The film opens on a porch where a White man named Richard Loving is enjoying time with his Black girlfriend, Mildred, set in Virginia during the mid-1950s. The couple heads to a drag race that Richard moderates, showcasing attendees of both races despite the rampant segregation of the time. Shortly after, Richard is found laying bricks, as he works in construction. In a romantic moment, he takes Mildred to a nearby empty field where he excitedly discusses his plans for their future home, asking her to marry him.
Later, the story jumps forward, revealing that Mildred is pregnant. Prompted by Richard, they drive to Washington, D.C. to get married, as Virginia is one of the states that still prohibits interracial marriage. Once back home, Richard keeps their marriage a secret while working in an auto shop. However, the shadow of the law soon looms over them when the sheriff comes looking for Richard. Upon discovering the truth about their union, the sheriff declares, ">That's no good here. You went out of town knowing your marriage wasn't legal in Virginia."
This leads to their arrest, with Richard being released on bail while Mildred, heavily pregnant, is left behind in a separate cell. Desperate to be together again, Richard hires a lawyer who informs them that they can escape prison time only by leaving Virginia for twenty-five years. Faced with a heartbreaking decision, the couple relocates to Washington, D.C. but struggle to adapt to urban life, longing for the fields and greenery of their hometown.
Despite their efforts to make the best of their new surroundings, Mildred wishes for a more natural environment for their family. Richard attempts to embrace this desire by arranging a secretive trip back to Virginia for the birth of their child. However, upon their return to their hometown, they are quickly apprehended by the police again.
Time passes, and they manage to create a life for themselves in D.C., eventually having three children. Yet, the pressure of city life weighs heavily on Mildred. She yearns for the simplicity and open spaces of Virginia, especially after an incident where one of their sons is nearly hit by a car. Fueled by this experience and her family's encouragement, she writes to Attorney General Robert Kennedy to seek help against the miscegenation laws that impact her marriage.
Further developments see the involvement of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), who offer to support their case free of charge. With the arrival of their pro bono lawyer, Bernie Cohen, the couple learns that they could potentially take their fight to the Supreme Court.
As they prepare for their case, they face numerous setbacks, including a ruling against them from the Virginia Supreme Court. Yet, the case garners attention, prompting a reporter from Life Magazine to document their journey, capturing the intimate moments of their relationship.
The stakes rise in court as the opposing side argues against their marriage by focusing on the welfare of their children. However, steadfast in their love, Richard simply instructs his lawyer to convey to the court, ">Tell the court I love my wife."
Mildred, in anticipation of a call with life-altering news, has a phone installed at her new residence. After a time of apprehension, the moment arrives when she learns that the Supreme Court has unanimously struck down the last laws enforcing segregation, granting them victory.
The film concludes on a hopeful note, as Richard lays bricks on the home he once envisioned for Mildred, this time in Virginia with their lively family of five. Yet, as the story comes to a close, we learn of the bittersweet fates of Richard and Mildred: Richard died in a car accident just eight years later, while Mildred passed away in 2008, leaving behind a legacy of love and perseverance.
