Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco to Wed in Santa Barbara Weekend Celebration

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco are tying the knot this weekend in Santa Barbara, California, in a wedding weekend centered at the El Encanto, a luxury hotel that has been rented for guests for the duration of the celebration, according to Page Six. The couple’s ceremony is expected to take place at a separate venue, while Gomez and Blanco host a guest list that includes her longtime friends and fellow celebrities. The El Encanto is owned by Tinder co‑founder Justin Mateen, adding a backdrop of old Hollywood glamour to the weekend.

Among the guests anticipated to attend are Steve Martin and Martin Short, Gomez’s Only Murders in the Building co-stars, as well as Paris Hilton and her husband, Carter Reum. Taylor Swift, who recently became engaged herself, is also expected to be in attendance, though Swift’s fiancé Travis Kelce will not join her due to an NFL game schedule. Swift has publicly offered to be the flower girl for the wedding, a remark that circulated after Gomez posted about the engagement on social media. Nicola Peltz Beckham and Brooklyn Beckham are not expected to attend, Page Six reports, with a source saying Peltz is in pre-production on a demanding film shoot.

The wedding is being framed as a major milestone for Gomez, who has spent years in the spotlight while navigating health and personal challenges. The event caps a weekend of private celebrations at the El Encanto, which has hosted a string of high-profile guests over the years, and aligns with Gomez’s public statements about finding stability and happiness with Blanco. The guest list and plans reflect a star-studded convergence of Gomez’s artistic circle and close friends from music, television, and fashion, set against the backdrop of Santa Barbara’s coast.

Blanco and Gomez first connected as friends and collaborators long before their romance became public. They began working together in the late 2010s, with a notable collaboration on their joint material and a public appearance as a couple at the Emmys in 2023. In December 2024, Gomez confirmed their engagement after the couple purchased a $35 million Spanish-style mansion in Beverly Hills, posting “Forever begins now” on Instagram and prompting swift support from Swift.

Gomez’s health journey has been a defining element of her public narrative in recent years. She was diagnosed with lupus in 2013, a condition that led to medical interventions and, at one point, hospitalization. She underwent a kidney transplant in 2017, donated by her close friend Francia Raisa, and she has spoken candidly about mental health, including a bipolar disorder diagnosis disclosed in 2020. In interviews, she has emphasized resilience and ongoing personal growth as she continues to manage health with the support of loved ones, including Blanco. The couple’s shared interests—food, cooking, and family—have also formed a bridge in their relationship, with public appearances at cooking classes and other casual outings.

As Gomez and Blanco prepare to exchange vows, the weekend’s guest list reads like a cross-section of their inner circle. Steve Martin and Martin Short are expected to be present to support Gomez on the canvas of a high-profile moment. Paris Hilton and Carter Reum’s attendance adds another layer of celebrity energy, while the absence of Swift’s fiancé, Travis Kelce, underscores the demands of professional schedules on such events. The dynamic around Nicola Peltz Beckham’s nonattendance, attributed to a film shoot, also reflects the realities of busy careers intersecting with personal milestones.

The wedding marks a turning point for Gomez, whose career has been punctuated by breakthrough moments, public scrutiny, and personal health battles. In interviews, she has described her relationship with Blanco as a stabilizing force—one that has allowed her to feel safe enough to pursue marriage after years of intense public attention and media speculation. Blanco has likewise spoken about Gomez with admiration, describing her honesty and artistry as cornerstones of their connection.

The event’s atmosphere is being pitched as intimate despite its star power, with the El Encanto serving as a private sanctuary for guests during the weekend. The venue’s history as a red-carpet hideaway adds a sense of occasion to Gomez’s decision to move forward with marriage to Blanco, a longtime collaborator and partner who has publicly supported her through health scares and personal growth. As the weekend unfolds, observers will be watching not only the ceremony itself but the broader arc of Gomez’s ongoing journey toward happiness and lasting partnership.