Adam Rippon Shares Secret New Year’s Eve Wedding

Out Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon and longtime beau Jussi-Pekka Kajaala normally aren’t big on new year celebrations at the “up-all-night party, bottles of bubbles, and fireworks” level. But, it turns out, they are big on getting married on December 31. Rippon announced the engagement last February but didn’t share any plans regarding the nuptials at the time. https://twitter.com/people/status/1483940351471755265 From PEOPLE:

“We always wanted to do something simple and just the two of us,” says Rippon.

“And so we were looking at different options of what we could do and so obviously when you do that, the next best thing that you can do is you reach out to [California marriage officiant] Maria and you ask Maria: ‘When is her next availability for a wedding?’ And she goes, ‘I have availability this week, but I also have something today.'”

“And so then I said, ‘Listen, Maria, we’re on our way.’ We’re going to be there for the one o’clock appointment in Encino, California, the happiest place on earth.’ “

“We had some plans for the date, but then we just decided to do it sooner because New Year’s Eve is not a big thing for us. We’re in bed like 10:30,” Kajaala tells PEOPLE. “So then we decided that, oh, maybe going to use this day for something special like this and now we have a great meaning for that day.”

When it comes to the wedding rings, Rippon explains they are not the same because he really wanted diamonds because “I wanted it to glisten.” Kajaala’s band, on the other hand, is thicker with a line carved through the middle. “He did not want diamonds in his,” says the Dancing with the Stars champ. “This was the great divide.” “We were in bed by 10:30, but we got home and got right to champagne immediately,” Rippon shares with PEOPLE. “No excuses. Winners don’t quit champagne.” Read more about the couple’s big day at PEOPLE. In 2019, I had great fun interviewing Adam about his terrific memoir, Beautiful On The Outside.  You can listen to our chat below. Congratulations to the happy couple! https://www.instagram.com/p/CY66VcilRbQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link