They had briefly met in 1990 at an Earth Day Rally. In 1992, in Rio de Janeiro, John and Teresa met again at a United Nations sponsored Earth Summit. A few months later they renewed their acquaintance at a Washington dinner party, and took a walk together to the Mall and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Their courtship began in late 1993. They announced their engagement in November, 1994.

Witnesses at John and Teresa's wedding on May 26, 1995 in Nantucket, Massachusetts, included her three sons and his two daughters. They were married and exchanged gold rings underneath a canopy at an evening ceremony. Teresa wore a peach gown designed by Oscar de la Renta. Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul & Mary fame) performed at their wedding.