Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino is having a blast planning his upcoming nuptials to fiancéeLauren Pesce.
“We are in the sweet spot right now and having fun planning the wedding,” theJersey Shore Family Vacationstar tells PEOPLE at the Jersey Shore and Emmy/ FYC event at Little Dom’s restaurant in Los Angeles on Friday.
While Sorrentino, 35, admits that he’s been leaving most of the big decisions up to his bride-to-be, he says he’s really enjoyed checking out different venues — and tasting all those wedding cakes!
“I don’t think most guys realize how much goes into planning a wedding. I told her, ‘Babe, just do whatever you want to do,’ ” he adds.
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While Pesce previously told PEOPLE the coupledidn’t “have a date” picked out yet, she revealed the couple’s “dream was always to go to the motherland and get married in Italy.”
Sorrentino, who is also celebrating 30 months ofsobriety, went on to tell PEOPLE that his time with hisJersey Shorecastmates was vastly different this time around.
“I was able to make good decisions, stay faithful to my girlfriend back home and stay positive,” he remarks. “I was definitely a little worried about going to the clubs with these guys who can drink and being back in that environment, but I was able to do it.”
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Sorrentino, who has battled with aprescription painkiller addictionin the past, previously told PEOPLE that he credits his fiancée with helping himturn his life around.
“What I dreamed of, the expectations I had set for him, him getting healthy and sober — I didn’t know that our relationship would survive had those miracles not happened, and they did,” Pesce said. “He put in the hard work and thanks to the faith in God that we have, we’re in the position we’re in today.”
“She’s definitely my better half and the reason why I strive to be the best version of myself and to fight for our future,” Sorrentino added. “And to show a good example to her, her family and everyone watching — because my life has been under a microscope. I have a lot to prove.”
And as Sorrentino awaits his June 20 sentencing afterpleading guilty to tax evasionin a New Jersey federal court in January, he’s maintaining a positive outlook and is hoping for the best — even though he’s facingup to five years in prison.
“I’ve done everything in my power to better myself,” he told PEOPLE prior to the season premiere ofJersey Shore Family Vacation. “I really feel that I’m in the best situation possible.”
“We should receive some closure,” he added. “And I’ll try to move forward with my life.”
source: people.com
