Serena Williams’ Fairy-Tale Wedding In New Orleans

 

 

She is the queen of the tennis court after all. So it’s no surprise that when Serena Williams started planning for her wedding to Alexis Ohanian, she envisioned an affair fit-for-royalty. Evoking the air of a decadent French ball, the wedding took place at the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans. It was nothing short of a fairy-tale with a glamorous celebrity guest list like never before. To give you an idea, the ceremony looked like the front row of a fashion show with onlookers eagerly waiting for the bride to take to the runway!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbpUfsUHib-/?hl=en&taken-by=merakimishell

Serena loves Disney and worked with Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen to create a jaw-dropping princess gown. The design showcased a strapless top paired with a voluminous tulle skirt and dramatic cape. Opting for both comfort and style, she wore custom Nike Cortez sneakers embellished with silver and gold crystals. A classic hand-tied bouquet of white roses and jewelry by XIV Karats worth $3.5 million completed her one-of-a-kind bridal look.

 

The bridal party, which included sister Venus, looked lovely in custom Galia Lahav dresses. Carried by the mother of the bride down the aisle, Serena and Alexis’ baby daughter Olympia made an adorably stylish impression in a jewel encrusted dress and booties.

 

 

The groom, sporting a made-to-measure Armani tuxedo, met his bride under a show stopping wedding arch decorated with butter cream and golden yellow hued blooms with greenery accents.

 

 

Resting comfortably in sofa-inspired aisle seating, a crowd that included Beyoncé, Ciara, Kim Kardashian, Anna Wintour, and Kelly Rowland watched as the couple recited vows they wrote for each other.

 

 

For her second number, Serena changed into a dazzling jewel and feather-accented gown, which made for an unforgettable reception entrance. Taking a page straight out of Beauty and the Beast, the reception atmosphere radiated majestic opulence with décor featuring gilded accents and unique birdcage chandeliers. The low centerpiece arrangements of yellow and blue florals brought to mind the dresses worn by Belle in the beloved Disney classic. Guests sat down to tables named after the tennis champ’s Grand Slam wins. The bride and groom took their places in regal throne-like seats!

The food was set up in five stations offering culinary world tour. Serena and Alexis chose cuisines that had special meaning: Italian (they met and were engaged in Rome), Southern-style (the bride’s favorite), and Armenian (the groom’s heritage) along with a salad wall and steak station. Food trucks served Chinese and New Orleans-style bites during cocktail hour.

 

 

And then it was time to hit the dance floor! Serena continued a tour de force of bridal fashion and changed into her third dress, a flirty, feathered frock by Versace. Serena and Alexis captured everyone’s heart performing their choreographed first dance to “Tale As Old As Time.”

 

 

From the bride’s gown to the décor to the food to the gold trophy favors, this celebrity wedding was high glamour with personal touches everywhere. And in a night filled with magic and surprise, a most memorable moment was when Alexis surprised his bride with a white wedding carousel.

 

 

It doesn’t get any more romantic than that!