Who is HARDY’s Wife? Meet Caleigh Ryan

HARDY is well known among country music fans for his award-winning, country-rocker sound and hitmaking tunes that have launched him to stardom. However, his fanbase has also come to love the person who’s always by his side lending her support and looking fabulous at every turn – his wife, Caleigh Ryan. 

Who is Caleigh Ryan and how did she end up as HARDY’s other half?

The 26-year-old was born in March of 1997 in Encinitas, California to her father Michael Ryan, and her mother Sheri Seastedt Ryan. After graduating high school, Caleigh went on to attend the University of Mississippi where she studied Marketing and Corporate Relations. Later on, she used her degree to land a job as a Marketing Coordinator at Graduate Hotels.

He Slid Into Her DMs

In the midst of all that, HARDY walked into her life in April of 2018 when he slid into her DMs.

“We just started talking about San Diego and how she goes to Ole Miss and my family’s Mississippi State thing,” HARDY told People. “We kept in contact until I had a show nearby her school and told her I’d love to meet her there.”

An Instant Connection

The pair ended up meeting in person for the first time when he came into town for a local show in the Oxford, Mississippi area and the rest is history. 

“Once we met each other, there really was no one else,” Ryan told People. “We never entertained anyone else. It was just so easy.”

“I loved her after the third time that we ever hung out,” HARDY added. “It was the realest thing I had ever experienced. I actually told her I loved her at Stagecoach, out in the crowd.”

Engagement

After several years of dating, the lovebirds got engaged in August of 2021 at the same venue where they first met for the very first time – the Lyric Theatre in Oxford, Mississippi. 

“I’m not her boyfriend anymore,” HARDY wrote alongside a photo he shared on social media at the time, showcasing the moment he popped the question. The caption was inspired by lyrics from his song, “Boyfriend,” which appears on his critically acclaimed debut album, A ROCK.

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A post shared by HARDY (@hardy)

Ryan also announced the joyful news on her Instagram page with a series of pictures outside of the live music venue. “We’re getting married!!!” she wrote with an engagement ring emoji. 

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A post shared by CALEIGH HARDY🍋🍋🍋 (@caleighryan)

The proposal was followed by an elaborate celebration featuring gorgeous decorations from jaw-dropping balloon displays to elegant floral arrangements, a custom bar and even a cotton candy machine. 

“My eyeballs will probably have permanent damage from staring at my phone so much these past few days, but how can I help myself when I get to relive the magic that was created for our engagement party?” Caleigh wrote alongside photos from the event. “…The thought and detail incorporated into the design and setup make my heart want to explode with joy.” 

Married On October 29, 2022

HARDY and Caleigh officially tied the knot on Saturday (Oct. 29) surrounded by 350 of their friends and family at Diamond Creek Farms in Nashville, Tennessee.

“I could have invited a lot more people, but we wanted people there that know us and love us,” Hardy told PEOPLE. 

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A post shared by HARDY (@hardy)

Star-Studded Guest List

Several country stars were spotted as guests of the celebration including Dierks Bentley, Brantley Gilbert, Lauren Alaina, Devin Dawson, Mitchell Tenpenny, Lindsay Ell, Travis Denning, RaeLynn, ERNEST, Renee Blair, Jameson Rodgers, Morgan Wallen and more. 

For their ceremony, Ryan wore an elegant custom dress that she designed with Naama & Anat and Haute Brida, while HARDy dressed in a suit by STITCHED in Las Vegas and a bow tie to complete the look. 

“We go to a lot of awards shows where you get to wear beautiful dresses, so it really was about finding my wedding dress versus just another beautiful dress,” Ryan explained to the outlet. “That was my biggest obstacle. So I ended up creating a dress from scratch.”

Every aspect of the wedding was well-thought-out to reflect their deep love for one another. The couple made sure to also implement plenty of family ties. Ryan wore her grandma’s lucky penny for her “something borrowed” and her late great-aunt Rosie’s aquamarine ring for her “something blue,” while HARDY’s outfit included custom gold cuff links from his late great-uncle.

Once the reception wrapped up, the newlyweds moved the party to Broadway, where they enjoyed a VIP experience at Luke Bryan‘s multi-level bar 32 Bridge alongside a group of their guests. 

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A post shared by CALEIGH HARDY🍋🍋🍋 (@caleighryan)

Honeymoon

HARDY and Caleigh celebrated their nuptials with a romantic honeymoon in Thailand. Throughout the trip, they captured many of the moments in which they found themselves smiling from ear to ear as they became immersed in the local culture. 

“Trip of a lifetime. Blessed to have such an amazing honeymoon with the most amazing person,” HARDY wrote in his post that showcases photos of their adventures, which included meeting elephants, shopping from traditional floating markets, enjoying their meals with a view, and more. 

The pair most recently walked the red carpet together at the annual ACM Honors, and tonight (Sept. 28), they will make their way to the Grand Ole Opry for the first-ever People’s Choice Country Awards. Fans can tune into the two-hour broadcast at 8 p.m. ET/PT when it airs simultaneously on NBC and Peacock.

The night will include performances by Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Dan + Shay, HARDY, Jelly Roll, Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini, Little Big Town, Toby Keith, Wynonna Judd and more.

Fans can also catch HARDY on his current headlining run, the mockingbird & THE CROW Fall Tour, which runs through December 9.  

The trek kicked off with sold-out nights in Knoxville, Tenn. and Tuscaloosa, Ala. with 11,325 fans in attendance. For a full list of HARDY’s upcoming tour dates visit his official website HERE.