Brooks Nader stunned in a figure-hugging Oscar de la Renta gown and plenty of diamonds when she wed Billy Haire in a lavish ceremony in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Saturday.
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Rookie, 22, and her advertiser beau, 33, said ‘I do’ at St. Mary’s Church in front of 310 guests — including some of her friends from Sports Illustrated.
‘Our big day was nothing short of magical and filled with all the people we love most who traveled from all over the world which meant so much to us!’ Brooks told DailyMail.com exclusively.
Big Day: Brooks Nader and Billy Haire said ‘I do’ in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Saturday
Unforgettable: The bride old DailyMail.com that their ‘big day was nothing short of magical’
Perfect fit: The 22-year-old Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model donned a figure-hugging strapless gown by Oscar de la Renta
Brooks said she spent more than a year working out the details of her wedding with her Louisiana-based planner Leslie Campbell.
They collaborated with several designers and vendors from Manhattan, including Ceci Johnson of Ceci New York, who created their wedding invitations.
‘One of my favorite (and our guests) part of the evening was at the end we had a 10 person bass brand (separate from our regular band) lead us out of the venue and into the streets of the French quarter for a parade,’ she recalled.
‘We had police escorts closing Bourbon [Street] off and everyone on the sidewalks was cheering and screaming for us and our guests and we marched down! It was a huge party!’
Stunning: Brooks wore her highlighted brown hair pulled half up and loose around her shoulders
Stunning: Before dancing the night away, Brooks changed into a second gown — a custom sparkly sequin strapless by Viero Bridal.
While the night ended with a bang, the Louisiana native opted for a more traditional ceremony with a royal touch.
‘I walked out to the same hymn as Kate Middleton. It fit the holiness and the power of the church!’ she told The Knot of the choral masterpiece ‘I was glad’ by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry from Psalm 122.
In addition to her engagement ring from Hamra Diamonds and new wedding band from Angara Jewelry, Brooks paired her strapless mermaid gown with diamond rings, tennis bracelets and earrings from Ring Concierge.
The model topped off her bridal look with a pair of white satin pointed-toe heels with ribbon ties by Dee Keller.
She wore her highlighted brown hair pulled half up and loose around her shoulders and a long veil by Daphne Newman when she walked down the aisle.
Making memories: Billy looked dapper in a classic tuxedo from The Black Tux as he danced with his new wife
Location: Brooks and Billy’s wed at the opulent St. Mary’s Church. She added a royal touch to the ceremony when she ‘walked out to the same hymn as Kate Middleton’
Next up: The reception was held at the Old Ursuline Convent Museum immediately after the ceremony at the church, which is located on the grounds
Added touch: A brass band played as the 300-plus guests entered the wedding venue
The groom, meanwhile, looked dapper in a classic tuxedo from The Black Tux.
Although her gown looked sensational, Brooks revealed she almost had a wardrobe disaster leading up to her big day.
‘One of the pieces of the wedding dress was set to make it to NYC from Paris on December 15, the day after the ceremony,’ she explained. ‘Lucky for me, that came earlier.’
New Orleans has always been a special place for Brooks, who grew up in Baton Rouge and went to Tulane University for two years before she moved to New York City to pursue modeling.
She told The Knot that she and Billy knew right away that St. Mary’s Church and the Old Ursuline Convent Museum were the perfect places for their ceremony and reception.
Wedding decor: Brooks spent more than a year working out the details of her wedding with her Louisiana-based planner Leslie Campbell
Simple, yet elegant: The couple’s wedding reception was filled with greenery, white flowers, and sparkly lamps that hung from the top of the tent
Added touch: Brooks and Billy had an ice bar with their family crest on display
The wedding started at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday at the church, which was built as the bishop’s chapel in 1845.
The bride said she wanted the decor at the ceremony to be romantic, but they were also mindful to not distract from the opulent church’s beauty.
They opted for ‘lots of floating candles and minimal greenery’ aside from the two large arrangements that flanked them at the front of the church.
The bridesmaids donned slinky champagne-colored dresses while the groomsmen had on tuxedos. The couple had them sit instead of stand at the ceremony to avoid any distraction from their surroundings.
Brooks worked with her planner to create her dream wedding and reception, which was held at the Old Ursuline Convent Museum immediately after the ceremony.
Special: The couple added some modern touches to the traditional venue, including a neon size from Lite Brite Neon that read, ‘The Haires’
His and hers: the bride chose a classic seven-tier cake with flowers cascading down the side, while the groom paid homage to their home in the Big Apple with a New York City-theme cake
Something to cuddle with! Custom Hermes blankets were placed in the lounge area
Photographer Jenn Ocken took portraits of the newlyweds in the statuary gardens and private courtyards located on the historic 18th-century Convent grounds.
The couple added some modern touches to the traditional venue, including a neon size from Lite Brite Neon that read, ‘The Haires,’ custom Hermes blankets in the lounge area, and ice sculptures.
Before dancing the night away, Brooks changed into a second gown — a custom sparkly sequin strapless by Viero Bridal.
The newlyweds had a 90-minute cocktail hour with a brass band playing New Orleans jazz music while hors d’oeuvres and drinks were passed around to guests.
Brooks and Billy treated their friends and family to New Orleans fare and not one but two cakes.
Special: Brooks and Billy had a 90-minute cocktail hour with a brass band playing New Orleans jazz music while hors d’oeuvres and drinks were passed around to guests
‘Serious exit’: The bride said one of her favorite parts of their wedding was their second line parade to the after-party in the French Quarter
Taking over Bourbon Street! The police closed off part of the French Quarter for the newlyweds and their guests
While the bride chose a classic seven-tier cake with flowers cascading down the side, the groom paid homage to their home in the Big Apple with a New York City-theme cake decorated with the skyline and his favorite sports teams’ logos.
At the end of the reception, they had a second line wedding parade to the after-party, which Brooks said they ‘shut down part of the French Quarter for.’
A brass band led the way while she and her new husband held black and white Mardi Gras-style umbrellas. Their guests were given beads and white napkins to throw around during the festive parade.
Up until their wedding day, Brooks has kept mum about her relationship with Bill and their engagement.
She told The Knot that they met outside of the New York City rooftop lounge Mr. Purple before she had turned 21. Billy watched as her fake ID got rejected, and after meeting outside, they eventually started dating.
Amazing: The wedding came five months after Brooks was named Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s Model Search winner. The Rookie had a shoot for the magazine in Bali last month
Getting ready: Brooks enjoyed a pre-wedding workout with her ‘ladies’ at Pilates trainer Erin Romney at The Ritz-Carlton last Thursday, sharing the moment on her Instagram Story
Play-by-play: The model posted videos of her makeup artist Bruce Dean getting her ready for each event on her wedding weekend
Billy proposed last year and went all out, hiring a fake flogger to pretend to take photos along the South Street Seaport just so he could capture the moment he popped the question.
The couple also has a Sports Illustrated connection. Three years before she graced the pages of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue as a model search contestant, he worked as a sales manager at the iconic publication.
He has since moved on to become the digital group sales director of Sports at Time Inc., a role he has had since 2016.
Brooks was in Bali last month shooting her upcoming spread for the 2020 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue after being named the year’s first Rookie over the summer.
It looks like she has made some lasting friendships since she started working with the magazine, as she invited both Sports Illustrated Swimsuit models and staffers to her wedding weekend.
Making memories: As guests started to arrive on Friday morning, they shared photos of their wedding invitations and welcome bags
Added touches: Brooks and Billy gave guests water bottles, Zapp’s chips, and Vital Proteins collagen shots
Bling ring: Brooks wore wearing jewelry from Cartier and Ring Concierge
Brooks kicked off the three-day event early with a pre-wedding workout with her ‘ladies’ at The Ritz-Carlton last Thursday.
On her Instagram Story, she shared videos of Pilates instructor Erin Romney directing them in what appears to be a conference room at the hotel.
‘When @RomneysStuidos comes to you!’ Brooks captioned one clip.
Later that night, she posted footage of her makeup artist Bruce Dean adding some last-minute touches to her look while in the back seat of a car.
Kelsey Hendrix, a digital and social media manager at the magazine, shared a photo of herself and SI Swimsuit model Raine Michaels posing at a bar on Bourbon Street with Brooks’ three sisters: Mary Holland, Grace Ann, and Sarah Jane.
Ready to party: Party: Kelsey Hendrix, a digital and social media manager at Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, shared a photo of herself and SI Swimsuit model Raine Michaels on Bourbon Street
‘Three Naders and two blondes’: The duo happily took photos with Brooks’ three sisters: Grace Ann, Mary Holland, and Sarah Jane (left to right)
Fun times: Brooks and Billy headed to Baton Rouge to attend a Louisiana State University Tigers game with her parents, sisters, and friends a few weeks before their wedding
‘Three Naders and two blondes walk into a bar… #bourbonstreet #neworleans,’ she captioned the image, which appeared to be taken on Thursday.
As guests started to arrive on Friday morning, they shared photos of their wedding invitations and welcome bags, which were filled with water bottles, Zapp’s chips, and Vital Proteins collagen shots.
They were treated to brunch at New Orleans Country Club ahead of the welcome party that was held at the Twelfth Night Revelers suite Antoine’s Restaurant later that night.
The wedding came just two weeks after Brooks and Billy headed to Baton Rouge to attend a Louisiana State University Tigers game with her parents, sisters, and friends.
The couple’s pal Cooper MacDonnell shared photos from the group outing, including a picture of himself with actor Bryan Cranston, who also attended the game.
Throwback: Brooks celebrated her last days of singledom at her fun-filled bachelorette party in Cabo San Lucas last month
Model mayhem: Brooks showed off her figure in a white bikini and topped off her look with a sailor’s hat
Yikes! The group ended up in the hospital with Brooks needing an IV because she drank the water and model Robin Holzken getting her hand wrapped after she accidentally cut herself
Brooks celebrated her last days of singledom at her fun-filled bachelorette party in Cabo San Lucas in November, just a few weeks after her Sports Illustrated shoot in Bali.
The bride-to-be and her pals shared plenty of photos from the getaway as they enjoyed some fun in the sun at their villa at Casa La Laguna.
Brooks was joined by her three sisters; her friends Melissa Sadler, Lian Radcliffe, Margaret Ortego, Janice Szeto, Taylor Carmouche, and Peyton Gutierrez; and fellow models Maia Cotton, Robin Holzken, Meredith McKernan, and Annika Krijt.
They had dinner at the club Mandala and posed for plenty of swimsuit photos, which is only fitting considering the bride is a swimsuit model.
Brooks showed off her figure in a white bikini and topped off her look with a sailor’s hat as she spent some quality time with her closest friends.
Showered: Brooks’ poolside bridal shower was held in October. She is pictured with her friend Taylor Carmouche at the celebration
Future husband: Billy posed for photos with his wife-to-be when he stopped by the shower
‘Best weekend with my favorite ladies,’ she captioned snapshots from the trip, though she admitted the ‘fabulous weekend ended in a not-so-fab way.’
The group ended up in the hospital with Brooks needing an IV because she drank the water and Robin getting her hand wrapped after she accidentally stabbed it while cutting an avocado.
The model’s friends were also on hand for her poolside bridal shower, which was held in late October.
Brooks looked every bit the bride-to-be in her white lace dress with puffed shoulders. She topped off her ethereal look with strappy white heels and a ribbon in her highlighted brown hair.
She happily posed for pictures with her friends and family, as well as Billy, who stopped by towards the end of the shower.
It’s been an amazing year for Brooks, who was named Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s Model Search winner in July, securing her spot in the publication’s 2020 issue.