Ree and Ladd Drummond's Love Story Is Straight Out of a Western Romance
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If you're like us, you have a short encyclopedia of Pioneer Woman trivia stored in your brain, like the fact that a steak recipe launched her career or that she's a natural redhead. Yet with all of the random Ree Drummond knowledge we've come to learn, nothing comes close to the poignant love story she shares with her Marlboro Man, Ladd Drummond. In the very first issue of The Pioneer Woman Magazine, Ree included a candid recap of how she and her husband first met, and you'd swear it was an excerpt from a modern Western romance novel. Read on for the epic details!
They Almost Didn't Meet
Ree was staying with her parents in Oklahoma over the holidays and prepping for her big move to Chicago the night she met Ladd. She nearly skipped an invite to meet friends at a local dive bar in town, but ended up going at the last minute. She spotted Ladd from across the room and was immediately drawn to his cowboy mystique and decided to get a closer look.
It Took Ladd 4 Months to Call After Meeting Ree
Despite chatting for two hours that night in the bar, Ladd had to make a speedy exit to cook Christmas turkeys for people in his small town. Ree wasn't able to catch his name, let alone exchange numbers, but hoped she wouldn't be too hard to track down. Four months later, Ladd called.
The First Kiss Changed Everything
Ree was just gearing up for her Chicago move when Ladd finally called and asked to take her to dinner the following night. There was something about his take-charge tone that Ree couldn't pass up, so she accepted. Their chemistry became more apparent throughout their dinner date, but it was really solidified by that first kiss. As they approached the front door, Ree's spiked boot heel got stuck and she nearly face-planted, but Ladd caught her. The butterflies in her stomach only intensified after they embraced on the doorstep and finally kissed.
They Have a Special Song
At their wedding reception, they danced to John Michael Montgomery singing "I Swear." Ree especially loves the line in the song that says, "and though I'll make mistakes, I'll never break your heart." After more than two decades, she says they've kept that promise.
Ree Loves Seeing Ladd With the Kids
This picture of Ladd holding their firstborn is one of Ree's favorite photos. "Ohhhhhh, the feelings this evokes," Ree says in her Instagram caption.
Ladd Loves Being Close to Ree While He Works
When Ree asked Ladd what he loves most about living on the ranch, he had the sweetest answer. "Being able to work with the kids. Being able to see you and the kids during the day, taking the kids working, just being close to you all. That's the best thing about living on the ranch."
They've Been Married For More Than Two Decades
More than two decades of marriage, four children, and multiple business ventures later, it's safe to say that Ree and Ladd's romance defines relationship goals. Just read through the sweet captions she writes any time Ladd pops up in her Instagram feed, and prepare to swoon.