Vanessa Hudgens & Cole Tucker’s Love Story Will Have Make You Soar

A year ago, Vanessa Hudgens and baseball player husband Cole Tucker officially started something new when they welcomed their son. To celebrate, we’re boppin’ back to the top of their sweet romance.

Vanessa Hudgens realized rather quickly that Cole Tucker was exactly who she had been looking for.

In fact, as soon the High School Musical alum—who welcomed her first baby, a son whose name hasn’t been revealed, last summer—crossed paths with the baseball player, she knew that it was truly the start of something new. 

“After our first weekend together, I called my sister,” she said of younger sib Stella during a previous appearance on Hoda & Jenna, “and I was like, ‘I think I just found my future husband.’ The foresight!”

And fast-forward to Valentine’s Day 2021, Vanessa made their romance Instagram official, captioning a snapshot of them kissing, “It’s you, it’s me, it’s us.”

But she wasn’t the only one soarin’, flyin’ after finding new love.

“I got a girlfriend and she’s cool,” Cole told KDKA during spring training that same month. “She’s awesome, I love her. But I don’t want it to be, ‘Oh, Cole’s dating Vanessa.’ She’s great. She’ll be around. You will see her.”

And a little more than two years later, the two made it official, tying the knot in an intimate ceremony in Mexico. As for the swoon-worthy details? 

“[My friend] was asking me where he should go for a little vacation, and I was scrolling through Instagram right before he called, and I was like ‘Oh go to Azulik—this place is so freakin’ beautiful,” the Princess Switch actress told Vogue in December 2023. “I told Cole, ‘Maybe we could go here on our honeymoon…we would get such great pictures. Wait—maybe we could get married here?!’”

Which led her to take a quick trip to Tulum to scope out the location and there, she knew she was ready to say more than just OK.

“I felt like I was transported to some kind of utopia, unlike anything I had ever been to before,” Vanessa explained. “It was whimsical and magical, and I just fell in love.”

As the duo prepare to celebrate their son’s birthday—giving fans their first peek at their little guy in a campaign for her partnership with Cool Brands—we dare you not to fall hard for the couple’s romance.  

Vanessa Hudgens shared her first Instagram photo with Cole Tucker on Valentine’s Day 2021, three months after the two sparked romance rumors with a romantic dinner date in Los Angeles. She captioned the pic, “It’s you, it’s me, it’s us. @cotuck.”

The couple made their red carpet debut at the premiere of Vanessa’s musical at the 2021 AFI Fest in Hollywood, Calif.

The two also attended the premiere of the Netflix movie in New York City.

“Happy vday from us crazies,” Vanessa captioned this Instagram pic.

The two watched John Mayer perform at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Palladium for SiriusXM and Pandora’s Small Stage Series.

The pair walked the carpet at the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards in Santa Monica, Calif.

April 2022: MLB Opening Day

“Happy opening day my [king],” Vanessa captioned this Instagram tribute to her partner, a Pittsburgh Pirates player at the time, which she shared on the MLB’s opening day in 2022.

September 2022: Play Ball

The actress appeared with her partner—who announced his retirement in May 2025—on the baseball field.

“Happy Halloween from Sting and Miss Argentina,” Vanessa captioned this Instagram pic.

“Merry af,” Vanessa captioned this Instagram photo.

February 2023: Engaged

Vanessa and Cole confirmed their engagement on Feb. 9, sharing a picture of the actress rocking some bling on her wedding ring finger. “YES,” the Instagram post read. “We couldn’t be happier.”

May 2023: Wedding Planning

Vanessa joked about eloping with Cole after running into roadblocks during the wedding planning process. “Finding a venue is tough,” she admitted on The Drew Barrymore Show. “I kind of just want to elope. I’m lost, I don’t know.”

December 2023: I Do

The couple tied the knot on Dec. 2, 2023 in Tulum, Mexico. The 100-guest ceremony was attended by family and close friends, including Sarah Hyland and Alexandra Shipp—who stood up as bridesmaids—as well as Vanessa’s former High School Musical costars Monique Coleman and Lucas Grabeel.

December 2023: The Start of Something New

Cole celebrated Vanessa’s first birthday as a married woman with a romantic tribute reading, “Happy birthday to my wife!!!!!!”

March 2024: Oh Baby!

Vanessa announced her pregnancy on the 2024 Oscars red carpet, showing off her baby bump in a black turtleneck gown by Vera Wang.

July 2024: Officially Parents

A source with knowledge confirmed to E! News on July 3, 2024 that Vanessa had given birth to their first child.