“The Real Housewives of Orange County” Alum Alexis Bellino Marries John Janssen in 'Rustic Chic' Wedding (Exclusive)

• The Real Housewives of Orange County alum Alexis Bellino married John Janssen in a "rustic chic" wedding on Oct. 3 in Laguna Beach, Calif.

• The Bravo star wore three different bridal looks throughout the night, including a custom ceremony gown made up of dazzling jewels

• "This wedding was absolutely a dream come true. Emotional, joyful, sacred, and so us. Truly the most magical day of our lives," Bellino tells PEOPLE

Alexis Bellino has tied the knot!

The Real Housewives of Orange County alum, 48, married John Janssen at a "whimsical, rustic venue" in Laguna Beach, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 3. The wedding was attended by 140 of the couple's closest family members and friends, including 

"We envisioned a dreamy, romantic, rustic chic vibe with earthy elegance," Bellino exclusively tells PEOPLE.

 

 

The Bravo star instantly knew her "breathtaking" venue was the one when she stepped out of her car for the first visit and "immediately felt the presence" of her mother, Penelope, who died in August 2023. She was also drawn to its "intimate" setting.

"Our venue gave us that perfect mix of natural beauty and privacy, nestled between the canyon and the sea," she says. "It felt like we were celebrating in a secret garden by the ocean."

The venue was decorated with "soft whites, dusty rose, greenery and touches of natural wood." Guests were requested to dress in the same color palette of "light and earthy tones" and "highly discouraged from wearing black" in order to "fit the whimsical essence."

As for Bellino, she wore three different bridal looks. The reality TV star's ceremony gown was created over six months by Julie Hurt, owner and founder of Modern Bride and Creative Director & Designer of DiKaSa Bridal Couture in Scottsdale, Ariz.

"We created a timeless, elegant, dress, but I did not want to wear white," Bellino shares. "I was drawn to the romantic silhouette and how I felt when I put it on: powerful, feminine, and ready to marry the love of my life. My gown was all jewels, so I felt like a diamond walking to him."

Underneath the dress was a custom metal garter with a delicate cross, designed by Lisa Valenzuela, owner of Truly Blessed Jewels. "It was a sacred, personal touch I’ll cherish forever," Bellino notes.

 

 

Later in the night, she changed into two more looks.

"After removing the train and veil I wore during the first hour of the reception, my ceremony gown became sleeker for the reception," Bellino explains. "My next gown for the reception was short, white, sleeker, lighter, and made for dancing. It still retained all the bridal glamour, but it was comfortable for cake cutting and dancing the night away!"

One of Bellino's non-negotiables was that her family be as involved as possible in the big day. For example, Bellino's children — James, 19, Miles, 17, and Mackenna, 17, whom she shares with her ex-husband Jim, 63 — and Janssen's children — Jessica, Juliet and Joseph — each played a "meaningful role."

As "a symbolic moment of blending [their] families," the bride and groom gave their daughters beautifully handcrafted bracelets that Bellino co-designed with Valenzuela. Meanwhile, their sons were presented with custom bracelets from Kenton Michael Jewelry.

Afterward, at the ceremony, Bellino and Janssen walked down the aisle with their respective children, before sharing handwritten vows aloud to them and each other. During Bellino's "emotional and sacred" walk down the aisle, Worship Pastor Joey Molina sang Hillsong UNITED's "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" accompanied by a string quartet.

Next was an "incredibly emotional and spiritual" rose ceremony honoring the couple's loved ones as “Way Maker” played in the background.

The ceremony was officiated by the couple's longtime pastor, Jon Krist.

At the reception, the newlyweds had their first dance to "I Got You Babe" by Sonny & Cher. Guests then approached "interactive and fun gourmet food stations," dining from a menu curated around the couple's favorite foods, including: a gourmet taco bar, carving station, and seafood spread.

For a dessert was a four-tiered cake flavored with salted chocolate ganache and vanilla bean with vanilla filling. Miles, who insisted that Bellino and Janssen have a wedding cake despite them not being cake lovers, had the honor of serving and cutting the first slice with Mackenna. A Neapolitan ice cream sundae bar and coffee station also added "a sweet end to a sweet day."

 

 

Other notable wedding details included a "fabulous" DJ, rock violinist, a custom rap written and performed by private chef Mac Noodlez, a Magic Castle magician, and Rancher Hat Bar's custom hat station.

"We wanted the vibe of an intimate, unique ceremony followed by evolving entertainment throughout the evening and surprises for our guests around every corner!" Bellino says, continuing, "Also, excellent food, exceptional music and entertainment that would keep the guests wondering what comes next! We wanted moments that felt like us."

"We wanted every moment to be about connection and celebration," she adds, noting that a welcome dinner took place on Oct. 2 and a gourmet farewell brunch was held on Oct. 4.

"This wedding was absolutely a dream come true," she tells PEOPLE. "Emotional, joyful, sacred, and so us. Truly the most magical day of our lives."

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Bellino and Janssen were introduced by a mutual friend at The Quiet Woman in Corona Del Mar, and "instantly connected over family values, faith, and laughter." The spark was "undeniable."

The couple got engaged after nine months of dating on Aug. 27, 2024, during a romantic getaway at San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, Calif. "It was just the two of us, with heartfelt words and tears. It was everything — simple, genuine, and full of love," Bellino remembers.

Before their wedding, the couple took a pre-honeymoon cruise in Alaska and plan to go on a formal honeymoon "after things calm down" after the holidays. They hope to visit "Bora Bora, Maldives, or some romantic, tropical place neither of us have been."

Beyond that, the pair looks forward to "more love, more adventure, more family memories."

"Blending our families fully, building a life rooted in love and faith, and continuing to grow together," Bellino tells PEOPLE of her future plans. "And lots of grandchildren, obviously. With six kids, there will be a lot of grandkids!"

She continues, "We’re excited for quiet mornings, six wild adult kids, travels, and new traditions as husband and wife."

Teddi Mellencamp Breaks Down Over Missing Daughter’s 5th Birthday Amid Cancer Battle — Then Gets the Sweetest Surprise

Teddi Mellencamp shared a sweet selfie with her daughter Dove on Thursday, amid her ongoing stage four cancer battle.

In the adorable image the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 43, got a kiss from her five-year-old, after recently 

breaking down over missing her birthday due to being in the hospital.

'Now that Dove is 5, is it time to stop calling her baby Dove? Nah, I didn’t think so,' Teddi playfully wrote in the caption. Her pal and former Housewives co-star 

Kyle Richards left a heart emoji on the post.

She also shared a tender video of her and Dove, as they repeated the phrase, 'I love you my love' to each other. 

Despite her taxing health battle, Teddi looked energetic in another clip from Thursday, working out on a stationary bike in a grey jumpsuit with the caption, 'Quick 20 min ride bc I can.' 

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Teddi Mellencamp, 43, shared a sweet selfie with her daughter Dove on Thursday, amid her ongoing stage four cancer battle

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It comes after the star broke down on TV last month, as she discussed missing the five-year-old's birthday due to being in the hospital

Aside from Dove, Teddi and her estranged husband Edwin Arroyave, 48 — who have put their divorce on pause while she's getting treatment for her cancer — also share Slate, 12, and Cruz, 10.

In April, Teddi — who gave an unbelievable update on her cancer last month — broke down in tears while talking about her three children, and how she missed Dove's birthday. 

While discussing with Entertainment Tonight how she and Arroyave are moving forward, she began crying as she recalled explaining to him: 'I’m like, "I don’t think you understand the debilitating pain that I feel some days thinking about the fact that, like, my kids..."'

'That is extremely frightening. My kids are young,' she told reporter Nischelle Turner.

Teddi remembered a particularly emotional moment when she was in the hospital after undergoing emergency brain surgery to remove several tumors.

'I was like, "I feel like today might be Dove’s birthday,"' she recalled saying to her husband. 'And Edwin’s like, "It is. It’s her party today that you planned.'"

Tears streamed down her face as she went on to say, 'And I was like, "Can they please just let me out for today?"'

She credited Edwin with providing the perfect response: 'We’ll throw another one.'

Teddi recently explained her relationship with Edwin.

'We're not a couple, but we are still very close friends, and I think it was an effortless decision for him to make sure that he was there for me and the kids when this happened,' she told USA Today.

'Everybody wants everything to be so black and white, but sometimes it isn't exactly that.'

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She also shared a tender video of her and Dove, as they repeated the phrase, 'I love you my love' to each other

'Now that Dove is 5, is it time to stop calling her baby Dove? Nah, I didn’t think so,' Teddi playfully wrote in the caption

Her pal and former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills co-star Kyle Richards left a heart emoji on the post

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Despite her taxing health battle, Teddi looked energetic in another clip from Thursday, working out on a stationary bike in a grey jumpsuit with the caption, 'Quick 20 min ride bc I can'

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Last month Teddi looked incredible while attending 'An Unforgettable Evening' benefiting the Women's Cancer Research Fund at The Beverly Hilton 

Last month Mellencamp shared an incredible health update with fans, as she revealed that her tumors — resulting from melanoma that had metastasized to her brain and lungs — have significantly shrunk, and doctors believe she is a few weeks away from being cancer free.

'I just finished with all of my scans, and my tumors have significantly shrunk, which doctors believe means that this all will work, and that I will be back to myself, and feeling good,' she shared in a video posted to her Instagram.

Teddi — who previously revealed she was given a 'fifty-fifty' chance of survival — said that she has two more sessions of immunotherapy, adding, 'and then hopefully I am done, and I will be cancer free.'

In February, multiple tumors were found on her brain and she underwent emergency surgery. Additional tumors were then discovered on her brain and lungs. Mellencamp was initially diagnosed with melanoma in 2022.

The incredible news comes after Teddi admitted she was 'preparing her children for the worst.' Earlier this month she also revealed that her famous father John Mellencamp, 73, was planning her burial, asking whether she would be buried in the 'family mausoleum.'

At the end of her new video Teddi shared: 'I am going to keep a positive outlook, because that's the way my doctor just spoke to me. He was like, "you did this. You got this."'

Teddi, who previously said she felt she was on her 'deathbed', was pictured smiling in the video, as she told her fans the positive news, admitting that the happy 'crying' was already done.

The night prior Teddi shared on Instagram that she was 'sad and scared' but also staying 'positive' ahead of the MRI that would reveal whether her treatment was working.

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Aside from Dove, Teddi and her estranged husband Edwin Arroyave, 48, also share Slate, 12, and Cruz, 10; pictured with her kids last November

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Last month Teddi shared an incredible health update with fans

The reality TV star revealed that the tumors in her brain and lungs have significantly shrunk, and doctors believe she is a few weeks away from being cancer free

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Teddi — who was previously said to be 'preparing her children for the worst' — and Edwin have put their divorce on hold for now amid her health battle

Teddi — who has already undergone more than 20 surgeries during her two and a half year cancer battle — also posted a gruesome image of stitches on her head following her brain surgery in February.

Last month Teddi appeared on ABC's Nightline and said that doctors have given her a 'fifty-fifty' chance on survival as she still receives immunotherapy treatment.

During her interview, Mellencamp expressed: 'One of my favorite things to ask is "How long I got?" or "What are my chances?" and they oftentimes say "fifty-fifty."'

'Fifty-fifty? I wouldn't buy a car that's only gonna drive 50-percent chance of the time. I don't want this,' was her reply.

Mellencamp said that her doctors explained the reason for those odds were that immunotherapy had only been around for about a decade 'and that's how long the study has worked.'

The TV personality also shared the scary symptoms she had before learning she had several brain tumors.

And the star shared them with her fans so they know how to react in case they suffer from a similar problem.

Mellencamp had debilitating headaches for months, until one day her vision was severely impaired: 'I couldn't see. I mean, I could barely get down the stairs.'

The star quickly called her estranged husband, Edwin, who rushed her to the hospital.

'That's when they said I had four plumb-size tumors in my brain and then within the next day I was in surgery,' she told host Deborah Roberts.

'My first real memory was looking up and my entire family was there. My dad, my sister, my brothers, all of my best friends, and I'm being like, "Hold on, why are y'all here? And chatting? This must be bad,"' she explained with a chuckle.

Since then she has undergone radiation therapy to shrink remaining tumors, including some in her lungs, ringing the bell to signal the end of that treatment in a video on social media.

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In February, multiple tumors were found on her brain and she underwent emergency surgery. Following her brain surgery, additional tumors were discovered on her brain and lungs, and earlier this month she shared that her cancer has progressed to stage four

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Mellencamp was initially diagnosed with melanoma in 2022, before the cancer metastasized to her lungs and brain 

In March, after more tumors were discovered in her brain and lungs, Teddi reportedly began preparing her kids for 'the worst.'

'Teddi is a fighter – anyone who has watched Real Housewives can attest to that,' Radar reported at the time.

'But it just saps her fighting spirit to think she had beaten this, only to receive another horrible diagnosis. She had told her children that mommy's sick, but she is going to be okay, and now it's tearing her up to lay out the dark truth to them.'

'Teddi does her very best to remain optimistic through her ordeals, but her main thought is with her family and beating this cancer for their sake.'

The TV personality has been battling skin cancer since her diagnosis in 2022 and has kept her fans up-to-date with the journey on social media. 

The Walking Dead Is Heading Straight For Where Rick Grimes' Brother Should Be

Unfortunately, as the years rolled on, it became apparent that the show had no real interest in featuring the character, with The Walking Dead season 11's ending all but killing any chance of his arrival. Rick's spinoff could've potentially explored his past with his brother, but this came and went as well, leaving Daryl Dixon as the last logical hope.

Given that Jeffrey was in Spain during the outbreak, according to the source material, the fact that Daryl's series was heading there did reignite some theories. To make matters more exciting, Daryl Dixon season 3 indirectly references Jeffrey Grimes in episode 3, and now the show is heading right towards where he calls home, meaning his debut is actually possible.

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