Vanessa Bryant remembers wedding day with Kobe as she marks their 20th anniversary: ‘Love you forever’

Vanessa Bryant has shared heartfelt tributes to her late husband Kobe Bryant in honour of their 20th wedding anniversary. 

The couple tied the knot on April 18, 2001 at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in California, just six months after they began dating. 

Sharing fond memories of their marriage on Sunday, Vanessa posted a photo of her and Kobe kissing on their wedding day with the caption: ‘Happy Anniversary, baby. I love you. 20 years. ❤️.’ 

Vanessa then posted a montage clip of their sweet moments together, including an interview where Kobe said: ‘My wife Vanessa, it’s fun. We have a good time together. I love her tremendously but we’re best friends too. It’s a blessing.’ 

She added in the caption: ‘I love you for now, forever and for always @kobebryant ❤️❤️.’ 

Her celebrity pals left supportive messages as she marked the bittersweet day, with Khloe Kardashian commenting heart emoji while adding: ‘I love you V.’ 

Lala Anthony wrote: ‘Love u so much V. Forever love. always here for u.’ 

Lily Collins said: ‘Sending all the love.’ 

Kobe died in January 2020 at the age of 41 alongside their 13-year-old daughter Gianna, in a helicopter crash that also killed seven others. 

The NBA legend was survived by Vanessa and their three other daughters; Natalia, 18, Bianka, four, and Capri, one. 

Vanessa and Kobe met in 1999 on-set of a music video when she was 17 and he aged 21. 

Their marriage experienced a rough patch in 2011 when Vanessa filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences. However, the couple later announcing they were working on their marriage and got back together. 

One month before his death, Kobe celebrated the 20th anniversary of him meeting Vanessa and wrote in an Instagram post: ‘On this day 20 years ago I met my best friend, my Queen @vanessabryant. 

‘I decided to take her on a date to Disneyland tonight to celebrate old school style (pre 4princesses). I love you mamacita per sempre.’ 

Kobe also spoke about the longevity of their relationship and said on Showtime Basketball’s All The Smoke the following month: ‘We’ve seen couples that have been, like, 85 years old and you look and you’re like, “Oh man, such an old, sweet couple”, and I’d go talk to them because I wanna know … .

‘One time a guy goes, “Yeah it’s great, but she just kicked me out of the bed last night, I was sleeping on the couch last two nights”.’

He added: ‘That’s all the beauty of it: having the persistence and determination to work through things — very, very tough things — and we’ve been able to do that.’ 

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