Meet Antonio Banderas' New Son-In-Law Alex Gruszynski, As He And Stella Banderas Say 'I Do' In Spain

Antonio Banderas has officially welcomed a new member into his family, and it’s someone he has known nearly all his life. The Mask of Zorro star’s daughter, Stella Banderas, recently tied the knot with her childhood friend and high-school sweetheart, Alex Gruszynski, in a breathtaking ceremony in Spain. The couple exchanged vows in a romantic venue on October 18, 2025, in the presence of their close family and friends.

Stella and Alez, both 29, said ‘I do’ at the sprawling vineyard of the Abadía Retuerta estate in Valladolid, making their day truly magical. Stella’s proud father, Antonio Banderas, was photographed smiling from ear to ear as he raised a glass to the newlyweds. Stella’s mother, actress Melanie Griffith, and her half-sister, Dakota Johnson, were among the attendees.

With Antonio heaping praises on his new son-in-law, let us introduce you to Alex Gruszynski, the brain behind tech platform Nova, and his years of relationship with Stella and her extended family.

A love story that began in preschool

Stella and Alex’s love story is too perfect to be true — it reads like something straight out of a romantic movie. The Hollywood royalty first met her future husband in preschool, when they were classmates at Wagon Wheel School in Los Angeles. The pair stayed friends for years, and before they knew it, their friendship had bloomed into something more special.

It was in 2015 that the pair officially started dating, after years of an unbreakable bond. However, as is common in most friends-to-lovers stories, Stella and Alex had a fallout within four years of dating, and in 2019, they broke up. But as the saying goes, when two people are destined to be together, they will always find their way back. In 2023, they rekindled their romance, and this time, their bond was stronger than ever. 

Stella and her family were certain that she and Alex were meant to be each other’s forever. And so, when the entrepreneur proposed in August 2024, he did it in the sweetest way. Just like in a romance novel, their years of relationship culminated in a full circle moment on a picnic date at the preschool grounds where they first met. 

When Stella shared the amazing news of her engagement, she flaunted her fiancé by sharing a carousel of childhood throwbacks from their preschool days to high school, along with a glimpse of her sparkling engagement ring. She wrote in the caption:

“I get to hang out with my favorite person on earth forever!!!!!!!!”

Who is Alex Gruszynski?

Unlike Stella, who grew up in the public eye, her new husband has always preferred to stay under the radar, though his achievements often bring him to the spotlight in the business arena. Alex Gruszynski, based in Los Angeles, is the co-founder and CEO of Nova, a tech platform that connects creative freelancers with companies. He co-founded the app with celebrity photographer and videographer Aidan Cullen, who is known for working with Katy Perry, Bad Bunny, and Aaron Piper. 

Launched in May 2022, Nova has already raised a whopping USD 1.75 million in funding from high-profile investors, including Spotify executive Troy Carter, former SpaceX and Tesla Director of Office, Sam Teller, and Humberto León (Opening Ceremony, Burberry, Kenzo). Gruszynski was also recognised in Forbes 30 Under 30 Art & Style 2025.

Alex graduated from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business and worked as an intern at Anonymous Content and William Morris Endeavor (WME) before diving into the startup world. Despite his impressive resume, he keeps his personal life extremely private, with almost no public trace of his day-to-day life. 

How Antonio and Melanie welcomed Alex into their extended family

Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith were married for 18 years before finalising their divorce in 2015. Since their split, they have shared a warmth that’s not as common in the industry. Antonio and Melanie continue to celebrate every family milestone together, and Antonio has long shared his affection for his former stepdaughter, Dakota Johnson, who is also part of the blended clan.

Antonio Banderas has multiple times revealed just how fond he was of his son-in-law. After their engagement in 2024, both Antonio and Melanie expressed their delight at the same time, stating that he was "very, very happy for both of them" and that he "love[s] the man that [Stella] decided to get married with." He emphasised that the most important thing to him was that his daughter was loved. He mentioned:

"The only thing that I want if my daughter got into a relationship and now into a marriage is that she's loved. Everything else is I don't care.It's just great. I feel great for her."

Through it all, the extended family has welcomed Alex Gruszynski with warmth and affection, given their years of familiarity that have formed a genuine connection. In August 2024, Alex and Dakota were photographed skiing together during an extended family trip, showing just how deep a bond they share. He also shares a good bond with Melanie’s ex-husband and Dakota’s father, Don Johnson.

Stella and Alex’s wedding in Spain was just the perfect culmination of a decades-long connection, and it was all evident in Antonio’s toast for the happy couple under the Spanish sun. Congrats to the happy couple for their new chapter!

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