Selena Gomez's wedding to Benny Blanco drew widespread attention Saturday after details emerged that she asked her grandfather to give her away, rather than her mother Mandy Teefey, who insiders described as 'shattered' by the decision. The Disney Channel alum, 33, and the music producer, 37, wed in a private Santa Barbara estate as part of a weekend-long celebration attended by celebrity guests.
An insider told the Daily Mail that Gomez's mother and her stepfather Brian were 'shattered' by not walking her down the aisle, and that the honor would instead go to Gomez's grandfather, David Cornett, and his wife Debbie. The insider said Gomez made the decision as soon as wedding planning began. Reps for Teefey and Gomez did not immediately respond to Page Six's requests for comment.
Gomez, 33, and Blanco, 37, were reportedly set to exchange vows in Santa Barbara on Saturday in a star-studded weekend that included a rehearsal dinner and a private estate ceremony. Taylor Swift was among the guests, and, according to insiders, the pop star will stay in a private rental home for security. The location for the main ceremony and festivities was described as a private estate in Santa Barbara, with guests shuttled to the venue without knowing their final destination.
Going in and out of the property, all guests were reportedly picked up and driven to the location without knowing their destination ahead of time.
The star-studded weekend began Friday with a rehearsal dinner at an estate in Hope Ranch in Goleta Valley. Gomez's co-stars Martin Short, Paul Rudd, and Steve Martin were photographed leaving their hotel for the affair in semi-formal attire. The couple's closely guarded nuptials are part of a weekend-long celebration, with guests — save for Swift, who is said to be staying in a private rental home for security purposes — lodging at the El Encanto hotel in Montecito. It was described that all guests would be transported to the ceremony location without revealing the destination ahead of time.
Teefey, 49, has long been celebrated for her sacrifices in supporting Gomez's career, including giving birth to the Rare Beauty founder at 16 and raising her as a single mother. Despite the alleged snub, Gomez and Blanco have acknowledged Teefey's role in bringing them together. Gomez has said Teefey introduced them before their romance blossomed; Blanco recalled that they first connected around 2013 when Teefey set up a meeting between the two. The couple's relationship evolved from friendship after Blanco attended Gomez's 31st birthday party in 2023. Gomez publicly announced her engagement in December 2024, posting a carousel of photos of a large marquise-cut diamond with the caption, 'forever begins now.'
David Cornett, Gomez's grandfather, has been a focal point in the narrative surrounding who would walk Gomez down the aisle. As the wedding unfolded, Cornett and his wife Debbie were described by insiders as moved to tears by the moment Gomez asked him to participate in the ceremony.
Family and career milestones aside, representatives for Teefey and Gomez did not immediately respond to requests for comment, leaving details of the ceremony and the weekend’s schedule to corroborating reports. The presiding details, including the presence of Taylor Swift and the security arrangements surrounding the private celebration, reflect Gomez's highly publicized life while maintaining a level of privacy around the actual nuptials.
The relationship between Gomez and Blanco has roots in Teefey's early involvement in her daughter's life and career. The couple's public statements and interviews have highlighted Teefey's influence in arranging their initial meeting and fostering a connection that grew from friendship to romance. Gomez’s December 2024 engagement announcement, featuring a photo carousel and the diamond, signaled the culmination of a relationship years in the making.
