Caitlin O’Connor and Joe Manganiello mark anniversary

Caitlin O’Connor and Joe Manganiello are celebrating three years together with a thoughtful personalized gift, a Las Vegas getaway and special moments shared with friends. The couple marked their relationship milestone just days before Manganiello’s upcoming memoir, Bloodlines, is set to be released on October 13.

O’Connor, 37, revealed details of their anniversary celebration, explaining that she wanted to give her fiancé something unique and meaningful. Her gift was a custom-built arcade machine from Phantom Arcades, designed with personal touches that reflect their relationship and shared interests.

I got him a one-of-a-kind, custom arcade from Phantom Arcades with a custom One Piece LEGO front, photos of us around the world and 13,000 games,” she said.

The elaborate present combined entertainment with sentimental memories, featuring photographs from the couple’s travels around the world. The custom design also included a One Piece LEGO front, adding a distinctive element to the gaming setup.

Las Vegas getaway with celebrity friends

The anniversary celebrations continued with a trip to Las Vegas, where O’Connor and Manganiello enjoyed a series of activities together. During their visit last week, the couple attended the first two performances of Metallica’s residency at the Sphere, one of the city’s most talked-about entertainment venues.

They were joined by actor Matthew McConaughey and his wife, Camila Alves, making the experience a gathering of celebrity friends as well as a romantic getaway.

Their trip also included a stop at Black Tap, where they enjoyed desserts before fitting in some American football. The couple made time to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers secure a 32-13 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.

The combination of live music, food and football gave the pair several ways to celebrate their anniversary while enjoying time away from their usual schedules.

From a chance meeting to an engagement

O’Connor and Manganiello first met at an HBO after-party in 2023. Their relationship developed over the following years, eventually leading to their engagement in 2025.

Both stars come from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a shared connection that has influenced their plans for their upcoming wedding.

O’Connor has revealed that she is designing the wedding’s cookie table, a beloved Pittsburgh tradition in which celebrations feature an assortment of homemade cookies. The tradition is particularly popular at weddings and often involves family members contributing different varieties of treats.

Their wedding plans will also include Manganiello’s beloved chihuahua, Bubbles, whom he adopted in 2019. The dog has remained an important part of his life, and his inclusion in the ceremony will add another personal touch to the occasion.

Although the couple have not shared every detail of their wedding plans publicly, their anniversary celebration highlights their preference for meaningful gestures and experiences that reflect their interests and history together.

Anniversary comes ahead of Manganiello’s memoir

The couple’s milestone arrives shortly before the October 13 release of Manganiello’s memoir, Bloodlines. The book discusses several aspects of his personal life, including his prolonged struggle with an autoimmune disease.

In excerpts from the memoir, Manganiello also addresses the breakdown of his previous marriage to actress Sofia Vergara, claiming that their relationship had become emotionally distant. He describes the marriage as having become “devoid of any emotionality whatsoever” and alleges that Vergara refused to hug him even when he pleaded with her.

The excerpts do not include a response from Vergara to these particular allegations.

Manganiello and Vergara announced their separation in July 2023 after seven years of marriage. Their split attracted considerable public attention, particularly after Vergara discussed the reasons behind their decision to part ways.

In 2024, Vergara told Spanish newspaper El País that their differing views on having children contributed to the end of their marriage. She explained that Manganiello wanted children, while she did not want to become a mother again at that stage of her life.

Manganiello later disputed that explanation in interviews, offering a different perspective on the circumstances surrounding their separation.

As the actor prepares to release Bloodlines, attention remains on his account of the marriage and his new chapter with O’Connor. For now, the couple are celebrating their three-year relationship with personalized gifts, shared experiences and plans for their future wedding.