In a ceremony that has single-handedly restored the world’s faith in romance, best-friends-to-lovers tropes, and the strategic importance of Taco Bell, pop royalty Selena Gomez, 33, has officially married music producer Benny Blanco, 37. The wedding, which took place on September 27, 2025, in Santa Barbara, was the culmination of a relationship that, from the outside, looks less like a whirlwind romance and more like a masterclass in one person being adorably, obliviously clueless until the universe bonked him on the head with the perfect woman.
For those keeping score at home, the couple’s journey to the altar was a saga containing more twists than a mystery novel—though, to be fair, most of the twists were just Gomez patiently waiting for Blanco to realize she was madly in love with him.
The “Is This a Date?” Chronicles: A Love Story
Long before they were exchanging vows, Gomez and Blanco were collaborators. They first met nearly a decade ago when Gomez was around 16 or 17, in a meeting set up by her mom. They worked on bops like “Same Old Love” and “Kill Em With Kindness,” building a professional relationship where Blanco, by his own admission, saw himself as a potential “wingman.” In a interview with Interview Magazine, Blanco recalled the pivotal moment their friendship began to shift, confessing that after a studio session, he offered to set Gomez up with his friends, telling her, “I can hook you up with some dates.”
The man was literally trying to arrange suitors for the woman who would one day become his wife. The irony is so thick you could spread it on a bagel.
Their first official hangout after that was a dinner that Gomez understood to be a date. Blanco, however, was operating on a different celestial plane of awareness. “I guess she thought it was a date and I had no idea it was a date,” he told Mel Ottenberg. It wasn’t until their second date that the light bulb, however dimly, began to flicker. “The second time we hung out, our second date, I was like, ‘Wait, does she like me?’ I was clueless,” he admitted.
From that point on, it was apparently smooth sailing. Blanco said he knew almost instantly, telling his mom, “This is the girl I’m going to marry”. He has since described Gomez as his “best friend,” and gushed, “She’s like my fucking heroin and Xanax combined”. It’s arguably one of the most romantic, if pharmacologically concerning, compliments of all time.
The Proposal: A Picnic, a Ring, and Zero Surprise Sneaking
The engagement, announced in December 2024, was a moment of peak Gomez-and-Blanco charm. Gomez revealed the news on Instagram with a series of photos featuring a stunning marquise-cut diamond ring—a design she’d apparently dreamed of since her “Good for You” days—posed next to a picnic basket and, beautifully, Taco Bell. The caption? “Forever begins now…”. Blanco commented, “hey wait… that’s my wife”, a claim he has now made legally binding.
Behind the scenes, Blanco was (finally) executing a master plan. He told Interview Magazine that he had to sneak around to pull off the surprise, which nearly backfired spectacularly. “Right before, they’re like, ‘Show me how good of a liar you are. Sneak around and try to do this perfect thing without me knowing,’” he said. The pressure was real: “At the end, she was starting to get upset because she was like, ‘Why aren’t you coming home tonight?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, I’m just at my friends.’ I almost did it early. But I nailed it, I think.”
Gomez, protecting the most intimate details for their future children, simply confirmed, “You did”.
The Main Event: A Ralph Lauren Fairytale
The wedding itself was a star-studded, sophisticated affair held in Santa Barbara with about 170 guests. In a move that screamed “effortless class,” both bride and groom wore custom Ralph Lauren. Gomez’s gown was a hand-draped, embroidered satin halter-neck dress with a low back and a flowing train, accessorized with Tiffany & Co. earrings and a sleek bob that would make any Old Hollywood starlet green with envy.
The guest list was a veritable who’s-who of the entertainment world, including:
- The Squad: Taylor Swift, who once jokingly volunteered to be the flower girl, was in attendance and even gave a speech alongside Ed Sheeran.
- The Co-Stars: Gomez’s “Only Murders in the Building” family, Steve Martin and Martin Short, were there, with Short delivering a speech at the rehearsal dinner.
- The Wizards: Cast members from her Disney Channel days, including David Henrie, were present, likely ensuring any magical mishaps were kept to a minimum.
In a deeply touching moment, Gomez was walked down the aisle by her grandfather, David Cornett, whom she affectionately calls “Papa”. Her mother, Mandy Teefey, shared on Instagram that it was “beyond heartwarming” to watch.
The Quirks That Define Them: No First Dance, But Pickle Sandwiches
True to their uniquely charming dynamic, the couple infused the celebration with personal touches that broke from tradition. They revealed on the Table Manners podcast that they would be skipping the traditional first dance, with Blanco attributing it to Gomez’s shyness. Instead, Gomez shared that she’d do a special dance with her grandfather.
And what would a wedding be without a very specific, slightly odd culinary request? During an appearance on TODAY, Blanco let slip one of Gomez’s key wedding demands: “You were like, ‘I want to have little sandwiches with pickles for my friends,’” he said. Gomez’s response? “Oh yeah, I do. That’s so weird.” Blanco summed it up perfectly: “She’s really the cheapest date. Everything is real easy.”
Other delightful details emerged:
- The Ring: Blanco posted a close-up showing Gomez had modified her engagement ring to incorporate a second diamond-encrusted wedding band.
- The Hora: While Gomez does not plan to convert to Judaism, Blanco confirmed they would “of course” be dancing the hora at their reception.
- The Name: In a move that will surprise exactly no one, Gomez is keeping her name.
A New Chapter as “Wife in Real Life”
As the sun set on the Santa Barbara nursery, with friends like Taylor Swift, Paul Rudd, and Ed Sheeran celebrating around them, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco officially began their life as a married couple. The confirmation came, as all modern love stories do, on Instagram. Gomez posted a series of stunning photos with the simple caption: “9.27.25” with white hearts.
Blanco, no longer confused about the nature of their relationship, commented with the perfect, succinct summary of their entire journey: “My wife in real life.”
So here’s to the happy couple: to the woman who said “I love you” first, and to the man who finally, blissfully, figured out he was on a date. May their life together be filled with continued collaboration, hilarious misunderstandings, and an endless supply of pickle sandwiches.