Vanna White Marries Longtime Partner John Donaldson in Private Ceremony After 12+ Years Together

Wheel of Fortune icon announces surprise wedding to real estate developer she met at backyard barbecue in 2012

Major News:

• Vanna White, 68, secretly married longtime boyfriend John Donaldson
• Couple announced marriage via Instagram on Wednesday, January 21st
• Wedding comes after more than a decade of dating and previous statements they felt “already married”

  

Surprise Wedding Announcement

Vanna White and John Donaldson have tied the knot!

The Wheel of Fortune icon, 68, and her longtime love announced their marriage on Instagram on Wednesday, January 21st.

“Surprise! We got married!” White captioned a photo from their big day.

She continued, “John and I have been in love for more than a decade, and a little while back, we wanted to make it official in a private ceremony. We’re excited to share this new, joyful chapter in our lives with all of you! Love, Vanna and John.”

How They Met

White was first introduced to Donaldson in 2012 when a friend brought the real estate developer to one of her barbecues. White told PEOPLE in 2019 that she was instantly smitten.

“I remember looking at him and thinking, ‘He’s really cute,'” she recalled. “We ended up talking for a long time that night.”

Relationship Dynamic

“It just works,” she added of their breezy relationship at the time. “He lets me be me, I let him be him… There is no drama in our relationship.”

Previous Thoughts on Marriage

In October 2023, the TV star opened up about why she and Donaldson hadn’t said “I do” after so many years together.

“I mean, we’ve been together 12 years, and I feel like we are married,” she told PEOPLE. “Do we have to get married? No, because we feel comfortable in our relationship. You know what I mean? I know that he’s the one. He knows I’m the one.”

At the time, White said she and Donaldson, who owns his own construction and development company in California, hadn’t even discussed the topic of marriage.

“We don’t really talk about it, but you never know,” she told PEOPLE. “I mean, I guess we could, but in my eyes and his eyes, we are married.”

Perfect Partnership

White also shared that the couple works well together because he is “the male version” of her. “We really are very similar,” she noted.

Change of Heart

Despite previously expressing that formal marriage wasn’t necessary for their relationship, the couple ultimately decided to make their union official through a private ceremony. The announcement caption indicates the wedding occurred “a little while back,” suggesting they kept the news private for some time before sharing it publicly.

Private Ceremony

The couple chose to exchange vows in a private ceremony, consistent with their low-key relationship approach over the years. White’s announcement emphasized their desire to share the “joyful chapter” with fans and supporters despite the intimate nature of the ceremony itself.

Relationship Longevity

The marriage represents the culmination of a relationship spanning more than twelve years—a significant period during which White continued her iconic role on Wheel of Fortune while maintaining a drama-free personal life with Donaldson.

Their decision to marry after so many years together demonstrates that even when couples feel committed without legal formalization, the desire to officially seal that commitment can emerge over time.

White’s Career Context

The wedding announcement comes as White continues her legendary tenure on Wheel of Fortune, where she has served as the show’s hostess since 1982. Her personal happiness with Donaldson has coincided with her professional stability and continued success on one of television’s longest-running game shows.

Social Media Reaction

By announcing the marriage on Instagram, White chose to share her personal joy directly with fans who have followed her career for decades, allowing them to celebrate this milestone alongside her while maintaining the privacy of the actual ceremony.

The surprise nature of the announcement—revealing a wedding that had already occurred rather than announcing an engagement—reflects the couple’s preference for keeping their relationship milestones intimate before sharing them publicly.

New Chapter

White’s description of the marriage as a “new, joyful chapter” suggests that despite feeling married for years, the formal ceremony and legal recognition hold special meaning for both partners as they continue their life together.

The wedding marks a beautiful evolution in a relationship characterized by mutual respect, similarity in temperament, and a drama-free dynamic that White has consistently praised throughout their years together.