When you think of love and partnership, the Napier family—Erin and Ben—might just be one of the most inspiring couples out there. Their journey, which started way back in 2004, has been nothing short of a fairytale. They first stole our hearts when they made their HGTV debut with Home Town in 2016. Since then, they’ve taken us on a ride with multiple spin-offs, best-selling books, and a peek into their cozy life in Laurel, Mississippi. Stick with me as we dive deeper into their love story and find out if this dream couple is still going strong.
Back in 2004, fate brought Erin and Ben together in college. Erin was working on the school yearbook, and she had the task of interviewing Ben after a few random encounters. You might not believe this, but Erin was instantly smitten with Ben, who was the life of the campus. He wasn’t just popular; he was the kind of guy who made everyone around him feel special.
Erin opened up to People in April 2020, saying, “He was like a celebrity crush to me. He was involved in every club, super popular, but not exclusive. I’d see him pulling up a chair beside someone eating alone in the cafeteria, and that’s the kind of guy he was.”
Read also:Inside Rick Springfields Love Story With Barbara Porter A Journey Of Decades
Fast forward a few days, and they were already declaring their love for each other. Erin wrote in a December 2010 blog post, “It shook me to my core to hear him say that. After only six days, and knowing he’d never said that to anyone before me — I was overjoyed.”
Ben also recalls the moment he realized he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Erin. He told USA Today in December 2023, “We were sitting in her car, in her Beetle that we still have, eating cheese sticks, and it just felt different. It felt important. And on December 13, I told her that I was in love with her, and I wanted to marry her.”
Ben popped the question in September 2007 at a bookstore, and they tied the knot in November 2008 at the University of Mississippi’s Paris Yates Chapel. Erin began sharing their home renovation journey online, and their charming craftsman cottage caught the eye of an HGTV producer. By 2016, Home Town was on air, captivating audiences nationwide.
The answer is a resounding yes! Erin and Ben’s love story continues to thrive. They’re still happily married, working together on renovation projects around Mississippi, and expanding their media empire. In 2021, Ben launched his own spin-off, Home Town: Ben’s Workshop, while another spin-off, Home Town Takeover, aired the same year.
In April 2022, they added a fourth show to their lineup, Home Town Kickstart, where HGTV stars lead home design projects across the U.S. with insights from Erin and Ben. Ben told HGTV, “Erin and I have renovated more than 80 homes in Laurel for Home Town, and we’ve seen how these improvements can transform a community for the better. Now, with HGTV’s help, we’re going to continue what we started and help more small towns across the country.”
In November 2021, they celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary. Erin expressed her gratitude on Instagram, writing, “I’m so very thankful for you and the life we’ve made together. Thank you for loving me.”
Read also:Hoda Kotbs Suburban Dream A New Home Full Of Love And Memories
Ben keeps the romance alive, leaving Erin love notes every morning. He told USA Today, “Every day, I wake up and I want her to fall in love with me that day. I want to win her over that day.”
On their 15th wedding anniversary, Erin wrote a heartfelt tribute to Ben on Instagram, sharing a photo from their wedding day. “I sometimes think of all the people in the world, and how the earth is just this tiny dusty speck in the universe. And somehow, we managed to find each other,” she wrote. “Thank you, Lord, for 15 years in a marriage that feels like home and comfort and assurance and strength and LOVE.”
Erin and Ben always dreamed of starting a family. However, Erin faced a significant health challenge when she was diagnosed with a perforated appendix after years of stomach pain. She underwent multiple surgeries and feared that her dream of having children might not come true.
She opened up about her struggles in an October 2018 interview with People, saying, “I was very sad. Not knowing is always the biggest hurdle for me to overcome. I like to have proof. And we had no proof that I would be able to have kids.”
But on Mother’s Day in 2017, Erin found out she was pregnant with their first child. Their eldest daughter, Helen, was born in January 2018, and their youngest daughter, Mae, was born in May 2021. Watching their daughters grow up in their beautiful home fills Erin and Ben with immense joy.