Hoda Kotb opens up about wedding plans, saying they will do it ‘sooner rather than later’

Today host Hoda Kotb has opened up about her wedding plans to long-time partner Joel Schiffman, confessing the couple wants to get married ‘sooner rather than later’ potentially in Mexico. 

Just last week the 55-year-old anchor shared her exciting engagement news on the Today show after Joel, 61, proposed during a quick weekend vacation to Mexico. 

When speaking to People magazine about the upcoming wedding, Hoda detailed the couple’s current plans for the event, stating it will be a very ‘easy-breezy’ affair for friends and family. 

Congratulations! The Today show host first revealed on Monday how she was engaged to her partner Joel Schiffman of six years (pictured) after a weekend getaway to Mexico 

Surprise! The 55-year-old anchor said the couple wants to get married 'sooner rather than later' and might return to Mexico for their wedding after getting engaged there

Surprise! The 55-year-old anchor said the couple wants to get married ‘sooner rather than later’ and might return to Mexico for their wedding after getting engaged there 

Engagement bliss: 'All I want to be is fun and happy and everybody to feel easy-breezy,' Hoda said. Pictured is the mom-of-two showing off her ring on the Today show

Engagement bliss: ‘All I want to be is fun and happy and everybody to feel easy-breezy,’ Hoda said. Pictured is the mom-of-two showing off her ring on the Today show 

‘We may go back to the place we were engaged in Mexico,’ she told the publication. ‘Lots of margaritas and Mexican food. Keep the tequila on tap! But we haven’t though about it too much. Nothing wed do is about bells and whistles in that way.’

She confessed the couple wants to get married ‘sooner rather than later,’ with her willing to make it official as soon as possible. 

‘If he said, “Let’s do it right now,’ I would,’ Hoda said, adding: ‘All I want to be is fun and happy and everybody to feel easy-breezy. No coordinated bridesmaids, just come as you are. That’s the theme of the rest of my life.’ 

The couple celebrated their six year anniversary in June and have two daughters whom they adopted together — Haley Joy, two, and Hope Catherine, eight months. 

Although they previously talked about the possibility of marriage one year ago, Hoda confessed to being completely surprised when Joel went down on one knee during their vacation. 

‘It’s not like we had never talked about it — because we have two children, and we’re grown-ups — but that was maybe a year ago, and I forgot about it,’ Hoda said. 

When making the announcement on the Today show last week, Hoda detailed her engagement, which happened on Nov. 23, to viewers and her co-hosts. 

Team celebration: She shared the news with co-hosts Jenna Bush Hager, Craig Melvin, Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker live last week

Team celebration: She shared the news with co-hosts Jenna Bush Hager, Craig Melvin, Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker live last week 

Partners: The couple celebrated their six year anniversary in June

Partners: The couple celebrated their six year anniversary in June 

‘We went for our usual vacation we ended up having a little dinner on the beach, and I was like…we were done with the dinner and I was eating the churros, like licking the bottom of the bowl, and he was like: “I have something else I’d like to say,”‘ Hoda shared on the Today show about the special moment.  

The bling: Joel carried around the engagement ring for a while, Hoda revealed. It is estimated to be worth between $40,000 and $70,000

The bling: Joel carried around the engagement ring for a while, Hoda revealed. It is estimated to be worth between $40,000 and $70,000

‘He said some beautiful things and then he got down on one knee and he said, “Will you be my wife?” And I said, “Yes!”‘ 

Speaking more on the engagement during the Monday show, Hoda revealed how Joel was actually carrying the ring around for a while to decide the best time to pop the question.   

‘I guess Joel had been carrying the ring around because he was trying to find the right spot,’ she shared. He apparently considered doing it during a bowling night but later decided against it. 

‘You know what’s funny,’ she continued. ‘He is such a cool customer, so super cool that I literally [had no idea] — because we had discussed it maybe a year or so ago and not really talked about it since…

‘So I guess he was carrying the ring around, he brought it with him when we went on a couple-day vacation, and I guess he had it tucked away in his pocket and this is how cool he was. We were out, we were having so much fun, we were just having tequila, we were on the beach lounging, I go, “Couldn’t you just go to sleep and just forget about everything?”

‘And he was like, “Yes but let’s just eat dinner and then we’ll crash out.” Zero indication.’

Family: Hoda and Joel have two adopted daughters together, Haley Joy, two, and eight-month-old Hope Catherine

Family: Hoda and Joel have two adopted daughters together, Haley Joy, two, and eight-month-old Hope Catherine

Proud parents: Hoda confessed that she and Joel have yet to work out out to explain their engagement to their children

Proud parents: Hoda confessed that she and Joel have yet to work out out to explain their engagement to their children

Proud parents: Hoda confessed that she and Joel have yet to work out out to explain their engagement to their children

Included with Hoda’s engagement story on-air was her flaunting the large diamond ring surrounded by sapphire stones that now adorns her ring finger. 

Joel visited with jeweler and family friend Jennifer Miller to design the radiant cut diamond ring, which Brilliant Earth engagement ring expert Kathryn Money told DailyMail.com could be worth $40,000 to $70,000. 

‘He went to [Miller] and they were sharing things back and forth unbeknownst to me. He was giving her ideas,’ Hoda told People previously. 

‘The diamond part is square and around it, it looks like a stop sign. And it’s blue on the edge. Sapphires? I don’t know. But I love it.’ 

The couple has been engaged for more than a week now, and they even celebrated their first holiday as fiancés for Thanskgiving. But it remains unclear if they’ve explained their engagement to their two daughters yet. 

Hoda said last week the couple was holding off on sharing the news to their daughters to avoid confusion. 

‘How are we going to explain, your parents are going to get married. We’re still trying to figure out that part of how exactly to explain that to them,’ she said. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk