Nikki Bella has become more careful about her approaching wedding to Artem Chigvintsev since becoming a mother.
“Once I had Matteo and started raising him, I realized that when I say ‘I do,’ I want to make sure it’s forever,” Bella remarked on Monday’s E! News Daily Pop. “I know there are some things Artem wants as well — like his parents being around — but I don’t want my son to go through a divorce.”
In November 2019, the “Total Bellas” star, 38, and the “Dancing With the Stars” pro, 39, got engaged, and their son Matteo was born in August 2020.
The couple had planned to marry in the fall of 2021, but had to postpone their preparations owing to the hurricane.
She earlier stated to People in November 2021 that the couple would not marry without his parents present, saying, “With where the world is at right now, and trying to get two Russian parents into the country, it’s practically impossible.” So, as soon as I can acquire two visas, we’ll schedule a date and say, ‘I do.'”
Bella also stated that “all I’ve lived through” has caused her to take things slowly.
When she was 20 years old, the former WWE star married her high school lover, but their marriage was annulled three years later. Bella then had a six-year on-again, off-again relationship with John Cena before he proposed in April 2017. In July 2018, the couple decided to put off their wedding.
Bella added that, despite having had her heart crushed in the past, she and Chigvintsev are taking their time to ensure that marriage is “absolutely” the right decision for them.
“Right now, everything we have going on in our house is incredible,” Bella concluded. “It’s really similar to being married.”
“I always wanted to be with someone who was going to be an incredible father, and Artem is that,” the mother of one stated.
Bella and Chigvintsev met on “Dancing With the Stars” in 2017. Bella was still seeing Cena at the time, but the two later reconciled. In July of this year, she made her romance official.