April 10, 2008

Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz will soon vow to stick together for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in bad hair days and smudged eyeliner, until death do they part. The flat iron-addicted flames, who have been dating for about a year, have announced their intention to get hitched.

"We know there has been a lot of speculation recently about Pete and I and we wanted our fans to be the first to know, because you guys are the best. Yes, we are thrilled to share that we are happily engaged," the remodeled popster bubbled in a statement on Wednesday (via friendsorenemies.com). "Thank you for all of your support and well wishes -- it means the world to us."

The blabby Ashlee then contradictorily added, "We consider this to be a very private matter, and we wanted to be the first to tell you and to hear it straight from us."

A "family friend" tattles to In Touch that the question-popping took place just a few days ago during a trip to Colorado, where Wentz, 28, "got down on one knee" (presumably with difficulty given his love of slim-fit, second-skin jeans), prompting his excited squeeze, 23, to squeal, "Yes!"

"She has an amazing ring, and they are so in love," gushes the mole.

Another insider pipes in to Us that Ashlee and Pete "are ecstatic and can't wait to be man and wife. They will be getting married before the end of the year."

Not surprisingly, stork speculation has kicked back into overdrive in the wake of the knot-tying news.

In February, Simpson denied she had a sleek-banged bun in the oven, but her rep offered only a "no comment" to Us over the latest round of rumors.

The betrothal announcement and baby burbling conveniently come just ahead of the release of Simpson's third album, "Bittersweet World," as well as her new clothing line.

You'll recall that engagement whispers began last summer, but grew louder at the end of the year when Ashlee started showing off the promise ring she received from Pete.

"It just means that he hasn't asked my dad yet," she explained to FuseTV when asked about the sparkler.

Pete and Joe bond over silly eyewear during a Sin City bash in February.

That's something the Fall Out Boy bassist got around to doing in the last few weeks, according to E! News.

"He doesn't look like it, but Pete is a very traditional guy, and he knows Joe is, too," says a snitch. "He never would have asked her without Joe's permission."

The source adds that Ashlee and Jessica's string-pulling pop is a Pete fan because -- backhanded compliment alert -- "he is not Nick Lachey. Pete is the furthest thing from a macho man, and Joe likes that."

Never one to miss a PR opportunity, Papa Joe obligingly informs People he's "totally happy" and "so excited to have Pete as part of [our] family ... We are blessed."

Wentz has denied reports of a strained relationship with the elder Simpson, telling MTV last year, "I think Joe gets a really bad rap in the press. He's always been nothing but nice to me."

Pete has also been nothing but nice when rhapsodizing about Ashlee, calling her his "soul mate" and swooning to People in September, "The truth is, it's crazy to be able to kiss your best friend. It's just a really awesome thing."

That's quite a change from what he told Rolling Stone in February 2007, when he downplayed romance rumors by saying, "Maybe in a different universe, we'd be some hot couple, but not in this one."

As for Simpson, she swooned to People, "He's a cutie and he has an awesome personality and kind of brings out the best of me and I knew that even before we were dating. There was just like an awesome connection we had."

Next: Hookup Rumors: Kirsten & Ryan? Jen in Bloom?