Maury Povich’s explanation was simple: after years of dating, Connie Chung called to say she was ready to marry him because she had found a dress. It is Povich’s retrospective account of her answer—not a complete or independently confirmed explanation of Chung’s motives.
What Povich said changed Chung’s mind
In a later interview with TV Insider, Povich recalled that Chung had been hesitant about marrying him. About a week after a later proposal, he said, she called and told him, “We can get married now.” When he asked why, her answer was: “Because I found a dress.” Povich said they married six weeks later.
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The dress is the memorable reason in Povich’s telling. The anecdote does not establish that it was Chung’s only reason, or reveal the full conversation between them.
How long had they been together?
The couple had dated for years before deciding to marry. Povich later described seven years of nonexclusive dating, while a November 1984 Washington Post report described them as having dated for six years. The accounts differ in how they characterize the duration; “about six or seven years” captures both without forcing an exact figure.
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The contemporary report said they had decided to marry about a month earlier and planned a private ceremony for December 2 at Chung’s New York apartment. Its timing differs from Povich’s later recollection that they married six weeks after her call. Those are the sources’ respective descriptions, rather than a reason to treat either account as a definitive timeline.
What their courtship looked like
Their connection began through television work and deepened after they reconnected professionally in Los Angeles. A 2024 Washington Post profile says Povich had briefly worked as Chung’s “second banana” before he was fired after a management change; the two commiserated, and their relationship developed into a courtship.
Povich’s later account described their dating as nonexclusive. In a glimpse of how they joked about their differences, he told the Washington Post in 1984, “I needed a little organization in my life.” Chung replied, “And I needed a little disorganization in mine. I’m much too organized.” The comments offer a playful contemporary snapshot, not proof of the later dress anecdote.
Why they lived in different cities after marrying
Marriage did not immediately mean sharing a home. The couple initially lived in different cities, an arrangement the Washington Post described them as calling “a perfect arrangement.” Povich later said their commuter marriage lasted about a year and a half before they lived together in New York. The accounts present the arrangement as one they appreciated, not as evidence of marital trouble.
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Chung later discussed another part of their family life: Povich had two daughters from his previous marriage and did not have a strong desire for another child, but was willing to try because he knew she wanted one. That account concerns their family planning; it should not be mistaken for the reason Chung accepted his proposal.
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Sources and further reading
- TV Insider interview with Maury Povich, for his recollection of the proposal response and the couple’s dating history.
- The Washington Post’s November 1984 report, for the planned ceremony, contemporary account of their dating, and their joking comments.
- The Washington Post’s 2024 profile, for how they met and their early living arrangement.
- Connie Chung’s later account, for her comments about Povich’s daughters and their decision to try for a child.
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