Paul Wesley’s Sweet Proposal to Natalie Kuckenburg Marks New Chapter
by Kai Montgomery
Look, I don’t want to be the one to spell it out, but apparently love conquers all—even on a Hollywood set. Actor Paul Wesley, best known for his brooding turn in The Vampire Diaries, has officially asked model Natalie Kuckenburg to marry him. The duo shared the news with a pair of Instagram posts on December 20, 2023, complete with a close up of a simple yet elegant diamond ring and the caption Always and forever. Fans have been buzzing since the reveal, and social feeds have been awash with congratulatory messages.
Wesley, whose real name is Paweł Tomasz Wasilewski, has had a steady rise since joining the hit CW series in 2009. After the show wrapped in 2017, he dove into producing and directing but always kept one eye on romance rumors. His path has crossed a few high profile circles, yet it seems Kuckenburg was the one to slow him down. The pair were first linked in early 2022, when they were spotted holding hands at a low key art opening in Los Angeles. Since then, they have maintained a relatively private dynamic, rarely sharing more than a well placed selfie or two.
Kuckenburg, a commercial model represented by a top agency in New York, has cultivated her own following with fashion campaigns and runway stints across Europe. In her engagement post, she sported a sleek black turtleneck that contrasted beautifully with the pear shaped diamond ring Wesley slipped on her finger. The caption simply read Always mine, hinting at a playful back and forth behind the scenes. Sources close to the couple tell us Wesley planned the moment while holiday shopping in Santa Monica, surprising Kuckenburg in their shared home with champagne and a private dinner.
Insiders say the proposal was a departure from Wesley’s usual understatement. Gone was the gothic backdrop or moody lighting. Instead, he opted for a warm holiday glow, complete with twinkling lights and a hand written note that read, I promise to keep you laughing even when you roll your eyes at me. That cheeky line alone tells you these two are in sync—and not just because they both have great hair.
Engagement rings in Tinseltown come with tall claims and bigger rumors, but Wesley’s choice seems to be all heart. Buzz around the ring’s details—estimated at around six carats—has fans speculating about wedding dates and guest lists. Will his former Vampire Diaries co stars appear? Odds are you might see Ian Somerhalder pop up, despite that decade old feud rumor. Wesley’s post has already broken the million like mark, and wedding chatter is heating up.
As for Kuckenburg, she has kept her circle small. Close friends reveal she’s been dropped into Wesley’s creative world, even visiting sets and offering script notes on his indie films. If our sources are accurate, she may earn a co producer credit before vows are exchanged. Talk about mixing business with pleasure.
Soon enough we will get details on the dress, the venue, and whether any vampires will crash the party. For now, we have Wesley’s solemn vow of Always and forever—and that, as far as celebrity engagements go, is about as straightforward as it gets. Stay tuned for more updates and maybe some cake smashing.
And that, dear reader, is why we can not have nice things.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, Instagram
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
