With her wedding just hours away, Stella del Carmen Banderas is already living a fairytale. The daughter of Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith will say “I do” to longtime love Alex Gruszynski tomorrow at the stunning Abadía Retuerta estate in Valladolid, one of Spain’s most enchanting vineyards.
The pre-wedding festivities were hosted this Friday evening, and the celebration welcomed friends and family at a magical nearby location. Organized by none other than Ellen Gruszynski, the groom’s mother, who curated every detail, from the menu to the ambiance, with precision.
Spanish cuisine took center stage, with a luxurious spread of traditional local dishes. As a final touch, guests were treated to a surprise musical performance.
Stella shared her excitement with ¡HOLA! recently. “I feel so lucky to be getting married in the country where I was born,” Stella declared, admitting that she is deeply connected to her father’s Málaga roots.
She never doubted Spain would be the backdrop for this chapter of her story. With guests arriving from around the globe, the wedding doubles as a love letter to her heritage.
Among those expected are her grandmother, Hollywood star Tippi Hedren, and her sister Dakota Johnson, both excited to experience Stella's special day and the quiet charm of Castilla, a region the couple ultimately chose over the sunny shores of southern Spain.
Antonio Banderas is a proud dad:
"Seeing my daughter dressed as a bride will be one of the most beautiful moments of my life. I get to be the father of the bride, and it’s a role I take on with all the emotion in the world," the actor told ¡HOLA!, sharing how proud he is of his daughter.
“Having her get married in Spain fills me with pride,” he explained. “She’s very Andalusian, very much from Málaga, even if she grew up in the U.S. This is her way of reconnecting with her roots and sharing her homeland with her future husband and his family.”
Stella and Alex's love story:
Stella and Alex’s story began long before romance. They met as toddlers in preschool at Wagon Wheel School, where they recently posed to announce their engagement. From childhood friends to teenage sweethearts, they first got together at 19.
After a brief split, they found their way back to each other, older, wiser, and surer than ever. Tomorrow, surrounded by those who’ve known their story from the start, they’ll begin the next chapter.