Vanessa Hudgens and Cole Tucker’s Unfiltered Romance from First Spark to Tulum “I Do”
I suppose I should walk you through Vanessa Hudgens and Cole Tucker’s love rollercoaster, step by painstaking step. You’ve probably heard tidbits—she’s the High School Musical alum, he’s the pro ballplayer turned retiree—but I’ll break it down so it all makes sense. Last summer, the duo welcomed their first child, a son whose name they’ve kept under wraps. Naturally, that milestone sent fans swooning and prompted a rewind to the key moments that turned a casual spring training fling into a lifelong commitment.
It began in early 2021, when Vanessa crossed paths with Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Cole Tucker and—by all accounts—knew almost immediately that he was the one. She confessed on Hoda & Jenna that after their first weekend together, she phoned her sister Stella and declared, “I think I just found my future husband.” Yes, seriously. By Valentine’s Day 2021, the couple went Instagram official with a steamy kiss captioned “It’s you, it’s me, it’s us,” cementing their status as Hollywood’s hottest new pair (E! Online, February 2021).
Meanwhile, Cole was equally smitten. During spring training that same month, he told KDKA, “I got a girlfriend and she’s cool… You will see her.” So much for playing it coy. A few months later, the two made their red carpet debut at AFI Fest and continued parading PDA—from a Netflix premiere in New York to John Mayer’s Hollywood Palladium show—each appearance more endearing than the last.
Fast-forward to February 9, 2023, when Vanessa and Cole announced their engagement with a single Instagram shot of her new ring reading simply, “YES.” Wedding planning commenced with typical celebrity hurdles—venue hunts, elopement jokes on The Drew Barrymore Show—but Vanessa eventually zeroed in on a dreamy Tulum hideaway. She revealed to Vogue in December 2023 that a friend’s vacation tip led her to Azulik, a jungle-chic resort so enchanting she immediately envisioned their nuptials there.
On December 2, 2023, under a boho canopy of greenery and candlelight, the pair exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony attended by around 100 guests—family, friends, and even a few MLB pals. Their Tulum “I do” was every bit as whimsical and magical as Vanessa had promised, marking the perfect start to married life.
Now, as they gear up to celebrate their little one’s first birthday—and treat us to our first cheeky glimpse of baby’s face in Vanessa’s Cool Brands campaign—it’s safe to say this love story still has room to grow. So there you have it: Vanessa Hudgens and Cole Tucker’s whirlwind from flirtation to family. Hopefully that wasn’t too much for you, but at least now you finally understand!
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online, Hoda & Jenna show, KDKA, Vogue
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
