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Celebrity Wedding: Antonio Pierce & Jocelyn Maldonado
The Love Story
Antonio Pierce a New York Giants linebacker, met Jocelyn Maldonado during his celebrity appearance at an August 2006 ESPN Fantasy Football Draft. Maldonado, who was a model at the event, instantly caught his eye. Pierce and Maldonado (who now hosts the N.Y.C. sports show Mets Weekly) were inseparable over the next six months, working out together and playing gin rummy during downtime.
In February 2007, Pierce treated Maldonado to a scenic helicopter ride above Manhattan before dining à deux at Brooklyn's The River Café. Famous for its chocolate Brooklyn Bridge cake, Pierce conspired with the restaurant's manager to place the engagement ring atop the confection, which was covered with pink rose petals.
The Ceremony
Sixty of their closest family and friends joined them in Maui for their May 24, 2008, destination wedding. The ceremony, which was held at the private Hoku Lani estate, was designed by N.Y.C. event planner David Tutera-he and the couple chose a coral-and-peach-colored theme to echo the gorgeous Hawaiian sunset.
The Decor
Coral roses were chosen "to bring out the sunset" and were accented with white and green hydrangeas.
The Menu
Guests were served mai tais garnished with purple dendrobium orchids.
The Cake
Each tier of the personalized cake-designed by the couple and baked by the Grand Wailea Resort, where the reception was held-had significant meaning: the bottom represented where they met (New York City), the middle represented where they each grew up (Puerto Rico and Long Beach, Calif.), and the top signified where they wed (Maui).
Antonio Pierce & Jocelyn Maldonado
"The entire week was incredible!," says Pierce. "From the luau to the all-white party, it just kept getting better every day. Our family and friends were blown away. It was the purest celebration between the both of us and we were able to share it with family and close friends."
Antonio Pierce & Jocelyn Maldonado
"It was every little girl's dream," recalls Maldonado. "The entire week was so beautiful and perfect. The wedding day was so beautiful with the sunset in the background and the tropical feel of the island. The ceremony was so moving that it brought me to tears. Sharing this special day being joined to the man I love with my family and friends was priceless," she adds.
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