“General Hospital” Star Rory Gibson Marries Alicia Ruelas After 15 Years Together: Inside Their Hawaii and L.A. Weddings (Exclusive)

NEED TO KNOW

• General Hospital star Rory Gibson married Alicia Ruelas after 15 years together

• The couple exchanged vows in Hawaii on July 11 and had a larger celebration in Los Angeles on July 16

• “We envisioned having an amazing vacation with our closest family and friends to celebrate our love in Hawaii, then coming back to L.A. and having a big fun celebration with our loved ones,” the actor tells PEOPLE

General Hospital‘s Rory Gibson is married!

The soap star, 31, said “I do” to his longtime love, Alicia Ruelas, on Saturday, July 11. Five days later, they had a larger wedding celebration in Los Angeles on Thursday, July 16. The couple tied the knot after 15 years together, which they joke was a “long time coming.”

The nuptials were “truly just beautiful, heartfelt and very ‘us,’ ” the couple tells PEOPLE.

Located on the North Shore of Kauai, Hawaii, Mele Makani — which translates to “Wind Song” — set the scene for the couple’s vows. The ceremony took place on the lawn overlooking the ocean and featured local musician Pancho Graham strumming the guitar.

“Kauai is absolutely gorgeous and everything we ever dreamed of,” Gibson says.

Gibson and Ruelas, 30, approached wedding planning with a “go-with-the-flow” mindset, with their only must-have being that the ceremony have “relaxed and chill vibes.” They exchanged handwritten vows and custom rings, with Ruelas’ ring from Brilliant Earth and Gibson’s ring created and gifted by friend and costar Ryan Paevey. They were married by their close friend, Kyle Cook.

“I admire how extraordinarily kind and joyous Alicia is. We live a truly happy life, and I feel unbelievably lucky to call her my partner,” Gibson gushes, with Ruelas raving back, “I admire how sweet and genuine of a man Rory is. Our life is so full of love, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

After the ceremony, the newlyweds and their 25 guests gathered for brunch at Lava Lava Beach Club.

Less than a week later, Gibson and Ruelas held a larger, “cool and vibey” celebration and a buffet dinner with 150 guests — including many of Gibson’s current and former costars — at El Cid on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.

“We envisioned having an amazing vacation with our closest family and friends to celebrate our love in Hawaii, then coming back to L.A. and having a big fun celebration with our loved ones,” Gibson says.

Guests danced underneath a shimmering disco ball and enjoyed “lots of yummy donuts” — Gibson’s favorite dessert — while the bride and groom sliced into a simple, single-tier wedding cake just for them. The cake was baked by the couple’s friend, Alora Kinley, and flavored with vanilla buttercream and fresh strawberries, and topped with an adorable personalized dog topper of their pups.

In Hawaii, Gibson wore a suit from Ian Firestone at Beverly Hills’ Malibu Clothes, while Ruelas opted for an Evie Young Bridal gown that can be worn multiple ways, allowing her to slightly switch up her look for her second celebration. Her makeup was done by Cassidy Elise.

“After getting engaged in 2023, I originally got a dress that I absolutely loved, but after trying it back on after three years, it didn’t really feel like me anymore,” Ruelas explains. “I went wedding dress shopping again just to look, and I found the most perfect dress that felt so much more me. It felt mature, timeless and elegant.”

Gibson and Ruelas’ ceremony in Hawaii was planned by Jessica Frabotta with Kauai Elopements. El Cid’s Lizzy TePaske planned their reception in L.A.

The newlyweds, who shared their first dance to “Lifetime” by Justin Bieber, met in 2011 during spring break on the pier in Pismo Beach, Calif. Eleven years later, on Oct. 10, 2022, Gibson popped the question at Pa’ako Beach (Secret Cove) on Maui’s south shore.

Like their engagement and wedding locations, the newlyweds plan to eventually travel to “some beautiful tropical place with plenty of good vibes and good drinks” for their honeymoon.

Gibson and Ruelas envision their future together to remain mostly the same, in a good way.

“We’ve been together so long now, we don’t imagine much will change,” the couple says. “So we’re just excited to keep on living the wonderful life we’re so blessed to have.”

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The one thing they do hope changes is the size of their household, as they wish to expand their family one day.

Of their next chapter, they say they plan to “keep on living the wonderful life we’ve built together… hopefully with a few kiddos in the near future.”

Read the original article on People