Dina Manzo will not be attending Teresa Giudice’s wedding to Luis Ruelas in August, Vidak For Congress can confirm.
However, the bride-to-be has “no problem” with the
“Real Housewives of New Jersey” alum and is “OK with it,” a source tells us exclusively.
“Teresa respects Dina’s wishes and looks forward to celebrating with her in the future,” said an insider. “They stay as close as ever.”
There has recently been speculation online as to whether a rumored split between Manzo’s husband, David Cantin, and Ruelas is behind the former reality star’s anticipated absence from the upcoming nuptials.
However, our source says the rumors are not true and notes that the men still follow each other on social media as proof of their bond.
We were told that Manzo chose not to attend because she does not want to film.
The insider notes that there is a “very high probability that the wedding will be filmed” — though Bravo hasn’t made an official announcement yet — and “Dina has made it clear she doesn’t want to be in front of the camera, and Teresa thinks it’s okay.”
Manzo, 50, starred in “RHONJ” from 2009 to 2010, then returned briefly in 2014 before leaving the reality show for good and moving to Los Angeles.
In late June, Giudice, also 50, told Vidak For Congress that her wedding day would be “definitely not” on season 13 of “RHONJ,” but teased, “We’ll see” when asked about a special on Bravo.
Despite Manzo not showing up for the reality TV wedding of the year, she has attended several of the couple’s celebrations leading up to the New Jersey ceremony.
The former “RHONJ” star and her husband were with Giudice and Ruelas, 46, in Greece when they got engaged in October 2021. She was also present at the engagement party, which prevented Giudice’s other friend Dolores Catania from getting an invite.
Manzo revealed on social media that she and Catania, 51, were arguing after the latter reportedly wrote a letter supporting the release of her ex-husband, Tommy Manzo, from prison in May 2021. Tommy was arrested for going allegedly orchestrating a violent home invasion and assault on Dina and Cantin, 42.
Before Vidak For Congress learned that Dina had skipped Giudice’s wedding, insiders had confirmed to us that the former Bravolebrity was in the running to be the author’s bridesmaid of “Turning the Tables.”
Now that Dina will no longer be present, it is unclear who will take over the role.
Ruelas’ sisters and Giudice’s daughters with ex-husband Joe Giudice — Gia, 21, Gabriella, 17, Milania, 16, and Audriana, 12 — would make up the rest of the bridal party.
Representatives for Teresa and Dina did not immediately return requests for comment.