What happens when the world’s hottest R&B singer falls in love with the biggest player in the hip-hop game? You get Beyoncé and Jay-Z of course. Not since Will and Jada has Black America become so consumed with a celebrity couple. The talented twosome will celebrate their first wedding anniversary on April 4, 2009. Join us as we reminisce on some of the special moments of their relationship and help us wish the Carters congratulations!
Always camera-ready, the couple are decked out for the 48th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
Rumors of a romance began to stir when the video for Jay-Z’s “03 Bonnie and Clyde” hit the small screen. Here, Beyoncé poses with Jay wearing his signature Yankee fitted baseball cap for a “TRL” appearance at MTV studios in November 2002. Even in those early days, the two appeared genuinely happy to be around each other.
Beyoncé seems happy to watch the game with her man. (Ladies, take note.) With seats like these, we certainly can’t blame her. The southern belle soaks up a little basketball with her Brooklyn b-boy (and part owner of the New Jersey Nets) at the 2004 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles.
The very private couple shares a special moment aboard a fabulous yacht while on vacation. Jay steps behind the camera to play photographer to his beautiful model in between fun in the sun.
As every couple should, Beyoncé and Jay-Z make sure they are on the same page with one another, especially when it comes to matters of their relationship. “We decide everything,” Beyoncé told ESSENCE.
On April 4, 2008, the inevitable happened when Beyoncé Knowles became Mrs. Shawn Carter in a hush-hush, low-key ceremony at Jay-Z’s Tribeca apartment in New York City. The two, along with their family and closest friends, did a superb job at keeping the planned nuptials a secret, as the international superstars are not ones to boast (but, boy, did he put a ring on it!). April 4th holds much significance for the couple. For starters, Beyoncé and Jay-Z were both born on the fourth day of their respective birthday months—he December and she September.
“We’ve been together a long time. We always knew it would happen,” Beyoncé said simply in a recent interview with ESSENCE.
The trendy twosome coordinate their outfits to attend the Art Basel Miami Beach event in Miami Beach, Florida this past winter.
Beyoncé says it’s important to take time for yourself and discover who you are as an individual before including someone else in your life. “Make sure you have your own life before you’re someone else’s wife,” she said during her appearance on The Oprah Show.
All work and no play is definitely not the mantra of Mr. and Mrs. Carter. These two are often photographed at NBA games—only in courtside seats, of course—but their body language here at the NBA All-Star Game in February 2009 could be an indication that they’re becoming more comfortable being seen in public together. Regardless, we’re addicted to watching these two and witnessing their infectious love affair unfold. Black love is alive and well, and we couldn’t be happier for this talented pair.
Send your anniversary wishes for Beyoncé and Jay-Z below!