Game, set and married for Serena
A-listers out in force as Williams ties the knot with internet mogul
NEW ORLEANS — Tennis superstar Serena Williams married internet entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian at an A-lister-packed ceremony in New Orelans on Thursday.
Despite the media frenzy, Williams and Reddit co-founder Ohanian released few details of their nuptials, which had been shrouded in secrecy.
However, unnamed sources told People magazine and the Daily Mail that some 250 guests attended the ceremony at the southern city’s Contemporary Arts Center.
Workers in the Big Easy could be seen transforming the building for the ceremony on Wednesday, while the groom was seen arriving in shirt and shorts, with dress shoes in hand.
Music royalty Beyonce and Jay Z, along with actress Eva Longoria, were reportedly among the guests.
According to the entertainment website ETonline, the wedding had a Beauty and the
Beast theme. It said Serena’s sister Venus was seen leaving the arts center late on Wednesday, while the parking lot beside the building was full of tents and trucks unloading flowers, tables, carpets, wardrobe and musicians.
The Daily Mail said the event cost over $1 million and guests would be asked not to bring their cell phones, because an exclusive photo deal has been signed with
Vogue magazine. Williams, 36, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, and Ohanian, 34, welcomed their first child, daughter Alexis Olympia, on Sept 1.
They announced their engagement in December 2016 after meeting in 2015 in Rome.
Onlookers in New Orleans were thrilled their city was hosting the wedding.
“We honestly love her,” said resident Mary Huber, who was among a small group taking a break from work to observe the hectic scene.
“We’re so glad she found happiness. Little baby Alexis is so precious!”
Williams won this year’s Australian Open while pregnant, and is expected to defend her title in Melbourne in 2018 — just four and a half months after giving birth.
Venus home burgled
Meanwhile, police said on Thursday that burglars stole goods worth $400,000 from Venus Williams’ Florida home while she was at this year’s US Open.
The burglary happened between Sept 1 and 5 at Williams’ 1,000-square-meter home, which is in the gated community of Palm Beach Gardens, police said in a statement.
Police did not specify what was stolen. No arrests have been made.
Palm Beach County property records show Venus and Serena bought the home new in 2000. It is now valued at $2.3 million.
Venus’ agent, Carlos Fleming, did not respond to an email seeking comment. The burglary was first reported by WPEC-TV.
This is the second time in five months Palm Beach Gardens police did not release information about an incident involving Venus until it was reported by a news outlet.
In June, Venus was involved in a traffic accident near her home that killed a passenger in the other car.
Police have said the accident investigation remains open, and she is being sued by the dead man’s estate. Palm Beach Gardens police did not issue a news release or the accident report until the website TMZ published a story three weeks after the crash.
Major Eduardo Guillen said it is not the department’s practice to issue news releases about major crimes and fatal traffic accidents involving its residents, something other departments in Florida and in other states do routinely.
“The department is not in the business of randomly releasing information on cases. Ms. Williams is a private citizen within our community and she will be extended the same privacy all our citizens expect,” Guillen said in an email to Associated Press.
The suburb of around 54,000 residents is mostly middle class, but has wealthy enclaves.
Venus, 37, has enjoyed one of her best recent years on the court, finishing second at both Wimbledon and the Australian Open and reaching the semifinals at the US Open.
The seven-time Grand Slam winner boasts career on-court earnings of nearly $40 million, has her own clothing line and endorsement deals with Ralph Lauren, Kraft, Tide detergent and Wilson. She also has a small stake in the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.