When 27-year-old Jon Bon Jovi ran away with his then-fiancee Dorothea Hurley in the middle of his band new jersey travel In 1989, friends, family and fans did not share the newlywed couple’s enthusiasm.

But as the couple approach their 35th anniversary, the rocker, now 62, is glad he didn’t listen to them.

In a recent interview with people magazine For his upcoming Hulu documentary, Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi StoryThe Bon Jovi frontman reflected on how he overcame the initial wave of skepticism.

,[It] Everyone was shocked: the band, management, agents, lawyers, parents, you name it,” he recalled.

He then admitted, “It’s a shame because it should have been a beautiful moment, but after we did it, people were trying to take it away, until I stood up and said, ‘Wait a minute. ‘Why are we living our lives for someone else?’

“And 35 years later, we’re still married,” he proudly announced.

Livin ‘On A Prayer The singer also shared details about their escape and recalled, “We were in Los Angeles, California, the band was on the road. new jersey travelAnd if you opened the curtains in my hotel room, there’s a big billboard of the five of us [Bon Jovi band members] Staring in my window.”

He continued, “My girlfriend, who was my fiancée at the time, we had a night off, and I said, ‘I need a higher position – I got an idea. Let’s go to Vegas now.’ And he said, ‘Now?’ I said, ‘Now.’