Serena ties the knot

serena

NEW ORLEANS — Greatest wedding of all time?

Women tennis superstar 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 (Jnr), as they said their “I dos” in a Beauty and the Beast themed bash at the Contemporary Arts Centre in New Orleans.

The wedding cost more than $1million and guests were asked not to bring their mobile phones because of an exclusive deal with Vogue.

Her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, wished Serena a “happy wedding day” on Instagram.

The couple announced their engagement in December last year after dating for 15 months.

They made the news public by sharing a poem on Reddit which was titled: “I said Yes”.

Serena gave birth to their daughter, Alexis Olympia, two months ago.

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 favours. Each guest table at the event had been named after one of Williams’ 12 Grand Slam titles, and her favours 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 were 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 Centre.

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 did not attend and when asked for details about the performance, Bivins shouted: “Got a gag order.”

The group were 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 yesterday.

DeWayne Crocker (Jnr), 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 had a different type of music, and the bands rotated 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 favourite 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. — Daily Mail

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