When you’re arguably the greatest athlete of all time, you don't just "get married." You throw a party that stops traffic in New Orleans and makes the Met Gala look like a casual brunch. Serena Williams married Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian on November 16, 2017.
Honestly, the date wasn't just some random Thursday chosen by a wedding planner. It was a deeply personal choice. November 16 was the birthday of Alexis’s mother, who had passed away nine years earlier. By choosing that specific day, they made sure her memory was part of the foundation of their life together. It’s those kinds of details that remind you that behind the grand slams and the tech millions, they’re just two people who really care about family.
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A Wedding Date Born from a Chance Meeting in Rome
The timeline of their relationship feels like a rom-com script that would be rejected for being too "unrealistic." They met in May 2015 at the Cavalieri Hotel in Rome. Serena was there for the Italian Open; Alexis was there for a tech conference.
He sat down at a table right next to her by the pool. She tried to tell him there was a rat near his table just to get him to leave. He didn't budge. He basically told her he was from Brooklyn and wasn't scared of rats.
Fast forward through a secret romance and a proposal at that very same "rat table" in Rome, and you get to the big day in 2017. By the time they walked down the aisle, they had already welcomed their first daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., who was just two months old at the time and served as a very tiny, very adorable flower girl.
When Did Serena Williams Get Married? The New Orleans Details
The ceremony took place at the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans. Why the Big Easy? Serena told Vogue that Alexis just loved the vibe of the city. It has that European feel but with better food and a lot more soul.
They went with a Beauty and the Beast theme, but not in a cheesy, Disney-store kind of way. Think more "French Ball."
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The Dress(es) and the Decor
Serena didn’t just wear a dress. She wore a masterpiece. Her main gown was a Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen creation—a massive, caped ballgown that reportedly cost around $3.5 million.
- Look 1: The McQueen ballgown for the ceremony.
- Look 2: A beaded, feathered Versace dress for the dinner.
- Look 3: A shorter Versace number for the party, paired with custom sparkly Nike sneakers.
The reception tables weren't numbered 1, 2, or 3. That’s too boring. Instead, each table was named after one of Serena’s Grand Slam wins. If you were sitting at "Wimbledon," you knew you were in the presence of greatness.
The Guest List That Broke the Internet
You know you’re a big deal when Beyoncé and Jay-Z show up. They weren't the only ones, though. Kim Kardashian was there. So was Eva Longoria, Ciara, and Kelly Rowland. Even Anna Wintour made the trip to New Orleans.
It wasn't just about the stars, though. It was about the energy. At 1:30 in the morning, Alexis surprised Serena with a full-sized, all-white carousel that emerged from behind a curtain while Ginuwine’s "Pony" played. Imagine Beyoncé riding a carousel in a New Orleans art center at 2:00 AM. That actually happened.
Why This Marriage Still Matters in the Spotlight
Celebrity marriages often feel like they’re built for Instagram, but Serena and Alexis have been pretty vocal about the "work" part of it. Alexis has openly discussed how he had to learn about the "invisible labor" that goes into a partnership.
They’ve since grown their family, welcoming their second daughter, Adira River Ohanian, in 2023. Looking back at their 2017 wedding, it wasn't just a finish line for their dating life; it was the start of a massive brand shift for both of them. Serena moved toward her "evolution" away from tennis, and Alexis became the ultimate "Girl Dad" influencer.
Actionable Takeaways for the Curious
If you're looking into the logistics of how they pulled off such a massive event, here's the "real talk" version:
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- Personalize the Date: If you're planning a wedding, follow their lead. Picking a date that honors a lost loved one can turn a standard party into a legacy event.
- Venue Choice: Don't feel stuck in a hotel ballroom. Using a museum or art center (like the Contemporary Arts Center) allows for much more creative decor than a standard venue.
- Comfort over Fashion: Even Serena Williams, with a $3 million wardrobe, switched to Nikes for the dance floor. If the GOAT doesn't wear heels all night, you don't have to either.
The wedding of Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian remains a benchmark for celebrity nuptials because it balanced extreme luxury with very human, very "nerdy" touches. It’s been years since they said "I do" in New Orleans, but the photos and the stories from that night still circulate for a reason—it was a genuinely unique celebration of a very unlikely match.