The couple said ‘I do’ on Mar. 8 at Kualoa Ranch in Hawaii
Tenille Dashwood is married!
The WWE wrestler, 35, tied the knot with her longtime boyfriend Mike Rallis surrounded by family and friends in a beautiful mountainside ceremony at Kualoa Ranch in Hawaii — a place that was centered between Melbourne, Australia and Minnesota, where Dashwood and Rallis grew up.
The couple exclusively tells PEOPLE that their ultimate goal for the wedding was to have an event where their loved ones could come together and celebrate the happy relationship milestone. Dashwood adds that it was important that their ceremony, which was planned by I Do Hawaii Weddings and Events, be “authentic” to who they are as a couple.
“There’s no doubt it’s going to be an epic wedding but the most important thing is it’s going to be so much fun,” Dashwood said ahead of the pair’s nuptials. “We want a celebration where our family and friends can enjoy themselves and have a great time.” Adds Rallis: “Stunning scenery, delicious food, live music and the best company we could ask for.”
The bride walked down the aisle to Haley Reinhart’s rendition of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” in a gown designed by Grace Loves Lace. Her glam, meanwhile, was done by Marissa Melonuk, with her hair styled by Nataliya from Lebeige Beauty.
Once at the altar, the couple exchanged personal vows in front of a local officiant.
“We both felt it was important for us to express to each other exactly how we feel,” Rallis says. “I have to admit, though, that it has been much harder than I thought it would be. It’s not easy to put into words just how special this lady is to me.”
The couple notes that they didn’t want to have a “very traditional wedding.” That’s why for the afterparty, they decided to ditch the speeches “so we could have more time enjoying each other’s company,” Dashwood says.
The pair set up lawn games and had a live acoustic singer perform for their extended, 90-minute cocktail hour and focused on “having fun.” Rallis tells PEOPLE that their first dance was set to “All Your’n” by Tyler Childers, and although they didn’t have any other dances planned, they knew they’d be ready to “tear the house down and set the tone for an epic dance party.”
The dinner, catered by Memoirs of Hawaii, included passed appetizers including pork and goat cheese arancini, shaved beef carpaccio, Okinawan potato cups and black garlic scallops. A plated meal of coconut-mac crusted catch, braised short rib and herb roasted chicken followed.
As for the wedding cake, the couple decided to get different layers filled with their individual favorites of chocolate and custard. This included a devil’s food cake with chocolate cream on the bottom layer and a red velvet cake with cream cheese icing on the top.
The festivities lasted all weekend so the couple and their guests could relax and go snorkeling, golfing, whale watching, and hiking. They also celebrated with a welcome dinner, followed by a Luau and bachelor and bachelorette parties.
Dashwood and Rallis — who wore attire from State and Liberty — first met when she slid into his DMs a decade ago. After being friends for some time, the pair began dating after their mutual friends mutual friends Cassie and Jess (formerly the IIconics in WWE) suggested that they’d be a good match.
“It took a while to get there, but once we started dating it didn’t take long to know I’d found the one,” Rallis says.
He eventually found some time away from Dashwood to plan the perfect proposal on a trip to Dashwood’s hometown in Melbourne, Australia.
“Mike opened the ring box upside down, and when I told him, he said, ‘It’s because you’ve turned my world upside down,’” Dashood recalls. “I later discovered that it was actually a mistake… he’s lucky the ring didn’t fall between the cracks into the river!”
The couple says they are ready to embark on the next chapter of their journey together, which includes starting a family one day.
“Marriage is the ultimate commitment,” Dashwood tells PEOPLE. “No matter what, we’ll always be there for one another, pushing, supporting and enriching each other’s lives in every way we can.”
“Yep, she’s stuck with me,” Rallis jokingly adds. “But seriously, it’s all those things for me as well, and the wedding is the celebration of that commitment.”
