Green Bay Packers Quarterback Sean Clifford Marries Longtime Love Juliana Alessandroni in 'Timeless' Wedding

The Green Bay Packers quarterback married his longtime love, Juliana Alessandroni, on Saturday, June 28, in a "big, formal Catholic ceremony" at The National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia, followed by "an unforgettable high-energy party" at Ballroom at the Ben in Philadelphia.

"We wanted the wedding ceremony to be timeless and romantic, and the reception to be a huge party!" Alessandroni tells PEOPLE.

The couple, who are both 26 and celebrated their sixth anniversary together in March, attended Penn State University, so it "felt only natural" to have their "classic and meaningful" wedding where their love story began. Living in neighboring dorms, the pair met during their freshman year and started dating their sophomore year, shortly after Clifford swiped up on one of Alessandroni's Instagram stories and sent her his phone number.

The wedding location was also "special" because they plan to settle there in the future, building a life and "home filled with purpose and energy."

"Our wedding truly feels like a dream come true," Alessandroni says, noting that she and Clifford were "so excited" to see all of their loved ones reunite because that they "live far away and live a very busy life," so it's not often that they get "to be surrounded by so much love" in one place

Among the 250 guests were many NFL players, including: Tennessee Titans' Will Levis, Baltimore Ravens' Jordan Stout, Indianapolis Colts' Tyler Warren, Jacksonville Jaguars' Parker Washington, New York Jets' Zack Kuntz, Buffalo Bills' KJ Hamler, Kansas City Chiefs' Hunter Nourzad, Arizona Cardinals' Jesse Luketa, and Las Vegas Raiders' Jonathan Sutherland.

Several pros from the Philadelphia Eagles, including AJ Dillon, Jahan Dotson, Tariq Castro-Fields, were also in attendance. Green Bay Packers' Malik Willis, Rasheed Walker and Ben Sims, and San Francisco 49ers players Ji'Ayir Brown and Yetur Gross-Matos, as well as the New York Giants' Theo Johnson and Anthony Johnson Jr. also made the guest list.

Penn State University's head football coach, James Franklin, as well as a mix of current and former football players from Clifford's alma mater, including: Journey Brown, Dominic DeLuca, and Liam Clifford, showed their support too.

Clifford and Alessandroni exchanged traditional vows during their wedding ceremony — which was officiated by Father Paul Brandt from Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish — and exchanged handwritten vows in private.

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"We’ve got each other’s backs," Clifford answers of what he admires most about Alessandroni. "I love her strength, her loyalty, and the way she makes everyone around her better, especially me. I think we admire that our relationship isn’t about perfection — it’s about growth, communication, and real connection."

"I admire how thoughtful Sean is," Alessandroni says. "Any time he plans something for me, every detail is carefully considered to make it feel special and meaningful. No matter how busy he is with football or business, he always makes time for me and goes above and beyond to make me happy. I know that same love, dedication, and care will carry into our marriage and one day, into the way he loves our future children."

For the big day, Alessandroni wore a "stunning" lace fit-and-flare wedding dress with a dramatic train and open back designed by Martina Liana, which she purchased from Kleinfeld Bridal. Her long hair was styled by Michelle Elise Artistry and makeup applied by Brunella Artistry.

Clifford kept it simple yet classy wearing a black tuxedo by Sean Marshall of The Rogue Atelier. His groomsmen opted for the same timeless suit. Meanwhile, Alessandroni's bridesmaids wore different styles of light blue gowns.

After Clifford and Alessandroni had their first dance to Frankie Valli's "Can’t Take My Eyes Off You," the bride changed into the "Isabel Satin Corset Mini Dress" from Meshki.

The ballroom was filled with lush white florals from The Botanical Box, which were accented with fresh greenery. The couple also had a nod to the origin of their romance with a custom Penn State ice sculpture.

"We knew we wanted a DJ to keep the energy high, but we also loved the idea of adding a live instrument, so we brought in a saxophone player for the reception!" Alessandroni adds.

During cocktail hour, guests were treated to a carving station, seafood station, southwest station, Italian station, and more. Dinner was just as delicious, as guests dined on filet mignon, and pan roasted salmon.

A dessert room filled with treats such as sweet pastries and creamy ice cream was offered alongside the four-tiered vanilla chocolate chip wedding cake. Later in the night, espresso martinis were also distributed.

The wedding was planned by Danielle Rothweiler of Rothweiler Event Design.

For Clifford, marriage means "commitment at the highest level."

"It’s not just love but a partnership," he says. "We’re choosing each other every day, no matter what life throws at us. It’s having a teammate for life." 

"Getting married means gaining a lifelong best friend, someone who will stand by me through every high and low, offering unwavering support, love, and partnership," Alessandroni adds. "It’s knowing I’ll always have someone to lean on, laugh with, grow alongside, and share every chapter of life with."

Clifford and Alessandroni — who got engaged on Jan. 5, 2024 — will head to Italy's Amalfi Coast for their honeymoon. They'll spend four nights in Amalfi, and three nights in Capri, where they'll "relax on the beach, eat a lot, and visit tourist locations."

"The next chapter is about building our marriage, family, and legacy," they tell PEOPLE. "We’re laying the foundation for the rest of our lives. We’re locked in. On being intentional — with each other, with our values, and with the life we want to create."