Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux: a love timeline

While the closing ceremony of the London Olympics allegedly marked historic viewership on Sunday, the silver medal in entertainment news undoubtedly went to Jennifer Aniston’s engagement.

Accepting a ring from boyfriend Justin Theroux, news of their promise to marry comes as a thrilling new chapter for Aniston fans: the potential end of the wrenching Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie triangle that’s been lining tabloid pockets since 2005.

Headlines like “Has Jen finally found her happy ending?” call out from computer screens, while others contemplate the race to the altar Aniston and Theroux will now act out with also-engaged Brangelina on newsstands.

Indulge the Ministry in celebrating love for the time being, with this Jen and Justin romance timeline:

May 2011: Jen meets Theroux, at the time merely a costar from her Paul Rudd-starring comedy “Wanderlust,” at her favorite Los Angeles dinner spot, Tower Bar at the Sunset Tower Hotel. Much like any Y chromosome Aniston chooses to spend time with, speculation hits immediately that they’re dating.

June 2011: Aniston nabs the Guys Choice Awards’ “Decade of hotness” trophy. Clearly Theroux got the message, as the two stepped out that same weekend as a couple. At an exclusive MTV Movie Awards after party for host Jason Sudeikis, Theroux and Aniston mingled hand-in-hand.

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July 2011: Aniston offloads her her Architectural Digest-worthy Beverly Hills home, listed at $42 million. But not before she throws one final party, wherein Theroux meets her closest friends.

August 2011: In need of some temporary digs, and moving full steam ahead in their relationship, Aniston and Theroux move into an L.A. rental property together.

September 2011: On the campaign for a lead actor trophy in “Moneyball,” Pitt makes comments about his five-year marriage to Aniston that don’t go over so well, mainly that he was pretending their union was something that it wasn’t. He backpedals. Jen and Justin are just fine.

October 2011: Following her directorial debut with a short film tackling breast cancer in Lifetime TV’s “Five,” Aniston is honored in Elle magazine’s annual “Women in Hollywood” issue. Her profile confronts the issue of children, and has Aniston saying there is “no desperation” to procreate with Theroux.

December 2011: Adorable couple milestone, the joint Christmas card, is sent.

February 2012: In a surprising moment of candor, Aniston says the Brad-Angelina mess is purely for theater, and “has nothing to do with reality.”

“Wanderlust” sees its release, and in a slap-and-tickle GQ interview with costar Rudd, Aniston touches on her experience in long-term relationships.

“It’s a growing, literally living thing. There’s going to be growing pains, there’s going to be awkward moments — your lanky phase, your pimpled phase,” Aniston said of wedded bliss. “I think that’s the beauty of a relationship.” she said at the time.

April 2012: Angelina is spotted with an engagement ring. Much like any ex in a happy new relationship, Aniston reportedly does not care.

June 2012: Jen and Justin hit the streets of Paris for a mini-vacation. In the summer days following, rumors popped up in several tabloids that the couple hit a rough patch. All reports were denied, and for good reason, because ...

August 2012: He put a ring on it.

Stay tuned to the Ministry for the latest on Jen and Justin’s pending nuptials.

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