Dressed in all white and with every inch of the bride-to-be in view, Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice and husband-to-be Luis ‘Louie’ Ruelas Friday joined the members of their bridal party to rehearse their much-anticipated nuptials.
Seen in these exclusive pictures and videos obtained by on the eve of their New Jersey wedding, Giudice, 50, and Ruelas, 46, arrived just after midday Friday to walk through the closely guarded ceremony that is destined to be is, a multi-episode specifically for the network that propelled her into a reality star.
Bravolebrity, Giudice laughed and exchanged hugs with fellow bridesmaid Jennifer Aydin, 45, there with her husband Bill, 42.
Her three younger daughters, Gabriella, 18, Melania, 17, and Audriana, 13, dressed casually and looking happy and relaxed, were also there to support their mother. Gia, 21, was later to join the party.
Cast and crew gathered at the lavish Chateau Estate park in East Brunswick, the location for the celebrations that lasted all weekend.
Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice was spotted Friday at the lavish Chateau Estate park in East Brunswick, New Jersey, preparing for her weekend-long wedding reception
As their rehearsals wrapped up on Friday afternoon, Giudice and soon-to-be husband Luis “Louie” Ruelas shared a tender kiss before boarding his G-car together for a quick drive to the local hotel
spotted Giudice, 50, and Ruelas, 46, arriving just after Friday midday to walk through the heavily guarded ceremony. Giudice wore a white Chanel tank top paired with a thigh-length skirt adorned with ruffles, her husband-to-be wore white shorts and a white t-shirt
Giudice began dating the man she now calls her soulmate in July 2020 – two months before her divorce from scandal-plagued Joe was finalized
With “FREE MAN” on the front and “Lions Not Sheep” on the back, it might have been a tongue-in-cheek reference to his impending marriage or a thinly veiled dig at his predecessor Joe, 50, who spent money in 2016, sentenced to 41 months in prison for fraud and deported from the United States after his release
Between 150 and 200 guests are expected on Saturday to celebrate their wedding with the after party, which is expected to last into the morning
Cast and crew gathered at the lavish Chateau Estate park in East Brunswick, the location for the celebrations that lasted all weekend
Daughters Gabriella, 18, Melania, 17, and Audriana, 13, were also there to support their mother with Gia, 21, who is expected to attend the party later
At one point, Ruela’s sister Veronica, dressed in a flowing white dress and with a heavy silver cuff on her wrist, stood at the microphone, apparently rehearsing her own role in the ceremony
Giudice laughed and exchanged hugs with fellow bridesmaid Jennifer Aydin, 45, there with her husband Bill, 42
Covid tests were carried out before the group moved into the immaculate Versailles-inspired gardens where Saturday night’s ceremony is set to take place.
White chairs were lined up in rows on Friday morning, on lawns overlooking a raised rotunda where a microphone was placed in anticipation of the couple’s exchange of vows.
At one point, Ruela’s sister Veronica, dressed in a flowing white dress and with a heavy silver cuff on her wrist, stood at the microphone, apparently rehearsing her own role in the ceremony.
Giudice’s brother, Joe Gorga, 42, and sister-in-law Melissa, 43, were notable for their absence. The always strained relationship between the siblings is increasingly strained when Giudice confirms that Melissa will not be one of her bridesmaids.
She recently said, “It is what it is. I’m not her best friend, she’s not my best friend. We are a family. I loved her. She is my sister-in-law and vice versa. And I’m sure she loved me because I’m her sister-in-law. But do we hang out like best friends? No we don’t and I’m fine with that.’
A chapel whose aisle was strewn with flower petals when visited on Friday is also on the site as a fallback should Saturday’s forecast thunderstorms break out.
Giudice wore a white Chanel tank top paired with a thigh-length skirt adorned with ruffles, her husband-to-be wore white shorts and a white t-shirt. With “FREE MAN” on the front and “Lions Not Sheep” on the back, it might have been a tongue-in-cheek reference to his impending marriage or a thinly veiled dig at his predecessor Joe, 50, who spent money in 2016, sentenced to 41 months in prison for fraud and deported from the United States after his release.
He currently resides in the Bahamas, where his daughters often visit.
Joe has insisted there is no bad blood between him and his ex. For what it’s worth, he said he’s given the couple “his blessing.”
Meanwhile, all four fiercely loyal daughters he shares with Giudice have welcomed Ruelas into the family, although eldest daughter Gia once expressed concern the relationship was moving too quickly.
Looks like the wedding dress under wraps! Giudice didn’t hesitate to say “yes” when Ruelas popped the question during a holiday in Greece with former housewife Dina Manzo, her husband
The weekend-long celebrations will take place in East Brunswick’s lavish parkland, Chateau Estate
The group moved through the immaculate Versailles-inspired gardens where Saturday night’s ceremony is set to take place
General view of the chapel and garden at Chateau Estate park in East Brunswick, New Jersey
The venue features a hotel, reception area, chapel and beautiful outdoor gardens. The couple will be filming the lavish wedding for their Bravo Housewives show this Saturday
Interior view of the chapel, where chairs have already been set up for the ceremony. The couple will be filming the lavish wedding for their Bravo Housewives show this Saturday.
Giudice began dating the man she now calls her soulmate in July 2020 – two months before her divorce from scandal-plagued Joe was finalized. The couple didn’t go public with their relationship until later that year.
Even by the standards of reality television, Giudice’s love life has been turbulent as it had her own time in prison when she was found guilty of mortgage fraud alongside Joe.
She served 11 months of a 15-month sentence in 2015, with the judge staggering her sentence and allowing Joe one to stay with his children while the other served his time.
But while she was initially determined to stand by her husband, Giudice’s 20-year marriage to Joe quickly crumbled after their mutual releases, with rumors of infidelity heavily denied on both sides. They separated in December 2019 and their divorce was finalized in September 2020.
By this time, Giudice had already found a romance with Ruelas. The father of two sons, Louis Jr. and Nicholas, has had his own controversies in the form of domestic violence allegations against his ex-wife Marisa DiMartino.
He is said to have once pushed DiMartino against a metal bar. DiMartino declined medical attention and declined to press charges, although a police report was filed.
In another report DiMartino filed on New Year’s Eve 2010, she claimed that a “verbal argument” with her then-husband forced her to leave the family home. Again, no arrests were made or charges filed.
For her part, Giudice didn’t hesitate to say “yes” when Ruelas popped the question during a holiday in Greece with former housewife Dina Manzo, 50, and her husband David Cantin, 42.
Speaking to People magazine when news of their engagement broke in October 2021, a source said: “It was absolutely exquisite. The choreographed fireworks lit up a “Marry Me” sign as Louie got on one knee. Teresa was completely surprised.’
The group partied until 5am with champagne and a dinner of lobster, sea bass and lamb chops at Amanzoe Resort at Porto Heli’s Nama restaurant.
As their rehearsal drew to a close on Friday afternoon, Giudice and Ruelas shared a tender kiss before boarding his G-car together for a quick drive to the local hotel, the Grand Chateau, where she and other members of the wedding party were all fine , checked in.
Between 150 and 200 guests are expected on Saturday to celebrate their wedding with the after party, which is expected to last until Sunday morning.