✕ CLOSE Online Special City News Entrepreneurship Environment Factcheck Everything Woman Home Front Islamic Forum Life Xtra Property Travel & Leisure Viewpoint Vox Pop Women In Business Art and Ideas Bookshelf Labour Law Letters
Click Here To Listen To Trust Radio Live

Stars gather as Serena, Alex say “I do”

Greatest wedding of all time? Serena Williams proved her dominance off the court on Thursday, as she drew a celeb-packed group of A-listers to New…

Greatest wedding of all time?

Serena Williams proved her dominance off the court on Thursday, as she drew a celeb-packed group of A-listers to New Orleans for her nuptials to millionaire Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

The couple was surrounded by a bevy of friends, families and A-listers, including their two-month-old daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., as they said their ‘I dos’ in a Beauty and the Beast themed bash at the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans.

Kim Kardashian, Venus Williams, Beyonce, and the members of New Edition, who played a five-song set during the reception, were spotted arriving at the venue’s VIP entrance for the biggest celebrity wedding in recent years.

Guests were also gifted one of Williams’ unique golden trophy party favors. Each guest table at the event had been named after one of Williams’ 12 grand slam titles, and her favors were recreations of the trophies she received for each corresponding title.

Jay Z was so dedicated to being there for Serena’s big day that he attended the event despite having to jet off to North Carolina immediately after to perform at his next tour stop.

He was not seen arriving at the venue, but DailyMail.com overheard a transmission just moments before a Cadillac SUV pulled in that said: ‘Jay Z party on the way.’

His mother Gloria was seen as she climbed off a plane alongside Beyonce.

Editor-in-chief of Vogue Anna Wintour was seen arriving at the event, with her magazine having an exclusive on the images. Cellphones are reportedly banned from the ceremony. 

She was later spotted at the bar for the cocktail reception in a closed-off street outside the Contemporary Arts Center.

Guests, who were told to dress in keeping with the Beauty and the Beast theme, were greeted with the Disney movie’s famous song Be Our Guest and offered welcome drinks, a source told ET.

Outside the venue, guests enjoyed a cocktail or champagne on a street closed off to the public. Incongruous with the lavish affair, sources at the scene said that the venue had provided a ‘strange porta potty.’ 

DailyMail.com  got photos of original New Edition members Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe, Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant on Thursday. 

Bobby Brown will not be attending per a source and when asked for details about the performance, Bivins shouted: ‘Got a gag order.’

The group will be just one of the many musical acts on hand for the big night. A brass band was also spotted serenading guests at the cocktails reception. 

A source said that Serena wore not one, but two dresses for the occasion, one for the ceremony and one for the reception which was due to last until 3am.

DeWayne Crocker Jr., 21, a Pensacola singer who’s a rising star of gospel, was due to perform while backed up by a New Orleans groups called Restored.

New Orleans funk/jazz band Naughty Professor were also booked to play and the traditional marching brass band Paulin Brothers Brass Band were also due to be in attendance to entertain guests.

A trumpet player for the latter said each room inside has a different type of music, and the bands rotate from room to room. 

‘She wants tradition New Orleans jazz from us,’ the trumpet player told DailyMail.com. 

In addition to the music, guests were also treated to doughnuts from local favorite District Donuts Sliders Brew, and were able to take a spin on a carousel that was built just a few days ago especially for the event.

The set-up alone took four days to perfect, said one woman on the production crew. 

Serena arrived at the wedding venue at around 3pm on Thursday. 

Ohanian, 34, was photographed by DailyMail.com as he arrived at The Contemporary Art Museum an hour before his bride, looking relaxed and neatly groomed while outfitted in shorts, sneakers ans a sleeveless shirt.

The millionaire Reddit founder was carrying his dress shoes as he spoke with wedding planner Preston Bailey and appeared to have recently gotten his hair cut, two days after he was spotted getting a manicure.

Serena, 36, was not spotted at all as she hid between tinted windows and managed to dart into the venue out of sight thanks to the tenting covering most of the parking lot.

DailyMail.com did capture Isha Price sitting in the front seat of a chauffeured car as it pulled in on Thursday, with Serena’s older sister appearing to be in a green velvet look.   

It was a romantic day all around, with guest Eva Longoria and husband Jose Baston spotted hugging and kissing as the pair left Serena’s rental home on Thursday.

The couple visited the $1.6 million mansion with Serena’s best friend that is not her sister on the WTA Tour, Caroline Wozniacki.

She too was glowing as she walked hand-in-hand with her fiancee of two weeks, former NBA star Daid Lee, in photos taken by DailyMail.com.

Wozniacki also got a chance to flash her 8.88-carat ring, which is an upgrade from the 8-carat stone she got from the ex Rory McIlroy in 2014 before the two split.  

Serena looked ravishing in white on Wednesday night as she donned a Versace couture gown for her rehearsal dinner in New Orleans.

The bride-to-be was joined by a select group of family and friends including her mother and coach Oracene Price, sisters Venus, Isha and Lyndrea and celeb pals Colton Haynes, Eva Longoria, Cynthia Erivo, Selita Ebanks, Caroline Wozniacki and Nicole Ari Parker with husband Boris Kodjoe at the event, held at Emeril Lagasse’s new eatery Meril.

And Lagase himself showed up to the restaurant at 4:30pm to prepare for his famous guests, shutting down the facility for the evening to accommodate the party. 

Thursday night’s affair was a bit more low-key, however, with Serena staying true to her tennis roots by pairing Nikes with her gown, designed by good friend Donatella Versace.

Her couture pieces start in the five-figure range and can cost well over $100,000, with the exquisite detailing all hand-stitched using crystals and pearls.

It is unclear if Serena wore the sneakers all night or just as she left the venue with her ladies.

The greatest female athlete of all time was photographed shortly after midnight as a bodyguard escorted her to a waiting vehicle to take her back to the $1.6 million mansion she is staying in this week.

Among those who were seen getting out of the car with Serena at her New Orleans rental was her nephew Jair.

He is the teenage son of Serena’s late sister Yetunde, who was murdered in a 2003 shooting when a gang member opened fire on her believing her vehicle was that of a rival.

Jair, the youngest of Yetunde’s three children, posted a photo with a tear streaming down his face after the dinner on Wednesday, writing: ‘Real eye re cry’s.’

Source: dailymail.co.uk

VERIFIED: It is now possible to live in Nigeria and earn salary in US Dollars with premium domains, you can earn as much as $12,000 (₦18 Million).
Click here to start.