Yahoo Lifestyle NASCAR Star Ryan Blaney Marries Gianna Tulio in 'Whimsical' Winter Wedding: 'A Candlelit Aspen Affair' (Exclusive)
The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Champion tied the knot with his longtime love on Dec. 12, exactly one year after he proposed
NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney married Gianna Tulio on Dec. 12 in Aspen, Colo.
The couple hosted a "whimsical" wedding with the theme "Winter Enchantment: A Candlelit Aspen Affair" at Hotel Jerome.
The newlyweds are now looking forward to growing their family.
NASCAR star Ryan Blaney is speeding toward a lifetime of love!
Blaney, 30, tied the knot with his girlfriend of more than four years, Gianna Tulio, in a "whimsical" winter wedding at Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Colo., on Thursday, Dec. 12 — exactly one year after he popped the question atop a snow-covered bridge in Washington.
"Winter Enchantment: A Candlelit Aspen Affair" was the theme of the nuptials, which were set against a scenic backdrop of snow-capped mountains. The ceremony also pulled from the cozy winter aesthetic of Jerome and was further elevated by beautiful floral installations, romantic candlelight and luxurious textures, which followed a "moody" color palette of black onyx, slate gray and dove.
"The winter holidays are one of our favorite times of the year," the bride exclusively tells PEOPLE. "We appreciate the ambiance of the holiday decor and how intimate that time is. We love all the crackling fires we get to snuggle up by and be cozy. So when we went to visit wedding venues in Aspen last winter, we had all of those favorite things nestled in that small town."
Around 150 to 200 of the couple's closest family and friends attended the wedding, which was planned and designed by Karli Spangler Events. Notable celebrity guests include: Chase Elliott, Tim Dugger, Scott McLaughlin, Daniel Hemric, Austin Cindric, Kevin Coleman, Bubba Wallace, Josef Newgarden, Dale Earnhardt Jr and Amy Earnhardt.
For Tulio, the long-awaited day was "a dream come true." It was also a rare opportunity to have all of the couple's loved ones together in one place.
"Spending quality time with all of our loved ones is super important to us, so we wanted to keep the wedding as intimate as possible," Tulio says. "With Ryan being a professional NASCAR driver, we are on the road every weekend almost every month out of the year, so we value every second we can get with our friends and family."
The festivities kicked off with a western-themed welcome party, held the night before the wedding at Hickory House, where guests enjoyed delicious barbecue, country music and a custom hat pop-up bar.
The next morning, ahead of their ceremony — which was officiated by one of Blaney's best friends, Kevin Coleman — the bride and groom privately exchanged vows.
"Ryan really helps calm my nerves. I'm most relaxed in the morning, sipping my coffee with him, so we decided to read our vows privately to one another," Tulio says. "I did not have my hair or makeup done [yet] so our first look would still be more than special."
She adds: "The thing we love most about each other is all the things we have in common. Then, the things we don't have in common, we find joy in those differences and embrace our differences."
The bride walked down the aisle to the tune of Lana Del Rey's "Video Games" while wearing a wintry white dress from Berta. She had her hair styled by Ana Belén and her glam overseen by Faces by Kim.
"It was the second dress I tried on out of about 15, and I knew the moment I saw it on me that it was the one," Tulio says of her wedding gown. Later in the night, she changed into Retrofete's Gilana Lace Dress.
The newlyweds shared their first dance as husband and wife to "Take My Heart" by The Teskey Brothers.
Entertainment at the reception was provided by Rock With U. Meanwhile, the "foodie" couple and their guests enjoyed an extensive menu which included butternut squash arancini, warm potato poppers, smashed heirloom potatoes, charred broccolini, short rib pierogi, roast chicken, fried chicken, caviar, sage-and-thyme-roasted bison and more. Dessert was slices of red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting.
"It was everything I have ever dreamt of as a little girl for a wedding … the most magical night of my life," Tulio says.
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Blaney and Tulio first met in 2018 at MGM Grand's Losers Bar in Las Vegas. Tulio was in the city for a modeling job with Hooters, while the 2023 Cup Series champion was there for a NASCAR race. Although the two "had no intention" of meeting that night at the country-themed bar, Tulio says she's "glad" they did "because the rest is history."
Now, they are looking forward to "growing old and raising a healthy, happy family together" — but first on the agenda is a honeymoon at home.
"Since we travel almost every weekend out of the year, we decided to enjoy our offseason at home with our animals," Tulio explains. "We are aiming to go on our honeymoon around Easter when we have [time] off."
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