It seems that Serena Williams’ upcoming nuptials has reignited the flame in some of her famous friends, who were looking very loved up as they strolled the streets of New Orleans on Thursday.
Among those putting their amore on display were Eva Longoria and Jose Baston with the Desperate Housewives’ star getting a kiss on the check and hug from her new husband 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 amn upgrade from the 8-carat stone she got from he ex Rory McIlroy in 2014 before the two split.
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The two couples were dressed down for their visit to the bride, with Lee wearing jeans and a black tee while Wozniacki opted for a simple t-shirt dress and sandals.
Longoria kept herself almost completely hidden in an oversized black shirt and sweatpants, with a black hat and large sunglasses covering her face.
There was no peek at the bride however, just hours before she is set to walk down the aisle.
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, 36, 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, Cynthia Erivo, Selita Ebanks, 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.
Serena is set to walk down the aisle on Thursday, marrying millionaire Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian in a dream wedding that will take place at The Contemporary Art Center, as first reported by DailyMail.com.
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.
High fashionista: Serena Williams wore a Versace couture gown (above) to her rehearsal dinner on Wednesday night in New Orleans (Serena and best friend Val Vogt above leaving the venue)
The big day is here: The tennis star, 36, will wed millionaire Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian, 34, at The Contemporary Art Center in New Orleans on Thursday (Serena looks at her phone will leaving the restaurant above)
Just do it: She paired the dress with white wedge-heeled Nikes (above), with the greatest female athlete of all time seen in her sneakers as she left the venue after midnight
After dining at Emeil Lagasse’s new restaurant Meril, Serena, the female members of her and nephew Jair headed back to her $1.6 million rental home (Serena with her bodyguard above)
All smiles: A grinning Serena could be seen talking to her friends on Wednesday after the event
Her guys: Serena was seen exiting her car at her home after the dinner on Wednesday with her nephew Jair (above)
Touching tribute: Jair, who was raised by Oracene and his aunts after his mother Yetunde was murdered in 2003, posted a tribute to his aunt Serena (above)
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.’
Guests were seen arriving to the event around 9pm on buses and all carrying a Yondr, a device that locks up your cellular device so it cannot be used, creating a no-phone zone.
That is somethiung Serena has demanded of her guests, as she has worked out a deal with Vogue editor and close friend Anna Wintour to run her wedding exclusively in the fashion magazine.
It is likely that those photos will wind up in the January issue of the magazine, and give Serena her third Vogue cover.
Employees at the restaurant meanwhile were sworn to secrecy, with one telling DailyMail.com: ‘We’re all sworn to secrecy. The confidentiality agreement are pretty tight.’
Another employee said that low-ranking staff was not even informed of the fact that a famous guest bought out the restaurant on Wednesday.
‘They just told us to show up at a certain time and expect to stay late,’ said the employee.
A very generous Serena paid Meril the average amount of money it makes per night to compensate for the business lost in addition to the cost of their party said one waiter.
Among the foods sampled by guests were rock shrimp tacos, yellow fin tuna wraps, smoked pork belly and candied pork ribs.
There were also hundreds of beignets from Cafe du Monde, with the fried treats seen being delivered to the restaurant just as the party began around 9pm in a giant truck.
Venus Williams and her new boyfriend, who is reportedly an account manager in New York (above)
Lovely ladies: Serena’s big sisters Lyndrea (left) and Isha Price (right)
Queen bee: Serena’s mother and coach Oracene Williams arrives at the venue (above)
Famous faces: Larsa Pippen (left) and Colton Haynes (right) arrive to Meril
Hand-in-hand: Eva Longoria and her new husband Jose Baston carry their Yondrs into the party (above)
The agent and the supermodel: Jill Smoller (left) and Selita Ebanks (right) arrive at the venue
Ace: Caroline Wozniacki and her new man, former NBA star David Lee, showed up to the event just two weeks after getting engaged (pair above)
Many of Serena’s high-profile pals are not arriving in The Big Easy until Thursday, a move that was likely meant to try and keep the day of the nuptials under wraps.
LaLa Anthony posted on social media that she was on an early morning flight while Beyonce, Ciara and Kelly Rowland are also expected to be on hand for the big day.
Jay Z will likely not be at the wedding however, with the rapper performing in North Catalina on Thursday night, though he could jet to the venue before or after his show.
The same goes for Serena’s supermodel pal Karlie Kloss, who is en route to Shanghai for her much anticipated return to the runway at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Preparations were also underway all day Wednesday at The Contemporary Art Center.
Air-conditioned tents were being erected throughout the parking lot while tableware and cases of wine from Chateau Smith were unloaded along with a giant carousel.
Serena’s sisters Venus, Isha and Lyndrea were also spotted at the venue on Wednesday, where they did a walk through with the bride-to-be’s agent Jill Smoller and best friend Val Vogt.
DailyMail.com broke the news that Serena would be taking the plunge on Thursday, just 11 weeks after she and Ohanian welcomed daughter Alexis Jr.
There is no word yet on Serena’s wedding dress, but given her red carpet choice for this year’s Met Ball and at the Glamous Women of the Year Awards on Monday as well as Wednesday night’s dinner, it seems likely that the bride will walk down the aisle in Versace.
Stunning pair: Nicole Ari Parker and husband Boris Kodjoe (above) looked picture perfect arriving at the venue
Velevety looks: Oracene (left) and Tony-winning actress Cynthia Erivo (righjt) at the event
BAM: Emeril Lagasse (above) arrives to his restaurant at around 4:30pm on Wednesday (above)
Dream team: Serena’s stylist Kesha McLeod (right) and makeup artist Natasha Gross (right) arrive at the venue on Thursday
Right-hand woman: Serena’s best friend Val Vogt arfrives ate the venue followed by Smoller
‘Serena and Alexis have spared no expense on their dream wedding,’ a source told DailyMail.com of the $1 million nuptials, which are being organized by celebrity wedding planner Preston Bailey.
The pair has chosen the the Contemporary Arts Center for the site of their nuptials.
‘They have hired the best of the best and can’t wait to get married in The Big Easy. It’s a special city for Serena and somewhere she has always loved,’ said the source.
‘Serena and Alexis chose the Contemporary Arts Center because of its incredible architecture and history. They have instructed Preston to fill the hall with thousands of dollars worth of crystals and flowers. The hall will be totally transformed.’
There will be approximately 250 guests at the ceremony, and it seems that the most important lady in Williams and Ohanian’s life will be playing a very big part in the ceremony.
‘Alexis will have a babysitter on hand just for her the entire night,’ the source told DailyMail.com.
‘Both parents wouldn’t dream of not having her there. She will be a part of the wedding as much as possible for an 11-week-old. They are totally and utterly besotted with her.’
Serena celebrated becoming a new mom back in September by posting a photo of her daughter resting on her shoulder to Instagram, writing: ‘Meet Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. You have to check out link in bio for her amazing journey. Also check out my IG stories.’
She had guessed that she was having a girl in an interview with Vogue that ran in the magazine’s September issue.
‘Alexis thinks we’re having a boy, but I have a strong suspicion that it’s a girl,’ said Serena.
‘Two weeks after we found out, I played the Australian Open. I told Alexis it has to be a girl because there I was playing in 100-degree weather, and that baby never gave me any trouble. Ride or die. Women are tough that way.’
Few are tougher than Serena, however, which is why it was a bit of a surprise to hear her say that she was ‘nervous about childbirth’ in that same interview.
‘I’m not a spring chicken. The one thing I really want is an epidural, which I know a lot of people are against, but I’ve had surgeries galore, and I don’t need to experience any more pain if I can avoid it,’ said Serena.
‘But the biggest thing is that I don’t really think I’m a baby person. Not yet. That’s something I have to work on. I’m so used to me-me-me, taking care of my health, my body, my career. I always ask, Am I going to be good enough?’
Serena will be back in action next month, which even she realizes is a bit unreal.
‘It’s the most outrageous plan,’ said Serena.
‘I just want to put that out there. That’s, like, three months after I give birth. I’m not walking anything back, but I’m just saying it’s pretty intense.’
She then revealed her fear of fading away, something that could never happen given her complete dominance in the sport.
‘In this game you can go dark fast. If I lose, and I lose again, it’s like, she’s done. Especially since I’m not 20 years old,’ said Serena.
‘I’ll tell you this much: I won’t win less. Either I win, or I don’t play.’