On September 21, 2025, Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi quietly marked a major milestone: one year of marriage. The “Stranger Things” star and the son of rock legend Jon Bon Jovi, who married in May 2024, have spent that year weaving together two lives of youth, celebrity, and new parenthood. Their first wedding anniversary comes amid excitement, reflection, and a deepening sense of partnership. This article examines the story of their relationship, how they marked their anniversary, what their first year has revealed, and what challenges and opportunities lie ahead.

A Wedding, Two Ceremonies, One Commitment

Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi first tied the knot in a private, intimate ceremony in May 2024. That ceremony was small—family only—reflecting their desire to keep some moments private. Later in September 2024, they held a larger celebration in Italy (Villa Cetinale), surrounded by friends and extended family.

These two weddings reflect dual aspects of their union: deeply personal commitment, and openness to celebration with loved ones. As Brown has expressed in interviews, the private moments were important to her; the public celebration, too, helped share joy.

How They Celebrated: Anniversary Tributes & Family News

To mark their first anniversary, both Millie and Jake posted heartfelt tributes on Instagram:

Millie posted a black-and-white photo from their wedding day and captioned it: “1 year married 🤍. I love being your wife.”

Jake also shared a photo from their large wedding, writing: “One year in the books, many more to go. I love you so much my beautiful wife. Happy anniversary 💕.”

These public expressions were paired with a major life event: just weeks prior, the couple announced that they had adopted a baby girl in August 2025. The adoption marked a significant expansion of their lives together and was framed in their social media statement as “a beautiful next chapter of parenthood in both peace and privacy.”

Reflections from the First Year

Because Brown and Bongiovi are relatively young (Brown is ~21, Jake ~23), their first year of marriage has already been rich with experiences that many couples may not face until later. Here are some of the reflections and themes that have emerged:

Maturity and Shared Values

Millie has publicly spoken about how she and Jake shared important conversations before marriage—about political views, what kind of home they envisioned, family planning, careers. She’s said these discussions helped her know he was “the one” for her

This level of alignment in the early stage appears significant, especially given the pressures of fame. Having a foundation of shared values can help buffer the stressors that public lives bring: constant scrutiny, travel, acting projects, media narratives.

Balancing Private and Public

Millie has expressed a strong desire to keep certain moments of her life private—wedding planning, special family moments. She has said that because some things in life happen only once, they deserve to be protected from public scrutiny.

The anniversary tributes, though public, appear carefully handled—not overly flashy, focused more on sentiment than spectacle. There’s a balance they seem to be trying to strike: sharing love with the world, yet preserving intimacy.

Parenthood and Growth

Adopting a child is a life‑altering step in any marriage; doing so in the first year adds complexity. Sources close to the couple describe Millie as “focused and devoted” to her new role as a young mother. They have chosen to keep many details of their daughter’s life private.

The decision reflects both an embrace of new responsibilities and a determination to control the narrative around their family. It suggests that their first year has not just been about love and celebrity, but also deep transition

What They’ve Learned & What’s Been Challenging

While much of what the public sees is positive—with affection, mutual support, and shared milestones—first years are rarely without tension. Based on past interviews and common issues for young couples in high‑visibility situations, we can infer some challenges and lessons:

Managing expectations: Being married young, in the limelight, there are high external expectations. Some of this pressure likely comes from family, the media, fans. Millie publicly speaks of the importance of authenticity and alignment, suggesting awareness that external expectations can be burdensome.

Career demands: Millie continues in acting, production, interviews, premieres; Jake is building his own path. Synchronizing schedules, managing travel, and balancing work and home life is likely a constant negotiation.

Privacy and boundary setting: The desire to protect “once in a lifetime” moments suggests that boundary setting has been essential. They appear to be defining what they share (anniversary posts, adoption announcement) and what they keep close.

Growth together: As individuals, they are still young. People change. Over time, priorities shift. Having aligned values early helps, but maintaining flexibility, communication, and willingness to adapt are key.

Reactions: Family, Fans, and Support

The couple has generally received public commentary that is supportive; one voice especially worth noting is that of Jake’s father, Jon Bon Jovi.

Jon Bon Jovi has recently spoken about becoming a first‑time grandfather, calling the experience “wonderful.” He remarked that both Millie and Jake are “mature beyond their years,” and that the families on both sides have values that mesh well. He also mentioned that Millie’s own family married relatively young, which adds a dimension of generational continuity to some of the choices Millie and Jake are making.

Fans have also expressed admiration for how grounded the couple seems, especially in the face of intense media attention and early life changes (marriage, adoption). Many have pointed out that their handling of family announcements shows a seriousness and thoughtfulness often missing in celebrity relationships. Of course, some critics express concerns about marrying young or taking on parenthood early, but much of the recent media framing has been favorable.

Beyond Year One: Future Plans & Considerations

Looking ahead, what might this second year—and beyond—look like for Millie and Jake?

Building Family LifeWith a new daughter at home, their priorities naturally shift. The challenge will be integrating parenthood with existing career demands, and ensuring that family life provides emotional support and stability.

Continued Work and Professional GrowthMillie has multiple projects ahead (including her role in Stranger Things, upcoming films, possibly production). Jake will likely continue developing his own career. Supporting each other’s ambitions without losing sight of “us time” will matter.

Personal Growth and Maintaining Alignment
As the trajectory of their lives changes—through parenthood, changing roles, possibly more public attention—they’ll need ongoing communication about goals, values, family, home, lifestyle. The early alignment they’ve cited helps, but continual re‑evaluation is important.

Maintaining Privacy and Mental Health
Since they seem to value privacy for certain moments, protecting mental health from overexposure or public pressure will likely remain a priority. It also benefits their child (as the daughter grows) to have a balanced home life, shielded somewhat from celebrity glare if possible.

What Their First Anniversary Reveals About Marriage, Youth, and Choice

Millie Bobby Brown & Jake Bongiovi’s first year together highlights several larger cultural themes:

Young Marriage in the Spotlight: Being married in their early 20s, and achieving major life steps (wedding, adoption) so early, challenges stereotypes about maturity and timing. Their public narrative suggests that age is not the only predictor of readiness; alignment, values, and shared vision seem equally vital.

Parenthood by Choice: Adopting a child early in marriage is a serious, intentional step. It shows that the couple is making decisions not merely of convenience but of values: choosing to expand their family and committing to parenting.

Authenticity vs. Curation: The manner in which they’ve shared their life – selective public posts, protective privacy – underscores how many young celebrities today are trying to strike a balance. Fans expect transparency, but too much exposure can undermine the authenticity of intimate moments.

Generational Influence: Both Millie’s and Jake’s families have some history of relationships and marriages at younger ages. These influences appear to shape their approach, not in a prescriptive way, but by giving models and examples. Millie has said in interviews that having parents who married young helped her see love and marriage differently.

Conclusion

One year into marriage, Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi have already shared joy, grown together, and entered parenthood. Their first anniversary isn’t merely a celebration of what they’ve done—it reveals how they choose to live, what they value, and how they navigate love under public gaze.

The anniversary posts—simple, affectionate, not showy—speak volumes: they seem grounded, intentional, and mindful of both what it means to love and what it means to protect love. The adoption of their child adds depth and complexity, but seems embraced with intention and privacy.

What stands out most is that this first year has been less about proving anything to the world, and more about aligning two lives, supporting each other’s growth, and building something sustainable. It’s early, and many challenges surely lie ahead—but for now, they appear to be navigating their young marriage with humility, affection, and a clear sense of purpose.