmed it in an interview.

He explained, “When Alexis and I met, we were both 17 years old and were both Texans and kind of in this new, strange city and I was, like, ‘Hey, want to go out to dinner?’… We were two 17-year-old kids…  It wasn’t anything super juicy.”

3. Alexis Bledel and Milo Ventimiglia (2003-2006)

Fans of Rory and Jess were thrilled when they found out the couple was together in real life. Bledel and Ventimiglia, who met on set, began dating in late 2002. As they fell in love on-screen, the real-life actors were falling for each other, too. The couple dated for most of the series, even after Ventimiglia was no longer a recurring character, but sadly split in 2006.

4. Alexis Bledel and Vincent Kartheiser (married from 2014-2022)

Everyone wonders who Rory would have been best with on the series, but in real life, Alexis Bledel was married to Vincent Kartheiser. The two began dating in 2011 after they met on the set of Mad Men and married in 2014. The couple had one son together before they eventually split in 2022.

5. Scott Patterson (Luke Danes) and Kristine Saryan (married since 2014)

Although Luke Danes only has eyes for Lorelai, Scott Patterson is married to Kristine Saryan in real life. The couple first met in 2001, but they didn’t marry until 2014. Patterson and Saryan welcomed a son in 2015, and they are still happily married.

6. Milo Ventimiglia (Jess Mariano) and Jarah Mariano (married since 2023)

Milo Ventimiglia, who won our hearts as Jess on Gilmore Girls and again on This is Us, recently married Jarah Mariano in 2023. The two sparked dating rumors in 2022, but it wasn’t until their official wedding announcement that it was made public.

Ventimiglia has shared that he likes to keep his relationships private, explaining, “I try to minimize myself so people can see the character and can really dive into the work. I try and remain as anonymous and invisible as I can, so it doesn’t take away from the experience of the men that I play.”

7. Jared Padalecki and Genevieve Padalecki (married since 2010)

Although he briefly dated Bledel in 2000, the Gilmore Girls alum married Wildfire star Genevieve Padalecki in 2010. They first met on the set of Supernatural in 2008, eventually falling for each other and dating. The couple has had a sweet marriage, welcoming three children over the years, and they remain happily married today.

8. Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone (married since 2005)

Everyone loves Suki and Jackson on Gilmore Girls, but Melissa McCarthy has her own real-life love in Ben Falcone. The couple officially met in 1998 at a comedy class and tied the knot by 2005. McCarthy and Falcone have two daughters together, Vivian and Georgette. Over the years, they have worked on multiple films together, including Bridesmaids (2011), and the comedic duo is still together!

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