Go Inside Jasmine and Silas Cooper's Ultra-Romantic Love Story
From finding love in a pandemic to adding a new family member to the mix, there's never a dull moment for Summer House: Martha's Vineyard's Jasmine and Silas Cooper.
Love, then marriage, then a baby carriage.
Summer House: Martha Vineyard’s Jasmine Ellis Cooper and Silas Cooper are now adding to that baby carriage. The pair announced they gave birth to a son, Silas 'Si' Geplay Cooper Jr., on February 22, 2024. But how did the two initially get together?
The picture-perfect couple first burst onto the scene in Season 1 of Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard when they took on summer hosting duties in Oak Bluffs for some of their closest friends just months after saying “I Do.”
“We literally just got married three months ago. It’s something that we’re adjusting to,” Jasmine confessed in the series' first episode.
The couple admittedly had more to adjust to than most as they navigated newlywed life, their new reality TV fame, and Silas’ daunting path toward becoming a commissioned officer in the United States Army Reserves, which kept him away from home for long stretches of time. But this is one couple who did it all with ease (well, mostly), and they are now looking forward to adding a new role to their resumes: that of first-time parents.
With the new premiere of Season 2 of Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard just around the corner, let’s take a look back at the couple’s sweet pandemic love story.
When did Jasmine and Silas Cooper meet?
Martha’s Vineyard — and the town of Oak Bluffs on the island — has played a central part of this couple’s story from the beginning.
“Oak Bluffs is the place where she became my girl and so this is like, full circle to be here,” Silas said in the first episode as he discussed the start of their romance in 2020.
Jasmine revealed on Instagram that she met Silas “three weeks into lockdown” during the COVID-19 pandemic for their first “social distance date” after connecting on the dating app, Hinge.
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Finding each other during a worldwide pandemic meant the couple had plenty of cozy, one-on-one time for their love to bloom.
When did Jasmine and Silas Cooper get engaged?
Less than a year after meeting, on January 16, 2021, Jasmine and Silas Cooper were ready to take the relationship to the next level and got engaged in an epic public profession of love that would leave anyone swooning.
Jasmine happily recounted the milestone on Instagram.
“1/16/21 #ISAIDYES to a man who was made for me and I for him,” she wrote alongside a video of Silas dropping to one knee surrounded by rose petals in a bustling city center as she sobbed.
“Our love is restorative and reciprocal. Silas, You’re what jazz feels like. Water to my earth. To say this man has been so intentional in making sure I’m happy and loved and that someone laughs at my jokes is an understatement. His love language is ‘I got you’ lol We slow dance when we feel like it, never miss date night,nerd out over history facts but what I love most about us? We keep love simple. I love this man and to be a source of joy and light to others in the most trying year has been a blessing. A ‘pandemic love story’ some say, More importantly I say Black Love for the win," she continued.
Why did Silas join The United States Army Reserves?
With wedding planning underway, Silas was busy working on another goal of his own. He announced in March 2022 that he had been named a commissioned officer in the United States Army Reserves.
“I started this process nearly 6 months ago not knowing what to expect,” he wrote on Instagram. “After training in 2 states, being 1000 miles from home, and losing 30 pounds involuntarily, I’m proud to say I’m a commissioned officer in the United States Army Reserves.”
He went on to explain his reasoning for the bold career move, writing that it was “because this country embraced my family and I at a time when my native country was at war.”
As Silas explained on Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard, he immigrated from Liberia with his family when he was just 8 years old to escape the civil war in the country.
“It’s because like many first gen Americans, personal success has always been prioritized with civic involvement a close second,” he said on Instagram, adding he also felt moved by the pandemic and social injustice.
When did Silas and Jasmine Cooper get married?
With a proposal as romantic as it was, the wedding between these two lovebirds was sure to be amazing, and they didn’t disappoint.
Jasmine officially became “Mrs. Cooper” on June 26, 2022. The screenwriter walked down the aisle in a stunning white sleeveless gown, while her bridesmaids wore teal green gowns and held white bouquets. Silas was dashing in his official military uniform.
“There’s so many people that contributed to easily the best day of my life,” Jasmine wrote on Instagram alongside a more formal shot of her wearing the dress with a lace collar and sleeves. “Silas I’m so at peace when I’m with you. Thank you for loving me as fiercely as you do. Becoming your (Liberian) wife is a luxury I never saw coming. You are my first and now forever Love.”
Jasmine and Silas Join Summer House: Martha's Vineyard
With wedding checked off their to-do list, Jasmine and Silas quickly turned their focus to hosting a large group of friends at their favorite summer hot spot, Martha’s Vineyard, a historic vacation destination for the Black community’s elite.
“We knew that we had gone for a couple of years with our friends, same setup with the friends in the house, and they kind of wanted to redo that with us,” Jasmine told Entertainment Tonight of the origin of Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard.
Silas told the outlet the decision to open up their vacation to reality television cameras “felt really natural” because of his long history vacationing on the island.
“When we were done, we’re like, wow! That was a lot, right? We were like, that was a lot more than we anticipated, but we knew that we had a good time,” he said.
Jasmine and Silas Fight on Vacation
As the official hosts of Season 1, Silas and Jasmine were the only married couple on the vacation — but their first official hosting gig as a married couple didn’t exactly go off without a hitch.
Some have accused Silas of being “controlling” of his wife during the first season — an accusation he later addressed directly with US Weekly.
“At the end of the day, I understand why some folks may see it that way,” he said. “I don’t want to be on defense about it. I understand why folks may look at it and I respect their opinion.”
He’s added that he’s since grown from the experience.
“I think one thing I’ve learned about myself is that routines have worked for me. Structure has worked for me. Knowing that I care about the folks around me, and I have a huge responsibility [is part of who I am],” he said. “Whether it’s Army, whether it is the woman I love, whether it’s the job I have. And sometimes I’m not as flexible and I can own that.”
The tension got so high between the couple that Jasmine declared in the Season 1 finale that they were going to see a couple’s counselor “the second [they got] back to New York.”
“It’s gonna be a lot of work,” she said.
But the former Playboy bunny had a more relaxed take when talking about the experience to US Weekly.
“We’re real people, and we’re sharing our lives, and we’re happy to,” she said. “But it’s going to get a little bumpy along the way. We’re okay with that.”
Jasmine and Silas Announce They're Expecting a Baby
Jasmine is now happily preparing for her “mom-era” after announcing her pregnancy on Instagram in November 2023.
“My 'mom-era' is loading and my heart is so full right now. Silas and I will be welcoming Baby Cooper February 2024!” she wrote, calling the pregnancy a “major blessing” and revealing the couple is expecting a baby boy.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Jasmine admitted the couple had been “trying for a little while.”
“It's not like we were preventing, to be honest," she said. "One day, I was just feeling a little weird and, you know how you have a gut feeling? I took a test and it came out positive."
As for Silas’ reaction he’d soon be a father? The emotion proved to be too much for this military man.
“He got really emotional and shed a tear or two,” Jasmine shared. “It was really exciting and very simple. I wish I would have documented it, but the way he reacted is cemented in my brain."
With the baby coming any day, we can’t wait to find out how this couple navigates life as a family of three.