Teresa Giudice, Boyfriend Luis ‘Louie’ Ruelas: Relationship Timeline (2024)

Her soulmate? Teresa Giudice’s love life took center stage amid her marital woes with Joe Giudice, but after their divorce, she fell head over heels for Luis “Louie” Ruelas.The Real Housewives of New Jersey star married Joe in October 1999, and the pair went on to welcome four daughters: Gia in January 2001, Gabriella in October 2004, Milania in February 2006 and Audriana in September 2009.The reality stars hit a roadblock in March 2014 when they pleaded guilty to 41 counts of fraud. She subsequently served 11 months in federal prison in 2015, while Joe completed his 41-month sentence in March 2019.Prior to his release, a judge ordered in October 2018 that the businessman be deported to his native country of Italy. He relocated there in October 2019 after spending months in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.[sendtonews type="float" key="UScSePO4x9-2839034-14453"]Teresa revealed during the March 2019 season 9 Real Housewives of New Jersey reunion that she and Joe would end their marriage if he was forced to leave the country. “I’m not doing a long-distance relationship. I’m not doing it,” she explained. “You know, I want somebody with me every day. I know exactly what happens. You know, I’m sure he’ll be with other women. It happens. We do the long-distance thing, it’s not going to work. I’d be like, ‘Bye-bye.’”Us Weekly confirmed their split in December 2019. “Teresa and Joe talked about their future when she and the girls were in Italy and decided it was best for them to separate,” a source told Us at the time. “Neither of them wanted to be in a long-distance relationship. Joe has been dating in Italy, Teresa is busy taking care of their girls right now. They harbor no ill will toward each other and will continue to coparent their kids.”News broke in September 2020 that Teresa and Joe finalized their divorce.Us confirmed one month later that the Standing Strong author was dating Ruelas. Her costars later weighed in on the relationship.“I wish them happiness, and I hope everything’s great,” Melissa Gorga exclusively told Us in February 2021. “But it’s new. It’s the beginning, so you never know. He seems like a nice guy, so we’ll see what happens. … It’s been nice to be able to, like, double date with her again because we haven’t done that in forever.”Dolores Catania, meanwhile, hinted that an engagement could be on the horizon for the couple. “I see a marriage there,” she told Us in May 2021. “I see potential for so much and a life together, and I see a lot of love between them. So, I’m really hopeful and really optimistic about what’s going on there.”The pair got engaged the following October and tied the knot in front of their loved ones in August 2022.Scroll through the gallery below to revisit Teresa and Ruelas’ relationship timeline:

Her soulmate? Teresa Giudice’s love life took center stage amid her marital woes with Joe Giudice, but after their divorce, she fell head over heels for Luis “Louie” Ruelas.The Real Housewives of New Jersey star married Joe in October 1999, and the pair went on to welcome four daughters: Gia in January 2001, Gabriella in October 2004, Milania in February 2006 and Audriana in September 2009.The reality stars hit a roadblock in March 2014 when they pleaded guilty to 41 counts of fraud. She subsequently served 11 months in federal prison in 2015, while Joe completed his 41-month sentence in March 2019.Prior to his release, a judge ordered in October 2018 that the businessman be deported to his native country of Italy. He relocated there in October 2019 after spending months in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.[sendtonews type="float" key="UScSePO4x9-2839034-14453"]Teresa revealed during the March 2019 season 9 Real Housewives of New Jersey reunion that she and Joe would end their marriage if he was forced to leave the country. “I’m not doing a long-distance relationship. I’m not doing it,” she explained. “You know, I want somebody with me every day. I know exactly what happens. You know, I’m sure he’ll be with other women. It happens. We do the long-distance thing, it’s not going to work. I’d be like, ‘Bye-bye.’”Us Weekly confirmed their split in December 2019. “Teresa and Joe talked about their future when she and the girls were in Italy and decided it was best for them to separate,” a source told Us at the time. “Neither of them wanted to be in a long-distance relationship. Joe has been dating in Italy, Teresa is busy taking care of their girls right now. They harbor no ill will toward each other and will continue to coparent their kids.”News broke in September 2020 that Teresa and Joe finalized their divorce.Us confirmed one month later that the Standing Strong author was dating Ruelas. Her costars later weighed in on the relationship.“I wish them happiness, and I hope everything’s great,” Melissa Gorga exclusively told Us in February 2021. “But it’s new. It’s the beginning, so you never know. He seems like a nice guy, so we’ll see what happens. … It’s been nice to be able to, like, double date with her again because we haven’t done that in forever.”Dolores Catania, meanwhile, hinted that an engagement could be on the horizon for the couple. “I see a marriage there,” she told Us in May 2021. “I see potential for so much and a life together, and I see a lot of love between them. So, I’m really hopeful and really optimistic about what’s going on there.”The pair got engaged the following October and tied the knot in front of their loved ones in August 2022.Scroll through the gallery below to revisit Teresa and Ruelas’ relationship timeline:

Although they didn't go public with their romance until the fall, Giudice later shared that they began dating July, sharing their first photo together.

Teresa introduced fans to Ruelas, writing: “Excited to reveal my new boyfriend.” Us confirmed the twosome are dating, with a source revealing at the time that the romance was “very new, but they are happy.”

She opened up about their relationship on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen later that month. “It’s fairly new, so I’m taking things slow and we’ll see where it goes from there,” she noted.

The Bravo star made things Instagram official with a gushing post. “The BEST thing that came out of 2020,” she captioned a photo of herself cuddling up to the entrepreneur.

The duo took a family trip to California with her daughters. “Grateful 4 this amazing woman,” he wrote of a pic in which they posed in swimwear at the beach.

Although fans hoped Teresa and Ruelas would take the next step, an insider exclusively told Us that there were “no talks of an engagement” in February 2021. “Their relationship is way too premature to even consider marriage at this point. … They aren’t rushing into anything. They are taking their time.”

The source added that they “both genuinely like each other and have a great relationship.”

Gorga claimed that her sister-in-law moved in with Ruelas after reports surfaced that they were living in a $3.3 million new home in Montville, New Jersey. “Yes, I believe that this is true. I don’t know much other than that, but I believe it’s true,” she said on Watch What Happens Live.

However, Teresa revealed the following month that there had “been no talk” of her moving into the investment property.

Teresa raved over Ruelas’ “amazing” desire to meet her ex Joe. “He said he just wanted to talk to him and let him know that he’s not trying to take his place or anything,” she detailed on Watch What Happens Live.

The introduction happened later that month in The Bahamas, where Joe moved after living in Italy. Ruelas’ two sons and Teresa and Joe’s daughters joined them for the trip.

Joe reflected on the family reunion in April 2021. “You can all imagine how I felt when they walked in the room. It was awkward to see my ex after a lifetime together with someone else,” he told Us. “Teresa and I decided to be honest and remain friends with one another for the girls. … I am genuinely happy for both Teresa and Luis and wish them the best!”

"A year, wow I would have never imagined how in one year I would feel so loved," the Housewife gushed in a tribute to her beau on their first anniversary. "You are so kind, supportive & loving. You take great care and consideration in everything you do. You have shown my girls so much love, I adore you. I admire your incredible parenting & your work ethic, and the passion you put into everything you do. You have made me smile every single day for the last year and I love you today and all of my tomorrows. ❤️❤️."

Ruelas, for his part, felt like the "luckiest man alive" over the past year. "I found my one true love, I found my one and only and my forever always," he wrote via Instagram. "I fall more deeply In love with you every single day & when I tell you how much you mean to me and how much I ADORE YOU it's to remind you that you are my world, you are my today and tomorrow - I will always treat you like the princess you are & LOVE you unconditionally forever. Happy Anniversary Teresa ❤️❤️ #trueloveexists❤️."

The Bravo personality posed for a photo with her beau on Friday, August 27. She captioned the snapshot, “Nothing but Love in Nashville ❤️.”

The duo got engaged on October 19 at the Amanzoe Resort in Porto Heli, Greece.

Giudice shared the details of Ruelas’ proposal with fans during a cooking tutorial on October 28, calling the whole thing “magical” and “amazing” – and even a little scary.

During the Amazon Live session, she revealed that someone was a little quick to set off the pyrotechnics. "As he's [proposing], the sparklers are going off and then the fireworks are going off, so I'm like a little kid, just looking all around," the reality star said — admitting she couldn’t hear Ruelas ask the question the first time.

Still, she said, "I'll never forget it. It was like something you always wanted."

“Thank you my Love ❤️,” the Bravo star wrote via Instagram Story on December 25 alongside a photo of a white Mercedes sedan with a red bow on top. “@louisaruelas ❤️ I Love you ❤️.”

"You have no idea how you've changed my life. I wake up every day feeling blessed and go to bed every night fulfilled," the reality star gushed via Instagram in a sweet birthday tribute for her man. "You have shown my girls what true love is, you nurture my soul, make me feel beautiful & adored, I’m so thankful to the universe for being us together. I Love You today and all of my tomorrows.”

Days after her wedding date was leaked, Teresa and Luis hit the red carpet at the MTV Movie and TV Awards Unscripted where they packed on the PDA.

The pair got married on August 6, 2022, in front of family and friends in East Brunswick, New Jersey.

Teresa didn't leave out any details while discussing her and Luis' sex life during a Q&A event with fellow Real Housewives Catania and Dorinda Medley. "I can’t keep my hands off of him, he can’t keep his hands off of me. I can’t keep my tongue out of his mouth, he can’t keep his tongue out of my mouth," the reality star said, revealing that she and her beau have sex "literally every day, twice a day."

"I want all my daughters to be proud of me. And I want my husband to be proud of me," Teresa told Us ahead of her season 31 debut on Dancing With the Stars. She added that she hoped fans of the show would see a different side of her than on RHONJ, explaining that Ruelas had helped her control her "Italian temper."

“Home sweet home,” Ruelas captioned an Instagram Story video of his family’s Thanksgiving table.

Teresa detailed the process of blending her family with Ruelas' after their wedding. “It is an adjustment,” she told Us ahead of the RHONJ season 13 premiere. “Louie’s older son has autism, so that’s an adjustment for our family, and [we’re] doing a lot of charity work for the autism foundation. The girls are so amazing with him. … We love and adore him.”

Even with the "adjustment" period, however, the reality star said her family has been thriving amid all the change. “It’s been pretty amazing,” she added. “It really has. Because listen, I’ve heard other stories with other families, but it’s been great.”

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