Katie Stevens and Paul DiGiovanni's Wedding: All the Details

Katie Stevens and Paul DiGiovanni's Marriage Was Destiny

Stevens knew her musician beau, DiGiovanni, was the one.

"Our first date was five-and-a-half years ago. After dating for a couple months, I knew [he was going to be] my husband," the actress — who wore a form-fitting, long-sleeved Flora gown and L'Dezen jewels for her walk down the aisle — told PEOPLE ahead of the big day. "From the second that I met him up until now, he's made me feel special and more than enough every single day."

Part of DiGiovanni making Stevens feel special was his proposal. In June 2018, Stevens revealed how the songwriter-producer popped the question during PopSugar's "Power Your Happy" panel at their annual Play/Ground event. Stevens said DiGiovanni would often tell her he was "going to marry" her someday, to which she would jokingly ask, "You're going to marry me on Sunday?" 

While on vacation in Switzerland for the holidays, the two went on a hike on New Year's Eve, and that's when she realized he was going to propose.

"... It was really beautiful, and we took a hike at the top of the Alps and hiked this lake," she shared. "He just asked me what day it was, and I knew he knew it was New Year's Eve, so I was like, 'It's Sunday.' "

Coupled with the Sunday hint, when the pair were dating long distance, Stevens said DiGiovanni gifted her several letters to open at specific times when they were apart. 

"He wrote like, 'Open when you're on the plane to see me,' 'Open when [you] wake up early,' 'Open when you miss me,' and one letter said, 'Do not open until I say so. Important,' " Stevens explained before adding that she kept the "important" letter in her nightstand for three years.

"He stole it out of my nightstand, brought it to Switzerland, and I opened it, and it said, 'Katie, marry me?' " 

Katie Stevens' Wedding Dress

Stevens picked the wedding dress she wore for sentimental reasons.

"I really did keep Paul in mind when I was choosing my dress," Stevens said. "He's seen me in so many red carpet looks and gowns and everything in between, but I wanted to look like the girl he's in love with [on our wedding day]."

Said her groom: "She looked like an angel."

Paul DiGiovanni's Wedding Tuxedo

DiGiovanni wore a custom-made navy BJ Gray of Grayscale suit that incorporated something old (and borrowed), a surprising touch from the bride-to-be herself. Stevens worked with the designer to add a hidden message and a portion of his late mother's wedding dress into his tux. 

"Paul's mom passed away when he was 15, so I just wanted him to feel like she was with us on that day," Stevens said. "His aunt has her wedding dress, so she gave me a piece of it."

Covered with a patch, the heartwarming memento — which Grayscale later shared a photo of the jacket and lining details on Instagram — remained a secret until the big day.

"We hand stitched it into the jacket chest, in a heart shape over the heart," read the caption. 

DiGiovanni said of the sweet gesture: "It was incredible. During our first look, Katie took out a pair of scissors and pulled a piece of thread on a patch to reveal it to me."

Katie Stevens and Paul DiGiovanni's Wedding Ceremony

Stevens walked down the aisle to a song performed by her close friend Betty Who and The Bold Type cast member Meghann Fahy. The pair exchanged custom vows and a smile at the altar during an emotional ceremony in front of their 250 loved ones.

Katie Stevens and Paul DiGiovanni's Special Flower Girl

The couple's dog also got to participate in the wedding.

"Winnie is our sweet baby. We got her together," Stevens said about their pup ahead of the big day. "She's gonna be our little flower girl!"

Katie Stevens and Paul DiGiovanni's Wedding Guests

After the ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests — including Stevens' Bold Type castmates, country singer-songwriter Dan Smyers and wife Abby Law, actress Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams, Chloe Bennet and Molly McCook — headed inside to dance the night away.

"Everybody's been so incredible," Stevens (with Fahy and Aisha Dee) said of her former costars' support.

Stevens (pictured here with DiGiovanni and the Bold Type cast) added, "They all made me cry the other day when they said goodbye to me 'cause they were like, 'The next time we see you, you'll be married!' They just made me really emotional."

Katie Stevens and Paul DiGiovanni's Wedding Reception

After saying "I do" outside, the newlyweds and their guests moved inside for the reception to celebrate their new union.

"It filled up quick," DiGiovanni said of the reception venue. "It's really cool to just see the unity that everyone brought."

Katie Stevens and Paul DiGiovanni's Wedding Flowers

The reception centerpieces were created from the flowers used during the wedding ceremony. 

"I really love the feel of wildflowers and beautiful drapery," Stevens told PEOPLE before their Tennessean nuptials. "All of the flowers that are a part of our ceremony are going to come inside and be a part of our reception as well!"

Katie Stevens and Paul DiGiovanni's Wedding Menu

The couple's custom menu at the reception consisted of an appetizer, two main courses and dessert.

"We picked our favorites, like hot chicken tacos, a traditional carving station and my favorite cake to end it all, a carrot cake," said DiGiovanni.

The couple also served signature cocktails, featuring a spiced pear margarita (named the "Hero Pear-oine") and an old fashioned (dubbed the "Bold Fashioned").

Katie Stevens' Wedding Reception Dress

Stevens changed into a Galia Lahav dress later in the reception. 

"I want everyone on the dance floor," she said. "My side of the family, we're big dancers. We really get down." 

DiGiovanni's former Boys Like Girls bandmates Martin Johnson and John Keefe were by his side as groomsmen, and the musicians hit the stage to give a special performance at the reception.

Katie Stevens and Paul DiGiovanni's Honeymoon

The couple was supposed to go on their honeymoon in Italy in the summer of 2020 after wrapping up work commitments, but the romantic getaway was delayed. 

"I'm just really trying to drag out this bride thing, you know?" joked Stevens in 2019. "I don't want it to just end at the wedding!"

DiGiovanni added, "We both have to go back to work the day after the wedding, so we better get a good honeymoon!"

The honeymoon was postponed to the summer of 2022, with Stevens captioning a series of photos of the two boating on Lake Como, "I love every adventure with you! Our postponed honeymoon has been worth the 2 year wait! 🇮🇹. 

Stevens and DiGiovanni welcomed their first child, daughter Rome, in February 2023.