Ben Roethlisberger Wedding

For once, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and a woman are in the news together, and it’s a happy story. The scandal-prone NFL star tied the knot last month, with longtime friend (and recent girlfriend) Ashley Harlan, a physician’s assistant and a Pittsburgh native. The two met at a Steelers training camp in 2005 and remained friends ever since, but fans of the popular player did not expect Roethlisberger to settle down anytime soon, especially since his two charges for assault.

However, when the news came in January that Roethlisberger, 29, was engaged, his fans reacted with the expected excitement and interested. Overwhelmed by the level of fan response, Roethlisberger tried to keep his July 23 wedding ceremony quiet and private, even as he chose to hold the reception in his hometown of Pittsburgh.

The ceremony was held at the church that both bride and groom attend, but the lavish reception took place at the Spirit of Pittsburgh ballroom, the city’s premier event space. Nearly 600 people attended the high-end reception, which included high-security transportation to get guests safely through the crowds of fans. Guests were required to produce an invitation and show ID to get into the lavishly decorated space, which was surrounded with a tight ring of police security.

Ashley Harlan, the 26-year-old bride, was forced to get used to the spotlight in a hurry after the engagement was announced. Although she declined to be interviewed or to show her engagement ring to the press (one can only imagine the kind of ring Roethlisberger can afford with his $13 million paycheck!), she did allow select photos of the wedding to be released to her new husband’s fans. In the photos, Big Ben, as the quarterback is known, easily scoops his bride off her feet and carries her like she was a Super Bowl-winning trophy.

The bride looked classy and trendy, if not too lavish or extravagant. She wore a strapless white dress with a scalloped bodice and a full skirt embellished with textural petal detailing. Her blond hair was covered with a cathedral-length tulle veil and she carried a bouquet of snow-white flowers. The classic look was accessorized with some truly magnificent bridal jewelry—a pair of diamond chandelier earrings, a bold diamond cuff bracelet, a pair of glittery silver platform pumps, and of course, the mysterious engagement ring and wedding band. The groom looked similarly classic in a custom tuxedo and a white satin tie.

In keeping with the groom’s dedication to his hometown team, the new couple cut their honeymoon short and headed straight to NFL training camp at the beginning of August. Now all Roethlisberger has to do is win the Super Bowl to add a championship ring to that wedding band!