NEWSRed Carpet Confidential: Mario Lopez Parties Without Fiancée Courtney Mazza
Feb. 20 2012, Published 2:45 p.m. ET
Boys' night out! Jovial Mario Lopez and pals partied at The Pool After Dark at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City on Saturday night, but fiancée Courtney Mazza was nowhere in sight and not believed to be on property.
Somebody’s gotta take care of the baby!
OK! NEWS: MARIO LOPEZ & COURTNEY MAZZA WELCOME A BABY GIRL
Not to worry, the wedding is still a go for the couple, who got engaged around Christmas in Mexico.
“I’m letting her quarterback the whole thing,” says the 38-year-old Saved by the Bell star turned Extra host. “We’re looking toward the end of the year.”
He hopes their sweet daughter, Gia, 16 months, will have a role.
“I’m letting her determine everything,” Mario says.
Previously, Mario had said marriage wasn’t necessarily in the cards for the pair, who met in 2008. (His track record isn’t so hot: His marriage to Ali Landry was annulled in 2004 amid cheating allegations.)
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OK! GALLERY: MARIO LOPEZ RINGS IN HIS BIRTHDAY WITH COURTNEY MAZZA IN LAS VEGAS
What changed?
“I never changed my mind,” Mario says. “Nothing changed. We had only been going out for three years, so I didn’t want to rush into anything. She didn’t know if she wanted to keep me around! It worked out well. I was lucky that she said yes. I’m the blessed one in the relationship.”
For Mario, Courtney’s personality and intelligence are selling points, in addition to her stunning looks. “I love a lot of things about her,” he says. “She’s funny; she’s very clever and witty and smart — smarter than me. It’s a great balance.”
Even though scantily clad women wearing only racy lingerie take photos with Mario at his cabana, he maintains a careful distance and keeps it professional.
“Thank you for coming out,” he says from the stage. “My name’s Mario Lopez. Thanks for hanging out at Harrah’s Pool After Dark. I want to Tweet out a picture to say that I was here, so everybody put your hands up. One, two, three. Nice! Thank you. Have a great time, everybody.”
