Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott's Relationship Timeline

Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott first met while filming an episode of Carpool Karaoke and got engaged in 2023

Wedding bells are ringing for Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott!

The HGTV star proposed to the actress in August 2023 during a family trip to Scotland. Deschanel's two children, Elsie and Charlie, even played a part in the proposal.

Scott and the New Girl star first met while filming an episode of Carpool Karaoke back in 2019. They've since purchased and renovated a home together and are slowly planning their nuptials.

The Property Brothers alum gushed about Deschanel and opened up about their "dream home" in an essay for Drew + Jonathan Reveal. (Reveal is owned by PEOPLE's parent company, Dotdash Meredith.)

"Eight months into our relationship, I already knew Zooey was the yin to my yang, the PB to my J. We were on parallel paths toward the happiness we'd been seeking our whole lives," he wrote.

From their Carpool Karaoke introduction to their engagement, here's everything to know about Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott's relationship.

August 2019: Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott meet on the set of Carpool Karaoke

Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott
Jonathan Silver Scott/Instagram

Scott and Deschanel first crossed paths while they were filming the same episode of James Corden's Carpool Karaoke. Scott and Deschanel were joined by his brother Drew Scott and her sister Emily Deschanel on the episode, and the pair immediately hit it off.

A source told PEOPLE things between the two fell into place quickly, explaining, "They were doing Carpool Karaoke and they had a really fun day."

September 2019: Zooey Deschanel announces her divorce as she and Jonathan Scott spark dating rumors

Soon after she and Scott collaborated on Carpool Karaoke, the New Girl actress announced that she and her husband of four years had separated with plans to divorce. A friend of the couple told PEOPLE at the time that the pair had separated several months prior to the announcement.

A week before the news broke, Deschanel was spotted holding hands with Scott while the two were on a walk. A source confirmed the dating rumors to PEOPLE, saying, "It's new, but they are having a lot of fun together."

October 20, 2019: Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott go Instagram official

Scott and Deschanel didn't waste any time confirming their relationship on Instagram. In a coordinated reveal, the couple posted the same photo from Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights, where they went on a double date with Scott's twin brother and his wife Linda Phan.

October 31, 2019: Zooey Deschanel attends Jonathan Scott's brother's wedding

zooey deschanel
zooey deschanel/instagram

Shortly after their Instagram debut, Deschanel joined the Property Brothers star at his older brother J.D.'s Halloween-themed wedding. The two went in character as Batman and Catwoman, with Deschanel sharing photos of their ensembles with the caption, "It's the first time I've ever been cat-woman escorted to a fancy dress party wedding by Batman."

November 10, 2019: Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott make their red carpet debut

Jonathan Scott is pictured during arrivals with his girlfriend, actress Zooey Deschanel at the Fourth Annual Critics' Choice Documentary Awards in New York, N.Y Fourth Annual Critics' Choice Documentary Awards, Brooklyn, USA - 10 Nov 2019
Stuart Ramson/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

Scott and Deschanel stepped out on the red carpet together for the first time at the Critic's Choice Documentary Awards.

Scott spoke to PEOPLE during the date night, sharing that the event celebrated one of their mutual passions. "Yes, it is our first red carpet together because she is also a huge advocate for independent films and documentary films as well," he said. "So, for us to come and be able to support this is very important."

December 2019: Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott celebrate Christmas together

Jonathan Scott and Zooey Deschanel
Zooey Deschanel (left) and Jonathan Scott. Jonathan Scott/Instagram

After penning a sweet Thanksgiving post on Twitter (now known as X) that included a photo of Deschanel alongside the caption, "You bring joy to my life," Scott shared a photo of the twosome showing off personalized Christmas cookies.

A few days later, the couple rang in the New Year together. Deschanel shared a photo of herself and Scott embracing and grinning, captioning the post, "A truly Happy New Year with my sweetie! 🥳 🥰💕."

That same month, Scott told PEOPLE that his relationship with Deschanel is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for him.

April 2020: Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott reveal they're quarantining together

Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott at home
Jonathan Scott Instagram

Scott and Deschanel found themselves spending a lot of time at home during the spring of 2020. Luckily, the two were able to enjoy that time together, with Scott telling PEOPLE that he was quarantining with the "perfect person."

Deschanel also impressed Scott with her at-home salon skills — the HGTV star admitted his girlfriend of seven months did an "incredible" job coloring his hair.

April 2020: Zooey Deschanel toasts Jonathan Scott on his 42nd birthday

In honor of Scott's 42nd birthday, Deschanel posted on Instagram to celebrate her boyfriend on April 28, 2020. "You are one of a kind wonderful. So happy I get to make your birthday cake. 🎂❤️🥰," she wrote on the social media platform.

June 2020: Zooey Deschanel finalizes her divorce

Deschanel and her ex-husband Jacob Pechenik finalized their divorce nine months after the initial filing. A source close to the former couple emphasized to PEOPLE that the former partners were putting their children first, explaining, "They are very private and are excellent parents and love their kids so much and want this to be smooth for them."

August 4, 2020: Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott celebrate their first anniversary

Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott Celebrate Anniversary
Zooey Deschanel Instagram

Scott and Deschanel marked a heartfelt rite of passage on Aug. 4, 2020: the anniversary of the day they first met. They each commemorated the occasion on Instagram with written tributes.

"One year ago today I met this kind, caring, hilarious, generous, creative, nerdy, handsome and all around incredible human," Deschanel wrote alongside two photos of herself and Scott.

November 2020: Jonathan Scott shoots down engagement rumors

Scott playfully shot down rumors of the pair's engagement while speaking to SiriusXM co-hosts Covino and Rich in November 2020.

As he put it, he doesn't plan on sharing when he's proposing to Deschanel before he actually pops the question. "I'm pretty confident that I will ask my girlfriend to marry me before I tell a reporter," the Jonathan Scott's Power Trip star said.

December 2020: Zooey Deschanel makes her HGTV debut

Deschanel showed up on Scott's HGTV show Celebrity IOU in December 2020. Though the actress admitted that she wasn't exactly the best construction partner, it was clear that she was game to play along. Deschanel also joked on the episode that while she admires her boyfriend's work, she would "rather watch him do it from afar … with headphones on."

February 14, 2021: Jonathan Scott celebrates Zooey Deschanel on Valentine's Day

Zooey Deschanel, Jonathan Scott
Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott. Jonathan Scott/Instagram

Valentine's Day 2021 saw the couple happier than ever, with Scott sharing on Twitter that he would need more than a photo caption to describe just how much he loves the New Girl star. As he put it, "There's a lot to love about this lady right here. To list it, I'd need a LOT more paper."

April 28, 2021: Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott celebrate his 43rd birthday

Deschanel toasted her boyfriend yet again on Instagram for his 43rd birthday. While explaining that she didn't want to be "too hyperbolic," the singer and actress wrote, "I'm the luckiest girl in the world. ❤️❤️❤️."

June 2021: Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott open up about shared interests

In an interview with PEOPLE, Deschanel said that one of the reasons she loves Scott so much is that they both share a passion for the environment. As she put it, their mutual interest in activism helped them cement their connection early on.

"I remember actually when we first met, he sent me his documentary and I was like, wow, we are so aligned on this level," she shared.

August 4, 2021: Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott celebrate their second anniversary

Zooey Deschanel, Jonathan Scott, Emily Deschanel, Drew Scott - Carpool Karaoke
Jonathan Scott/Instagram

Scott celebrated Deschanel on the second anniversary of the day they met. The Property Brothers star posted a series of photos from the set of Carpool Karaoke in 2019 with the caption, "Who knew that two years ago, walking into the Carpool Karaoke offices, I'd meet you and my life will change forever 🥰."

September 12, 2021: Zooey Deschanel congratulates Jonathan Scott on his Emmy nomination

Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott
Zooey Deschanel Instagram

Deschanel turned out to honor Scott when he received a Creative Arts Emmy nomination for Property Brothers: Forever Home. The actress showed her support on Instagram, captioning a photo of the two from the event, "So proud of this handsome man @jonathanscott getting nominated for an EMMY!"

October 2021: Jonathan Scott gushes about Zooey Deschanel's daughter

Scott opened up about how "sweet" Deschanel's daughter Elsie is, telling PEOPLE that the young girl wrote a letter to her senator about an issue that both Scott and Deschanel hold dear: the environment. As he put it, "It was the sweetest thing in the world to know that a 6-year-old wrote a letter to her senator and it was all about waste."

December 2021: Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott announce they bought a home together

Deschanel and Scott closed out 2021 by taking a big step together: announcing the purchase of their "forever home."

Scott shared the news in an essay for Drew + Jonathan Reveal, the magazine he and his brother produce together. He described it as, "our dream home, where we'll see the kids grow up laughing and adventuring in the yard, where we'll play host to friends and family."

The pair first closed on the house in June 2020 and immediately started on renovations.

January 2022: Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott spend New Year's Eve together

Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott Ring in the New Year 2022
Zooey Deschanel Instagram

The duo rang in 2022 with Scott's parents, his brother Drew and Drew's wife, Linda. Scott shared a photo of the low-key evening on Instagram, writing, "Brought in NYE with these cool people."

That same month, Scott hosted an "intimate" 42nd birthday party for his girlfriend, inviting only immediate family to the celebration.

March 27, 2022: Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott attend an Oscars party together

Jonathan Scott and Zooey Deschanel
Rich Fury/VF22/Getty

Deschanel and Scott were still going strong in March 2022 when they showed up at the Vanity Fair Oscars party hand in hand. Scott posted photos from the night on Instagram, including one in which he's carrying his girlfriend's train. As he wrote, "You've affectionately held my heart for almost 3 years, the least I could do is hold your train for 3 hours 🥰."

June 15, 2022: Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott reveal their newly completed home

Since purchasing their five-bedroom Los Angeles home in June 2020, Scott and Deschanel showed off their newly finished property in the June issue of Drew + Jonathan Reveal.

Although the couple gave the 1938 build a total makeover, Scott admitted in the cover story that the Georgian property is "a beautiful home with a lot of history." Deschanel added, "As soon as we pulled into the driveway, we knew this house was special."

"This is a house that suits our tastes and needs, aesthetically and functionally," Deschanel continued. "Jonathan is so amazing at figuring that out. He's been doing it for his clients for so long, and now he's done that for us and our family."

August 5, 2022: Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott celebrate 3 years together

Scott and Deschanel celebrated their third anniversary with a trip to the Magic Castle clubhouse in Los Angeles before posting sweet photos together on Instagram.

"Hard to believe…scratch that…Easy to believe it's already been 3 years with this beautiful soul in my life," Scott wrote alongside a series of pictures from their outing.

"@zooeydeschanel you make everything better 🥰 and what a fitting way to celebrate at the @magiccastlehollywood 😉," he added.

One snap shared shows the famous contractor kissing Deschanel while they stand on a staircase. Another image features the couple posing with a magician.

Sharing photos on her own Instagram feed, Deschanel wrote, "I got the best one 🥰🥰🥰 most wonderful three years ever. And thanks magic castle for helping us celebrate last night."

August 29, 2022: Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott go on vacation with her kids

Scott and Deschanel got out of the city with her two kids for a weeklong vacation in Wyoming. Blue skies and wide-open spaces could be seen in their photos posted on Instagram.

"What beautiful company hiking and riding in such beautiful country," Scott captioned a cute selfie with the New Girl star. "Thank you Wyoming for your hospitality. Thank you @zooeydeschanel for accepting my 7 day unshaven streak."

October 17, 2022: Zooey Deschanel called Jonathan Scott "the best" on The Drew Barrymore Show

Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott attend the 2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 27, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California
Arturo Holmes/FilmMagic

In a clip from The Drew Barrymore Show, host Drew Barrymore and Deschanel talked about the Elf actress's relationship with Scott. Barrymore shared that she's been working with Scott on Celebrity IOU and gushed over how Scott prioritizes his relationship.

"The way that your man speaks about you and the way he speaks about your family, like, 'I've got to get home for dinner, I need to be there every night, this what we do, this is how we do it, my kids, my woman, our home, our family,' " Barrymore said. "It's like, dreamy."

"He's the best," Deschanel confirmed. "And he has a great family too! It is the dream."

Deschanel also talked about first meeting Scott. "I couldn't believe he was so nice," she said. "People just aren't that nice generally — we've been together for over three years and he's still that nice. He goes over and fixes stuff at my parents' house, he's so nice."

November 12, 2022: Zooey Deschanel says Jonathan Scott is an "amazing stepdad"

Deschanel and Scott talked about family life during an interview at the 2022 Baby2Baby Gala, with the She & Him singer calling Scott "an amazing stepdad."

"I'm a magician, or I'm a clown, I could build stuff," the Property Brothers star said about his role as a father figure to Deschanel's two kids.

"He's really very highly qualified for the job," Deschanel added, to which Scott said, "pretty good, yeah."

January 11, 2023: Jonathan Scott talks about co-parenting Zooey Deschanel's kids

Scott opened up about his relationship with Deschanel's kids during an appearance on Today and talked about how he helps to co-parent with his girlfriend and the kids' father, Pechenik.

"I always knew I would be a great dad — former clown, magician, I can build stuff — and it's been incredible," he said. "You see your life transform, your priorities become your kids, and when they have a performance that they're doing at school, or working on some of their homework, or whatever it might be, it's a joy."

The HGTV star also recalled a sweet moment when Charlie included him in a family portrait. "Our youngest came back from school with a picture that he had drawn, and in the picture, he has Mommy and Daddy and Jonathan and his sister and our puppies," Scott explained. "He had drawn this whole picture. This is his happy family."

January 17, 2023: Jonathan Scott marks Zooey Deschanel's 43rd birthday with a romantic Instagram post

Scott celebrated Deschanel's special day by sharing a sweet slideshow video featuring moments from their relationship. The post included a photo of the couple smiling in front of a Christmas tree and a clip of the HGTV star kissing his girlfriend on the cheek.

"You just keep getting even better 🥰. Happy Birthday Zooey ❤️," Scott wrote in the caption.

In the comments section, the New Girl alum responded, "🥰🥰🥰 I'm the luckiest girl!."

February 14, 2023: Jonathan Scott posts a sweet Valentine's Day tribute to Zooey Deschanel

Scott shared a romantic Instagram Reel dedicated to Deschanel, inspired by a scene in the classic '90s rom-com, 10 Things I Hate About You.

"I love the way you talk to me and send me cute emojis," he said, holding up a piece of paper and using a filter to make it seem like he was standing in a classroom. "I love the way you drive with me and plan all the fun things we want to do."

After naming more things he loves about his girlfriend, Scott ended the clip by saying, "But mostly, I love the way I love you, and the way you make me feel loved in return."

March 8, 2023: Jonathan Scott says he appreciates "being home" with Zooey Deschanel

During a conversation with PEOPLE at Habit for Humanity's annual Builders Ball, Scott discussed renovating the home he shares with Deschanel.

"Nothing's more important than home," he said. "And the older I get, the more I realize how much I appreciate being home with the kids and being home with Zooey. [We] literally designed this house to solve every problem we have."

Scott continued: "Make sure that as the kids get older, you know, the house will grow with them, and we can host and entertain. And so, for me, everything we've done is so we can hold those people we love closer."

March 12, 2023: Jonathan Scott and Zooey Deschanel attend the Vanity Fair Oscars party

Scott and Deschanel came dressed to impress on the Vanity Fair red carpet. The actress wowed in a couture gown by Iris van Herpen that resembled a bird in flight, and Scott complemented her look in a black tux.

June 12, 2023: Jonathan Scott opens up about his relationship with Zooey Deschanel's kids

Drew and Jonathan Scott Get Candid About Parenting Challenges Ahead of Father's Day

Courtesy of @MrDrewScott and @JonathanScott

Scott opened up about the challenges in his relationship with Deschanel's kids, Elise and Charlie, in a snippet of a special Father's Day interview shared with PEOPLE.

"One thing that was a struggle early on was that the kids didn't necessarily run up and jump in my arms and give me a big hug," he explained. "I also remember several times where they'd be out with other kids and someone would say, 'Oh your daddy's so funny,' and they'd be like, 'That's not my daddy, he's my Jonathan.' So that would hurt a little bit."

The Property Brothers star added that he had to realize "that in their mind, that's not a mean thing to say — it's how they know me."

July 8, 2023: Jonathan Scott and Zooey Deschanel step out for a date night in N.Y.C.

Jonathan Scott and Zooey Deschanel

Jonathan Scott Instagram

Scott and Deschanel shared a picture on Instagram of themselves enjoying a night on the town while in the Empire State. In the snap, the couple smiled for the camera as they sat at a booth in a restaurant.

“NYC Date night vibes 🥰,” Scott wrote in the caption.

August 4, 2023: Jonathan Scott and Zooey Deschanel celebrate their fourth anniversary

Jonathan Scott and Zooey Deschanel

Jonathan Scott Instagram

Scott celebrated his and Deschanel's four-year anniversary by posting a photo on Instagram of him and the 500 Days of Summer star smiling together.

"500 days of @zooeydeschanel …actually it’s been a lot more, but who’s counting anyway? 😆 ," the HGTV star wrote in the caption. "4 years really flies by. Happy anniversary baby!!! 🥰."

Deschanel also marked the special day with her own Instagram post.

"4 years since I met this freaking dreamboat. I love him more every day," she captioned a picture of them standing together. "I’m forever grateful!"

August 13, 2023: Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott get engaged

Jonathan Scott and Zooey Deschanel engagement announcement

Jonathan Scott Instagram ; Zooey Deschanel Instagram

Scott popped the question to Deschanel on a family trip to Scotland four years after they first met, PEOPLE exclusively confirmed. Deschanel's two children were present for the proposal and all were excited when she said "yes."

Proposing in Scotland was meaningful to Scott, whose father emigrated from the country to Canada.

Deschanel and Scott both posted a photo of her holding up her ring, which is set with clear, pink and purple stones in a flower pattern.

"Forever starts now!!! 🥰♾️🥰," they captioned a joint Instagram post.

August 2023: Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott visit Paris

Soon after getting engaged, Deschanel and Scott headed to Paris. The HGTV star shared photos of their trip on Instagram, including a snap of the two in front of the Eiffel Tower and another picture of the pair posing in sunglasses.

“Amour de ma vie ❤️,” he wrote in the caption. the post, which translates to “Love of my life,” in English.

October 4, 2023: Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott recall their first date

Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott photographed at their home in Los Angeles, CA, on September 14, 2023. ROLLOUT

Sami Drasin

On their first date, the couple went to dinner, conquered an escape room and sang karaoke. Scott immediately won Deschanel over with his meticulous planning.

"I was like, 'Oh my God. He sent me an itinerary. This is like my dream.’ " the actress told PEOPLE. Deschanel went on to add that in hindsight, she would have revised the schedule. "Don't have wine before an escape room,” she joked. "The wine, it's not great for the brain."

The couple have been inseparable since their first date, something Scott "did not see coming."

"I've never met anybody with master conflict resolution skills like this one," he told PEOPLE. "It's an important part of a relationship ... somebody who cares to make sure you get through the hard moments. [She] is a good catch."

February 14, 2024: Jonathan Scott says he "can't wait" to be Zooey Deschanel's husband

In honor of Valentine's Day, Scott created a sweet Instagram Reel for Deschanel. The short video showed the Property Brothers star writing a card for his fiancée while a voiceover shared the entirety of his love letter.

"Dear Zooey, It’s Valentine's Day — prepare to be romanced. Wait, that sounds weird,” Scott could be heard saying. “It’s Valentine’s Day and there’s so much I love about you that I’m gonna need more paper. You are incredible. Your smile, your laugh, those eyes — do not even get me started on those eyes. Oh, and you’re the most amazing cook, which works out because I am an amazing eater.”

He continued: "I guess my big question is, why the heck did we wait so long to meet each other? I can’t wait to be your husband and I can’t wait to continue making you laugh and still be pinching your butt at 90 years old. I love you to the moon and back.”

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