Inside Vanessa Hudgens’ relationship with MLB star husband Cole Tucker – as couple welcome their first child

Vanessa Hudgens and her MLB star husband Cole Tucker have taken a huge step in their relationship by welcoming their first child to the world.

The High School Musical alum, 35, was cradling her newborn as she left a hospital in Santa Monica, California on Wednesday, July 3.

The smitten new mother and her athlete partner, 28, have been in a relationship since 2020 and tied the knot at their stunning Mexico wedding in December 2023.

Though Vanessa appeared to host a gender reveal party in May, the actress has yet to publicly confirm if her child is male or female.

Here, MailOnline takes a look back at the couple’s relationship as they become first-time parents, including their unlikely first meeting, sweet social media posts, and a lavish wedding.

The couple have taken a huge step in their relationship as they welcomed their first child to the world

The smitten new mother and her athlete beau, 28, have been in a relationship since 2020 and tied the knot at their stunning Mexico wedding in December 2023

The start of something new…

The Princess Switch actress and sports star first locked eyes in unlikely circumstances back in 2020.

Their romance sparked after they met in a Zoom meditation session during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was hosted by Jay Shetty.

After spotting her future partner through a laptop screen, Vanessa proceeded to DM Cole and make the first move. 

Opening up on the Drew Barrymore show in May 2021, she admitted: ‘If I want something or someone, I’m going after them. 

‘I fully just slid into his DMs and was like, “Hey, it was nice to meet you.” So I think there is no shame in making the first move.’

They sparked dating rumors in November 2020 when they were spotted holding hands in Los Angeles. 

The pair quickly began dating and went Instagram official with a sweet post announcing their romance.

The Princess Switch actress and sports star first locked eyes in unlikely circumstances back in 2020 (pictured in November 2021)

After spotting her future partner through a laptop screen, Vanessa proceeded to DM Cole and make the first move

They quickly began dating and went Instagram official with a sweet post announcing their romance

Vanessa shared a picture of the couple locking lips and packing on the PDA, with the caption: ‘It’s you, it’s me, it’s us’

Vanessa shared a picture of the couple locking lips and packing on the PDA, with the caption: ‘It’s you, it’s me, it’s us.’

The sports star cemented the romance by opening up about his girlfriend to CBS’s KDKA radio station a few weeks later.

At the time, he gushed: ‘I got a girlfriend, and she’s cool. She’s awesome. I love her. But I don’t want it to be, ‘Oh, Cole’s dating Vanessa.’ 

‘I don’t want it to be treated any differently than Mitch [Keller] having his wife down or Ke’Bryan [Hayes] having his girlfriend come down. She’s great. She’ll be around. You will see her, but you saw the headline – it is what it is.’

Supporting each other 

Although they work in completely different fields, the pair have supported each other consistently as their relationship blossomed.

In July 2021, Vanessa flew to New York to support her athlete boyfriend at one of his baseball games.

She has continued to make appearances on the baseball field and support her beau through a series of sweet Instagram posts, where she calls him her ‘king’.

And the companionship is returned by the MLB star, who made a red carpet debut with the High School Musical actress at the debut of Vanessa’s movie Tick, Tick… Boom! in November 2021.

While they keep their relationship relatively low-key, they do make appearances together at awards ceremonies and events and regularly give glimpses into their lives on social media.

On Valentine’s Day, Vanessa lovingly penned: ‘I am yours and you are mine. Forever my valentine,’ alongside a loved-up snap. 

While they keep their relationship relatively low-key, they do make appearances together at awards ceremonies and events and regularly give glimpses into their lives on social media

Although they work in completely different fields, the pair have supported each other consistently as their relationship blossomed

She has continued to make appearances on the baseball field and support her beau through a series of sweet Instagram posts, where she calls him her ‘king’

On Valentine’s Day, Vanessa lovingly penned: ‘I am yours and you are mine. Forever my valentine,’ alongside a loved-up snap’

Popping the question and a lavish wedding

The Spring Breakers star, who was previously in long-term relationships with fellow actors Zac Efron and Austin Butler, got engaged to the baseball player in 2023.

Vanessa admitted she was surprised when Cole got down on one knee and had an emotional response.

Speaking to People at the time, she said: ‘We had definitely talked about it, but I did not expect it to happen the way that it happened and the moment that it happened. It definitely caught me off guard and I was bawling my eyes out.’

She added: ‘I knew. After our first weekend together, I called my sister and was like, ‘I think I just found my future husband”.

The couple announced their engagement in a sweet post on February 9, 2023, captioned: ‘YES. We couldn’t be happier,’ as Vanessa showed off her glitzy ring.

Vanessa and Cole tied the knot in Tulum, Mexico, in December 2023 with a lavish wedding ceremony in the heart of the Mayan jungle.

Collaborating with stylist Jason Boldon, the beauty wore a Vera Wang gown for the special day. 

The Spring Breakers star, who was previously in long-term relationships with fellow actors Zac Efron and Austin Butler, got engaged to the baseball player in 2023

Vanessa and Cole tied the knot in Tulum, Mexico, in December 2023 with a lavish wedding ceremony in the heart of the Mayan jungle

Speaking to Vogue after the wedding, Vanessa said: ‘It is the most beautiful thing ever in a relationship to be that open and vulnerable and raw in front of all of the people you love proclaiming your love. It’s just beautiful. I loved it’

The ivory chartreuse bias-cut cowl-neck slip dress boasted a plunging back and she wore a veil that read, ‘Mrs. T December 2nd, 2023’ in gothic font. 

For his part, Cole was dressed in a Me by Canali off-white double-breasted peak-lapel wool jacket.

He added tan linen-and-wool pants and a white button-up shirt. Meanwhile, his silk bow tie and shoes were from Christian Louboutin.

Jay Shetty performed as the officiant for the lovebirds in a full-circle moment after they met on his Zoom meditation in 2020.

The ceremony was attended by 100 of the couple’s friends and family and the two penned their vows themselves.

Speaking to Vogue after the wedding, Vanessa said: ‘It is the most beautiful thing ever in a relationship to be that open and vulnerable and raw in front of all of the people you love proclaiming your love. It’s just beautiful. I loved it.’

‘It was genuinely the most magical weekend of my life,’ she said. ‘I am so grateful that we got to have a private wedding, and it helped that I took everyone’s phones away.’

Growing their family 

The Tick, Tick…Boom! actress revealed that she was pregnant while appearing at the 96th Academy Awards this past March, where she debuted her baby bump

But, she first faced pregnancy rumors after posting photos and videos from her bachelorette party in October 2023 in Aspen, Colorado.

The Tick, Tick…Boom! actress revealed that she was pregnant while appearing at the 96th Academy Awards this past March, where she debuted her baby bump.

Since then, Vanessa has kept fans up to date on her pregnancy by sharing bump snaps on Instagram and stepping out in midriff-baring looks in Los Angeles.

But, she first faced pregnancy rumors after posting photos and videos from her bachelorette party in October 2023 in Aspen, Colorado.

She admitted on the She Pivots podcast in March that the ‘rude’ pregnancy speculation made her feel ‘fat’ and detracted from what was supposed to be ‘the happiest’ time in her life.

‘I feel like I literally just had a run-in with the public taking control over their opinion of me in a way that was disrespectful,’ she told the podcast hosts.

Talking about Cole, she added: ‘He’s just the most supportive, real, understanding human being that I’ve ever met’.

Now, the Disney channel star looked smitten as she was wheeled out of hospital with her precious baby on Wednesday who was wrapped in a white blanket with thin blue stripes and wore a soft fabric cap on its head.

She stepped out with Cole, who on top of becoming a first-time dad on Wednesday, was also celebrating his 28th birthday.

Now, the Disney channel star looked smitten as she was wheeled out of hospital with her precious baby on Wednesday who was wrapped in a white blanket with thin blue stripes and wore a soft fabric cap on its head

Vanessa made sure to pay tribute to her husband with a sweet Instagram post that included her favorite photos of the MLB star.

‘Happy birthday to my slice of heaven @cotuck,’ the former Disney Channel star wrote. ‘You make the world a brighter place just by being you.’

Back in May, Vanessa dished to E! News about whether or not she plans to show her future children her extensive film and TV work.

‘I’ll show my kids all my work,’ she confessed. ‘That’s why I chose things along the way in my career.

‘I wanted to make sure that when I did have kids, there would be something for them to watch at every age,’ Vanessa explained.