Ariel Winter and Luke Benward are stronger than ever.

And for the Modern Family alum, that’s because at the heart of their nearly five-year romance is their unwavering friendship.

“There are so many things that go into a partnership, but I think what I find so important is a ‘best friendship,’” Ariel told E! News in an exclusive interview. “I feel like, if you have that foundation, you really can weather a lot of storms.”

After all, she and the Dumplin’ star were close friends for years before their romance blossomed in 2020. Since then, they’ve shared glimpses into their sweet romance on social media, with Luke, 29, often making small cameos in Ariel’s cooking videos or participating in the latest online trend. Occasionally, of course, with their six dogs Chloe, Cupid, Casper, Cleo, Cobain, and Cash stealing the show.

But amid the sweet online PDA, Ariel is emphatic about what it takes to have a relationship that’s more than a collection of social media moments.

“I believe a relationship is more than just love,” she admitted. “I believe it's respect. I believe it's work. You can't just love somebody. And I really feel like we have all of those things”

In fact, they recently put that on display at the fourth Annual Legacy Ball on Oct. 5, when Luke joined Ariel’s Modern Family brother Nolan Gould to present her with the Legacy award.

“She is gorgeous. She is funny. She is smart. She is talented,” Luke gushed in an Instagram video of him presenting the award. “And she is a true leader.”

And having built a life outside of Los Angeles with the Minutemen alum and their dogs, Ariel is ready for their next great adventure together.

“I just love him,” she told E!. “And whatever the future is for us, it is for us. We got our dog kids, and we love our life.”