It was a dream come true!
Tennis star Sloane Stephens married soccer player Jozy Altidore in a gorgeous wedding, People reports.
The couple have known each other since they were young and announced their engagement in April 2019, navigating the challenges of COVID and the ongoing pandemic to finally have the wedding of their dreams this past January 1st. The two were married at the St. Regis Bal Harbour hotel in Miami Beach, Florida and the duo say they couldn’t have asked for anything more perfect.
Photo Courtesy of Stanley Babb/Stanlo Photography/People Magazine
Stephens said it was tough planning with everything going on, enforcing strict COVID testing protocols before and on the day of their wedding and leaving space at the ceremony for those they’d lost along the way, including her grandparents who passed away in 2021 from the virus.
“I empathize with all the COVID couples out there who have had to make the tough calls and be flexible with the ever-changing pandemic. We’ve all had to be super flexible, and I appreciate how accommodating our loved ones have been in making sure we have as safe and special a day as possible,” said Stephens.
Stephens, who won the 2017 US Open, said she’s a planner by nature and was excited to see her vision executed on the big day, taking to social media to share some of the best moments. She and Altidore hosted their family all week with a variety of events including a crawfish boil and wine tasting, a beach picnic, and of course, a tennis tournament which became extremely competitive.
If I got it from my mama was a picture. pic.twitter.com/fMCBLGWjbb
— sloanestephens (@SloaneStephens) January 7, 2022
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Altidore, who plays for Toronto FC, said the best part of the planning process was reflecting on their journey together.
“I’ve loved reflecting on all of the moments that culminated to this day and how we’ve arrived at this life-changing moment. It’s been so nostalgic to go down memory lane and revisit all the moments that brought us to this time in our lives. It’s made me fall in love with Sloane all over again,” he said.
Photo Courtesy of Stanley Babb/Stanlo Photography/People Magazine
The wedding proceeded without a hitch, Stephens wearing a custom beaded Galia Lahav couture gown donned in diamonds, an ornate headpiece and a classy up-do. Altidore sported a classic tuxedo look and the two walked down the aisle surrounded by an array of flora and palm trees beneath a mirrored archway. Still, the thing Altidore most looked forward to before the ceremony was the simple moments, watching Stephens walk down the eyes and just spending the rest of his life with her.
“It’s one of those moments that I know will stand still when I see her…Just being with my best friend every day. What’s better than that?,” Altidore told reporters.
“We both have incredible crazy jobs and lives, and knowing that through it all, we have each other as our constant and true home base is such a comforting feeling,” added Stephens.
Congratulations Sloane & Jozy! We’re wishing you all a lifetime of happiness!
Photo Courtesy of Stanley Babb/Stanlo Photography/People Magazine