The Wilsons' secret to love: how Ciara and Russell are connecting couples

“This video is for Ciara and Russell Wilson only… if you’re not them, please keep scrolling,” TikTok user Leezasmith shared her plea among many others. “Ciara and Russell, if you’re expanding your matchmaking business to regular folks, sign me up!”

That’s how a playful TikTok plea went viral recently. 

The internet has realised that the Wilsons might be doing more than couple dancing challenges - they’re quietly becoming Hollywood’s favourite real-life matchmakers. 

First, there was Normani and DK Metcalf’s engagement, which the couple revealed that it had been sparked by their mutual friends Ciara and Russell.

Just a few months later, fans celebrated as Grammy-winning singer Coco Jones and NBA player Donovan Mitchell announced they were tying the knot, again with a subtle Wilson connection behind the scenes. Congratulations to the pair. 

But what makes so many of us keep asking Ciara for “the prayer” she famously made to meet Russell?

And why, despite endless dating apps, do people still quietly hope a friend (or famous couple) might introduce them to their person?

Love in the age of swipes - but still dreaming of fate

Modern dating can feel like an endless game of left and right swipes.

But research shows that the classic ways of meeting still matter most. According to a 2022 study published in Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World, people are still most likely to meet their long-term partners through friends, family or work rather than dating apps.

Dr Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist and chief scientific advisor for Match.com, explains why: “Love is not an algorithm; it’s often a spark that grows through shared circles, familiarity, and trust.” 

In other words, even if we try to out-tech love, the heart still leans on old-fashioned networks. The same networks that Ciara and Russell seem to be curating beautifully for their friends.

Ciara’s “prayer” and what it teaches us

After her public breakup with rapper Future, Ciara spoke candidly in interviews (including with Angie Martinez in 2019) about praying for a partner who was “God-fearing, who loves kids and who would love [me] to the highest capacity.”

“Ciara’s prayer wasn’t magic,” as internet sleuths might say.

“It was clarity and courage.” And maybe that’s the secret ingredient the Wilsons are sharing when they introduce friends: the reminder to hold out for a kind of love that feels safe, joyful and true. 

The emotional pull of watching celebrity love stories unfold

Normani and DK's engagement was more than just headlines; it gave fans a glimpse of love that looks patient and rooted.

According to Vogue, the couple kept their romance mostly private until 2023, even though DK had set his sights years earlier after seeing Normani’s “Motivation” music video.

Their engagement story included thoughtful details, like DK getting Russell’s blessing on the ring, and Normani calling Ciara a close friend.

Then came Jones and Mitchell. The couple, who’d been dating quietly for two years, got engaged at a sunlit resort by the water.

Their announcement was tender, low-key and deeply person, and Russell congratulated them on his Instagram Story, hinting at the couple’s behind-the-scenes role: “Thanks for allowing us to plan this with you Spida,” tagging his lifestyle brand @west2eastluxe.

Why do we all crave what the Wilsons have?

It’s more than just fairytale optics. Relationship researcher Dr Terri Orbuch, known as “The Love Doctor,” notes that watching couples who actively support each other and others often inspires hope.

“It’s social proof that love isn’t dead and that kindness, faith and patience still matter,” she explains in her book "5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great". 

And let’s be honest: in a world that sometimes feels transactional, seeing genuine joy like DK telling Normani to “hold that rock up, baby!” or Jones laughing mid-proposal hits something tender in all of us. 

The healthiest love isn’t always fast, and that’s okay. It took Ciara four years to meet Russell.

Normani and DK dated quietly for three years. Jones and Mitchell kept their love private until it felt solid enough to share.

The unspoken lesson?

Whether or not you have a celebrity friend to connect the dots, love worth having often takes time, intention, and honesty with yourself and with the people you trust most.

So, here’s to hoping Ciara and Russell do launch a matchmaking service for us mere mortals.