Stella, the daughter of Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas, is just a step away from the altar. Her family is fully immersed in preparing for her wedding with her fiancé, Alex Gruszynsky, which will take place in October in Spain. Meanwhile, as the countdown to the big day continues, Melanie, the proud mom of three, shone at the premiere of Dakota Johnson’s new movie in Los Angeles. The Splitville premiere at AMC The Grove 14 brought together the ultimate mother-daughter duo, who drew all the attention not only with their looks but also with the affection they showed on the red carpet.
Melanie chose an elegant ivory pantsuit, while Dakota stunned in a custom silver leather Gucci dress with a strapless neckline and sleek tube silhouette, a ’90s-inspired minimalist design that suited her perfectly. Despite her recent breakup with Chris Martin after nearly eight years together, Dakota radiated beauty and happiness. For her first summer as a single woman, she has surrounded herself with the warmth of family and friends and chose Spain, specifically Ibiza, as her vacation spot.
It is in Spain where her sister Stella, whom she adores above all else, will be getting married—a wedding Dakota is looking forward to with great excitement. For both her and Melanie, it will be a very special moment, the first wedding in their family, where they will of course reunite with Antonio, who remains an important figure in their lives. Despite their separation, Melanie and Antonio have shown they are still very close, and Dakota has always seen him as a role model. “My stepfather came into our lives. He loved my mother, me, and my siblings so strongly and so loudly that it changed our lives forever,” the actress admitted emotionally. Don Johnson’s daughter recalls how, after her mother married Antonio, she also, in a way, married Spain—a country she loves deeply and that will now set the stage for her younger sister’s wedding.
Antonio Banderas has already shared his pride over this long-awaited wedding in the pages of ¡HOLA! magazine. “Seeing my daughter in a wedding dress will be one of the most beautiful moments of my life,” the actor confessed. "I get to be the father of the bride, a role I embrace with all the emotion in the world," expressed the Málaga native. “I couldn’t be happier or prouder. Watching my daughter grow up and now take this important step is an indescribable feeling,” he added, reflecting on how his little girl has become a strong woman.
While the actor confirmed that his daughter will be married in Spain, a decision that filled him with joy, he preferred not to share many more details. However, there has been speculation about possible locations, such as Ribera del Duero, known for its vineyards and beautiful traditions, or Málaga, in Andalusia, Antonio’s hometown. In the interview, Banderas pointed out that his daughter “is very Andalusian, very much from Málaga, even though she grew up in the United States. It’s her way of reconnecting with her roots and sharing her homeland with her future husband and the whole family.”
Stella announced her engagement in August 2024, a moment that filled her parents with joy. Melanie celebrated it with excitement: “He asked the question… On one knee… She said yes. Stella and Alex are engaged. Their love story began in preschool! True love, deep love! Congratulations, my beloved ones!” For his part, Antonio wrote: “My daughter Stella del Carmen is getting married. We couldn’t be happier or more excited.”
Stella and Alex’s story has been pure magic since childhood. They met at Wagon Wheel School in Los Angeles and were inseparable throughout their childhood and teenage years. They began dating in 2015 and were together until 2019. After some time apart and Stella’s relationship with Eli Meyer, love came knocking again. They reconciled and went public on Valentine’s Day 2023, to everyone’s delight. “I get to hang out with my favorite person on Earth forever!!!!” Stella del Carmen said this while sharing photos that showed the engagement ring given to her by Gruszynski to seal their promise of love.