CBS's Anchor Adriana Diaz Shares Kid with Cardiologist Husband after a 6,500-Mile Long-Distance Relationship

American journalist Adriana Diaz met her future spouse Bryan Smith through their older siblings, who made it their mission to play cupid and bring them together. However, distance for the pair was an issue until a certain point.

CBS News anchor Adriana Diaz and her husband Bryan Smith met at a get-together set up by his sister. Though the couple's initial meeting went smoothly, distance became a factor for their romance to blossom.

Smith and Diaz lived in different cities at the time, but as fate would have it, they crossed paths thanks to the network giving them a nudge indirectly.

Recalling that period, in an interview with Vogue in June 2020, Diaz revealed that her older brother and Smith's older sister proposed they meet:

"Bryan's older sister Kirsten and my older brother Gabe suggested we meet. The problem was, at the time, I lived in New York, and Bryan lived in Chicago."

Months later, CBS News' "This Morning" and the CBS "Evening News with Norah O'Donnell" transferred Diaz to the network's Chicago branch.

She met Smith at a Chicago downtown rooftop barbecue organized by his younger sibling. Diaz joked that it appeared as if the whole family planned the entire setup:

"It seemed like the whole family was in on it! And from the moment I met him, his smiling and calming nature put me at ease."

Smith recounted approaching his future wife, hoping that his jokes and overcooked burgers would catch her attention. After flirting all night, he said Diaz "walked out of his life in bright yellow high-waisted pants."

Acting on what he experienced during their first meeting, Smith asked Diaz out on a date the following week, but they had to put it on pause because duty called on her part as she had an assignment in Jerusalem.

But that was not for long, the two reunited when Diaz returned, and at the end of their first official date, a waitress surprisingly gifted them free dessert merely because she believed they were a "cute couple." Diaz explained how Smith knew that she was the one from that moment:

"Bryan says he always had visions of getting free dessert the rest of his life and knew I was the one."

GETTING TO KNOW SMITH – THE LONG-DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP AND PROPOSAL

While Diaz reports news, Smith is a cardiologist at the University of Chicago Medical Center and works as an assistant professor of medicine at the institution. He initially studied for his Bachelor's in biology at Harvard University, then opted to study for his MD at Pritzker School of Medicine.

Smith completed two fellowships in cardiology at the University of Chicago and the second in advanced heart failure and transplant with the Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

When he and Diaz decided to pursue their relationship, she received another job transfer and had to move to Beijing to become CBS News' Asia Correspondent.

Meanwhile, he was completing his most challenging year of medical training. The lovebirds had to use FaceTime to connect over the 6,500-mile distance.

When Diaz finally returned to the US, Smith took her to their favorite neighborhood flower shop, where he serenaded her with his guitar before asking for her hand in marriage.

Remembering events before that particular day, Diaz told Vogue that Smith blindsided her. He told her that he had a work holiday party on a Saturday evening and suggested she dress to the nines.

During the day, he was gone, alluding that he was held up at work. Unbeknown to Diaz, Smith was, in fact, with the couple's family and friends decorating an event space attached to their neighborhood flower shop.

He asked his fiancee-to-be to pick up a poinsettia from the flower shop en route to the party as a gift. When Diaz made it to the store, she walked into the surprise of her life, thinking that she had walked into someone's else event because the lights were dim and tea light candles were lit.

She explained what she saw upon her entrance: "When I looked up, I saw a familiar silhouette in the distance holding a guitar. I realized I'd just walked into our proposal. As I approached him, I noticed the wall was full of framed screen grabbed photos of our years' worth of Facetime conversations between Chicago and China."

Smith then played the guitar and sang a personalized version of her favorite song from the musical "Hamilton," called "That Would Be Enough." When the photographer captured the couple up close, Smith held Diaz's hands, got down on one knee, and popped the big question.

"I said 'YES!'" the New York native enthusiastically stated, and their families appeared to celebrate with the newly engaged couple.

DIAZ AND SMITH'S EUROPEAN-STYLE COUNTRYSIDE WEDDING

Smith and Diaz knew what they envisioned for their special day. The bride had always loved the feel of European countryside weddings while the groom envisaged having an open-air party with family and friends.

The pair found a "secret garden" oasis within proximity to their home at the Chicago Botanical Garden and collaborated with Claire Duran Wedding & Events to plan their wedding.

After being drawn to Marchesa initially, Diaz had a particular dress in mind for her wedding gown, "At Dimitra's Bridal Couture in Chicago, I tried on a light spaghetti strap Marchesa gown yet full of texture with multiple layers of embroidered lace," she explained.

However, she preferred an off-shoulder design, and luckily for her, a seamstress happened to walk by and, on the spot, created just what the bride-to-be ordered, using her pins and the gown's train as the material.

The end product panned out just the way Diaz wanted, and she even helped design the draped sleeves using additional fabric the salon had ordered from Marchesa. For hair and makeup, Diaz worked with Nika Vaughan Bridal Artists:

"My makeup inspiration was none other than Meghan Markle's wedding makeup. I loved how effortless yet elevated it looked."

Diaz kept her hair naturally curly, and the hairstylist created a low chignon topped with baby's breath. She wore faux pearl and diamond cluster earrings from J. Crew to accessorize her look.

Diaz's college friend lent her a gold bracelet with diamonds for something borrowed. She went with pearl-colored Loeffler Randall heels adorned with a big bow on the front.

Wedding guests dressed for a formal garden party with women donning floral patterns and men wearing a mix of summer suits and tuxedos. Diaz had fifteen bridesmaids for the ceremony, including three of her sisters and three of Smith's - who wore pale garden colors. Ten flower girls wore tulle skirts, and five ring bearers donned black tuxedos.

THE CEREMONY TOOK PLACE AT A CATHOLIC CHURCH

The wedding took place at St. Mary of the Angel's Church which features a dome in its center, and music echoed throughout the ceremony. Diaz revealed her spouse is a music lover:

"So, we wanted to create a soundtrack to the day. The organ played traditional songs like 'The Wedding March', and my father also sang 'Ave Maria' in his native Spanish."

The newlyweds also had a small band play "Sister Act 2," versions of "Oh Happy Day," and "Joyful Joyful," which happen to be her favorites. Following the ceremony, those in attendance descended the Catholic church's wide front steps as church bells rang.

Diaz and Smith had a Catholic mass at their wedding, and instead of traditional vows, they had to write their priest on why they wanted to get married. Smith's longtime teacher and principal from Catholic high school officiated the ceremony. He read the letters to the couple, and Diaz noted it was marvelous:

"It felt like a dream."

After the ceremony, guests had to walk over a bridge sheltered by a canopy of hanging flowers and greenery to reach the reception at the Chicago Botanical Garden. Smith and Diaz had their first dance in the rose garden illuminated by hanging chandeliers.

After the bride's sister finished emceeing the auspicious occasion, just over 200 guests joined the newly wedded couple and danced under the stars. Diaz revealed the highlight of the evening:

"One of the highlights was the dueling speeches between Bryan's older sister Kirsten and my older brother Gabe. They both tried to take credit for setting us up."

Diaz added that it was a magical night that showed their love for loved ones and friends, including different cultures, the city, and music. The couple appreciated seeing their families and friends dancing together under the chandeliers and bistro lights, just as they had imagined.

DIAZ MADE A PREGNANCY ANNOUNCEMENT ON CBS 'THIS MORNING'

In March 2021, Diaz announced on CBS "This Morning" that she was expecting the couple's first child. When co-anchor Gayle King referred to their furry dog, she mentioned that Diaz was also expecting a baby.

Turning to her, Diaz proudly said, "I do!" and revealed that she and her husband were excited about having their first child and announced they were having a baby girl.

In August 2021, Diaz captured her last day at work during her pregnancy, sitting behind a desk. She wrote on Instagram that she had a good send-off before parental leave.

"So touched and thankful to my Chicago colleagues for the baby care package and my darling husband for the flowers," she captioned the post.

In October 2021, Diaz and Smith welcomed their daughter named, Isabela Rose Diaz Smith. The new mom posted a snap holding her infant child alongside her spouse at the hospital.

"Emerging from the wilderness of new parenthood to share some photos with you all. Meet our perfect baby girl Isabela Rose Diaz Smith, who kicked into labor right on her due date and has been lovingly rocking our world ever since," she wrote.

In April 2022, Diaz shared a photo of the bubbly-looking Isabela on a couch sporting a cream white outfit paired with a mustard-colored bow for Easter.

The following image showed a family of three, all seated with the happy couple's daughter broadly smiling in the middle. Diaz captioned her post: "The bigger the bow...Easter with Isa."