By Lauren Passell for HowAboutWe
Business Insider's 17 Celebrities Who Married Ordinary People is an awesome little gem of a slideshow full of normal (awesome) pics and cute, unexpected love stories. And lots of lessons about love, too! I pulled out a notebook and a highlighter. Here are my notes:
Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth
Who's the normal one? Jim Toth
How did they meet? At a party, Jim's friend was drunkenly embarrassing himself in front of Reese and Jim (a talent agent) swooped in to save the day.
Lesson learned: Whatever. Jim Toth is so not "normal." Look at that man. Look at those teeth. Next.
Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso
Who's the normal one? Luciana Barroso
How did they meet? Barroso was working as a bartender.
Lesson learned: When in doubt, always go out.
Related: 8 Signs Your Rich Boyfriend Is Probably a Jerk
Marcia Cross and Tom Mahoney
Who's the normal one? Tom Mahoney
How did they meet? When Marcia eyed Tom, a stockbroker, at a flower shop, she left her number for him at the counter.
Lesson learned: Be ballsy! Just because a man is buying flowers for someone else, doesn't mean he's not looking for love.
Patrick Dempsey and Jillian Fink
Who's the normal one? Jillian Fink
How did they meet? Jillian, a hair stylist, saw in the appointment book that a Mr. Patrick Dempsey was coming in, but she never dreamed it was The Patrick Dempsey. (It was.)
Lesson Learned: Even Patrick Dempsey has to get his hair cut. Let's all become stylists now.
Cynthia Nixon and Christine Marinoni
Who's the normal one? Christine Marinoni
How did they meet? Cynthia and Christine, an educational activist, met at an education rally. Cynthia was married at the time. To a man.
Lesson Learned: You never know. Also: let's stop overlooking rallys as places to meet a mate. They're the next rooftop bar!
Eric Bana and Rebecca Gleeson
Who's the normal one? Rebecca Gleeson
How did they meet? Australia. Who is Eric Bana?
Lesson learned: Eric Bana was in Star Trek.
Jeff Bridges and Susan Geston
Who's the normal one? Susan Geston
How did they meet? Susan was working as a waitress/maid on the set of Bridges' film Rancho Deluxe. Jeff spotted her and was immediately smitten.
Lesson learned: Love conquers all social hierarchies. Also, Jeff Bridges might have a thing for sexy maid outfits.
Tobey Maguireand Jennifer Meyer
Who's the normal one? Jennifer Meyer
How did they meet? Jennifer was on the set of Maguire's 2003 Sea Biscuit because her dad is Universal Studios chief Ronald Meyer.
Lesson learned: On Take Your Daughter to Work Day, go to work with Dad. Even if you're 35.
Related: Marriage Proposals So Excruciatingly Bad You Will Probably Have To Look Away
Julia Roberts and Danny Moder
Who's the normal one? Danny Moder
How did they meet? Moder was a cameraman on the set of The Mexican, a movie Julia filmed with Brad Pitt. She was seeing Benjamin Bratt at the time. Moder was married.
Lesson learned: You can come between a marriage and still be viewed as America's Sweetheart.
Tina Fey and Jeff Richmond
Who's the normal one? Jeff Richmond
How did they meet? Tina met Jeff, a composer, while they were trying to make it big in Chicago's Second City. They fell in love on a date at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry.
Lesson learned: Love conquers social status, but funny conquers all all.
Meryl Streep and Don Gummer
Who's the normal one? Don Gummer
How did they meet? Don was a friend of Meryl's brother Harry, and once, when she was staying at his place while he was gone, he came home early. Love!
Lesson learned: Be nice to your brother's friends and break into their apartments.
Vince Vaughn and Kyla Weber
Who's the normal one? Kyla Weber
How did they meet? Somewhere after Jennifer Aniston.
Lesson learned: There is life after Jennifer Aniston. (Ross Geller, I'm looking at you.)
Related: 7 Things Men Immediately Notice About Women
Conan O'Brien and Liza Powel
Who's the normal one? Liza Powel
How did they meet? Powl was a copywriter at Foote, Cone & Belding and was in a skit Conan was doing about the ad agency.
Lesson learned: That daydream you had where Conan O'Brian came in and did a skit in your office and then asked you to go out with him could have been a reality, but you missed your chance and now it probably won't happen.
Ellen Pompeo and Chris Ivery
Who's the normal one? Chris Ivery
How did they meet? In an L.A. grocery store.
Lesson learned: We were wrong.
Chris O'Donnell and Caroline Fentress
Who's the normal one? Caroline Fentress
How did they meet? They were college sweethearts. Chris hasn't been with anyone else since then.
Lesson learned: What?!? This actually happens?! Chris O'Donnell is adorable!
Jerry Seinfeld and Jessica Skylar
Who's the normal one? Jessica Skylar
How did they meet? The NY Reebok Sports Club
Lesson learned: Time to buy some gym clothes that aren't your middle school gym uniform.
Elizabeth Banks and Max Handelman
Who's the normal one? Max Handelman
Where did they meet? Their first day of college at the University of Pennsylvania in 1992.
Lesson learned: The first day of school is always the funnest day of the year.
