US team swimmer Carson Foster has traded in his Olympic rings for a shiny new wedding ring!

The 22-year-old athlete, who just returned from the Summer Olympics in Paris, married his high school sweetheart Meredith Wolf at the Monastery Event Center in their hometown of Cincinnati on Friday, August 16. They invited 220 guests to witness their big day, including eight of Foster’s fellow Olympians: Drew Kibler, Gretchen Walsh, Alex Walsh, Shaine Casas, Charlie Swanson, Kieran Smith, David Johnston and Caspar Corbeau.

The couple, who live in Austin, Texas, tell PEOPLE they couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere but the Queen City. “Carson and I both grew up in Cincinnati, where most of our family still lives. No matter where life takes us, Cincinnati will always be our home,” says Wolf. “We love to brag about our hometown and it’s a joy to share the unique charm and warmth of Cincinnati with our friends.”

Although the wedding date was not set until a few days after the end of the Olympics, the couple found the planning process to be “remarkably smooth.”

“The timing of the Olympics – and our 10-day trip to Paris just before the wedding – motivated us to get most of the details sorted out in advance,” explains Wolf. “While the weeks leading up to Paris were a bit stressful, this preparation allowed us to be fully present during the wedding week and really enjoy the time with all of our loved ones who had come to celebrate with us.”

Foster credited his now-wife and their respective mothers for taking a lot of the work off his hands so he could focus on training and competing. “(They) were the MVPs of wedding planning. The time leading up to the Olympic trials and the Olympics is a little stressful, and they were incredible at delegating tasks to me that were easy and took my mind off of swimming, but they also took on the big projects and allowed me to still focus on my swimming,” he recalled.

Foster says he appreciated the distraction that wedding planning provided amid his busy swimming schedule. “Planning the wedding right after these meets was the best thing I could have asked for because during the stress of competing, I kept reminding myself that the best and biggest things happen in Cincinnati in August,” he tells PEOPLE.

The couple’s wedding festivities began Thursday with a bridal brunch and pool party at Wolf’s parents’ house. “We had fun cooking on the Blackstone grill and sipping mimosas,” she says.

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That evening, Wolf, Foster and their close friends and family gathered for a rehearsal dinner at a local restaurant called Alcove. “It was a heartwarming evening filled with stories and memories that set the perfect tone for the wedding day,” notes Wolf. “After dinner and speeches, we welcomed more guests to the venue for a small welcome party, making for a joyful start to the weekend.”

The couple tied the knot in a traditional ceremony on Friday. The ceremony was officiated by DJ Giaritelli, a close friend of Foster’s who served as a mentor during his college years at the University of Texas at Austin.

Wolf walked down the aisle to “Hallelujah” performed by the three-piece string quartet String Source, wearing a strapless Alexandra Grecco gown called Sloan, which featured a structured bodice and a trumpet-like skirt and train. “I knew I wanted a simple, timeless dress with minimal details. The moment I put it on, I knew it was the right one – it was perfect for what I wanted,” she recalls.

She was so in love with her dress that she decided to forego any outfit changes for the reception. “(I wanted) to wear it as long as possible!” she says.

Blend Artistry Ohio took care of her bridal hair and glamour on the big day, while Susan Foy took care of all the flowers.

Following the ceremony, the couple hosted a cocktail reception where guests nibbled on a bountiful array of fruits, cheeses and charcuterie, including imported prosciutto, capicola and mortadella, as well as seasoned crostinis with goat cheese, olive tapenade, bruschetta, local and imported cheeses and a selection of seasonal and tropical fruits.

Dinner began with a mixed green salad with sun-dried cranberries, goat cheese, toasted pecans and a raspberry vinaigrette accompanied by warm rolls with whipped butter. Mains included roasted beef tenderloin with horseradish mushroom demi-glace and creamy horseradish sauce at a carving station and chicken piccata in a lemon buttercream sauce with capers. Sides included mashed potatoes with aged cheddar and roasted asparagus spears with roasted red pepper puree.

As a special gesture, Foster and Wolf placed handwritten letters on each of their guests’ seats at dinner. “We wanted to express our deepest gratitude to them for all the love and support they have given us over the years,” says Wolf.

The couple chose a carrot wedding cake with cream cheese frosting from A Spoon Fulla Sugar. Later in the evening, everyone feasted on sliders and tater tots.

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When the dancing started at the reception, Foster and Wolf danced their first dance as husband and wife to an acoustic version of Jervis Campbell’s “Teach Me to Dance.” DJ Jeff Heidelberg set the mood with an “incredible” playlist.

“A fun idea we added was brightly colored cowboy hats for guests on the dance floor, bringing a little Austin, Texas flair to Cincinnati,” notes Wolf.

The day after the wedding, the newlyweds had another special experience: Foster was invited to throw out the first pitch at the Cincinnati Reds game against the Kansas City Royals.

“Over 100 of our guests came to us (at the stadium) to relax and celebrate,” Wolf tells PEOPLE. “It was one of our favorite moments of the weekend, reminiscing about the wedding and celebrating Carson’s swimming achievements with all of our valued friends and family.”

Reflecting on their wedding, the couple say, “It was everything we hoped for and more,” adding, “The day and weekend were filled with joy as we celebrated the beginning of our lives with the people we love most.”

The newlyweds, who met in high school while swimming in the same club, got engaged in August 2022. Now that they are married – and the Olympics are behind them – they are looking forward to a slower pace of life where they can spend more quality time together and with their loved ones.

“The last few months have been a whirlwind of incredible and surreal experiences, from the Olympic Trials and the Olympic Games to our wedding. We wouldn’t trade a single moment of it for anything and are deeply grateful for every experience. However, I think we can both agree that we’re ready for a little slowdown,” explains Wolf. “We’re looking forward to enjoying more relaxed weekends in Austin, cheering on the Longhorns, spending quality time with our friends, and getting a dog.”

As Foster reflected on their journey together as a couple, he shared his joy at having Wolf by his side as his wife.

“Marrying Meredith means I’m finally declaring that I’m going to start a family and embark on a lifelong journey with the person who has been my best friend since I was 15,” the athlete tells PEOPLE, gushing that her special qualities are too long to list. “She has remained the same wonderful person from the days we started dating at 15 to today. That unwavering consistency is the greatest gift I could ever ask for in a partner.”

Wolf, for her part, describes marrying Foster as “truly the greatest honor” of her life.

“Over the past seven years, we have grown together and faced so many experiences side by side. We endured the challenges of a long-distance relationship during our college years – me at the University of South Carolina and Carson at the University of Texas. There were days when the distance was overwhelming, but now marriage marks the beginning of our forever,” she says.

“We are excited to fully enjoy this new chapter of our life as a couple,” Wolf added. “Carson is not only my best friend, but also my home. Wherever he is, I want to be.”