Couple Who Met at TODAY’s Speed Dating Event Remains Together

On last Valentine’s Day, TODAY held its inaugural speed dating event, bringing together 18 singles for a chance to connect live on Studio 1A.

Eli Friedman, 26, and Emma Gobillot, 28, were two of the participants who decided to take a leap of faith — and they’re still going strong a year later.

Gobillot shared with TODAY.com that she learned about the event through a friend of a friend. Although she was hesitant to appear on TV, her friend believed Gobillot was the type who would do it for the thrill and encouraged her to participate. So, she did.

“I figured it would be amusing and fun, with the worst-case scenario being just that. Or in the best-case scenario, perhaps I’d meet someone special,” she stated to TODAY.com while playfully squeezing Friedman’s thigh.

Friedman learned about the speed dating event from his roommate’s girlfriend, who encouraged him and another roommate to participate.

“We debated, ‘Do we really want to do this? Are we ready for it?’ Ultimately, we decided to give it a shot because why not?” Friedman, an advertising professional, explained to TODAY.com.

During the segment, attendees had three minutes to chat while Savannah Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager conducted live interviews.

Gobillot, who works for a company that adapts books into TV shows, reflected on the “instant chemistry” she felt with Friedman. He used a pickup line on her that she thought shouldn’t have worked, but surprisingly did.

“I commented, ‘I love your sweater. It looks fantastic,’” Gobillot recalled. “And he replied, ‘It matches your eyes.’”

She found his line to be “very suave” and felt a deep connection throughout their conversation.

Later, Gobillot asked Friedman about his ideal Sunday. To his surprise, that was the very question he had planned to use as an ice-breaker if needed.

“I was already sensing good vibes, and when that happened, I thought, ‘Oh, we have to explore this further,’” he shared.

Friedman envisions his ideal Sunday as a morning stroll, followed by a nice meal and then watching a Ravens game. For Gobillot, it’s a long walk with coffee and a good book. Today, they frequently enjoy their perfect Sundays together — during football season, Friedman watches the game while Gobillot cozies up with her book beside him.

“When our time was up and we had to switch to the next person, I thought, ‘Oh no, I want to stay with her. I want to return,’” Friedman expressed.

After each participant had been on nine dates, they submitted a list indicating whom they were interested in dating. Subsequently, producers paired couples together.

Even though they had an undeniable connection, Friedman and Gobillot were not matched at the end of the event. Friedman was paired with someone else, and Gobillot was informed she had no matches.

“I was taken aback since I expected we would match,” Gobillot stated.

Friedman was also “confused” to learn that Gobillot didn’t have any matches, as he was “very sure” she had selected him, and he knew he had expressed interest in her.

“I ended up being matched with another lovely girl, but as soon as the show concluded, I thought, ‘I shouldn’t let this slip away,’” he reflected.

He reached out to the TODAY producer after the show, inquiring whether Gobillot had been interested in him. Upon learning that she was, he requested her number. Just five minutes after the segment ended, Friedman contacted her.

“I sent a somewhat silly message — ‘I’d love to take you out, even if the TODAY Show isn’t covering it.’ I think that was on a Monday, and we arranged to meet on Thursday,” Friedman recounted.

“He organized a delightful date,” Gobillot noted, to which Friedman joked it was just a bar. Gobillot quickly corrected him, stating it was a “very cool bar.”

A year later, the couple returned to the TODAY Show on February 13 to reflect on their relationship where it all began.

“Did you actually find love on the TODAY Show?” Jenna inquired.

“Yes, ma’am,” Friedman affirmed.

The pair revealed to TODAY that neither had ever participated in speed dating prior to the show.

“And we hope to never have to do it again,” Friedman added.

Jenna suggested they come back to get engaged on the Plaza — and offered to officiate their wedding there as well.

For now, the couple is thrilled to focus on commemorating their one-year anniversary.

“We’re heading to one of our favorite towns in Maine called Belgrade,” Gobillot mentioned.

The New Yorkers believe they wouldn’t have crossed paths if it weren’t for the TODAY Show.

“There’s really no overlap,” Friedman noted. “I’m incredibly thankful to the TODAY Show for bringing us together. Dating can be challenging, especially finding someone outside your social circle, aside from dating online — so this has been wonderful.”