Inside Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens’s Wedding in Cabo
On Saturday, gymnast and seven-time Olympic medalist Simone Biles and NFL safety Jonathan Owens said their vows in Cabo, Mexico, in front of 144 guests.
Simone and Jonathan first met on the dating app Raya in 2020, with the gold medalist making the first move and sliding into his DMs. Their relationship became more serious when Simone’s sister invited Jonathan to join them on a family trip to their lake house in Texas, and eventually, he proposed two years later on Valentine’s Day during golden hour at Brenner’s Steakhouse on the Bayou in Houston.
The two officially said “I do” last month in a civil ceremony at the Harris County Courthouse in Houston while preparing for their wedding in Cabo on May 6. “We had to get married ‘legally’ here in the U.S. since our wedding will be a destination wedding,” Simone explains.
“The planning process [for the larger celebration in Cabo] was so much fun in the beginning and then it started getting really stressful,” the most decorated gymnast in history adds. “So I definitely recommend a wedding planner. Carena Trampe of Amy Abbott Events kept me sane the entire time.”
As for her wedding wardrobe, the bride chose a Galia Lahav gown in a silhouette that was very different from what she originally envisioned for herself. (Vogue was also on hand to document her final dress fitting at the atelier in New York.) “I went with my gut feeling and what I felt the most beautiful in,” Simone explains. “I actually got a dress that I originally said I wouldn’t like.”
Initially, Simone was unsure about the ballgown skirt due to her small size, but when paired with a corseted bodice and a high slit it proved to be surprisingly lengthening, she explains. “I was nervous about having a ball gown because I’m so petite—but it works perfect,” Simone says. “The leg slit was very crucial. It was to add, in my head, more length to my body. I think this is exactly how brides are supposed to feel: luxurious, beautiful, kind of on top of the world.”
The bride’s jewelry was kept simple and classic, as was her beauty, with her hair and makeup on the day by Ashley Stewart Beauty and her hair install by Jazmine Johnson. Meanwhile, the bridesmaids wore champagne-color dresses from Revelry, and the groomsmen wore custom suits from Adam Ross The Suit Boss.
The bride wore white Nadine Merabi pajamas with feather accents to get ready with her bridal party, before walking down the aisle on the Umi Terrace of the Nobu Los Cabos at 5 p.m., escorted by her father, while cellist Andrew Savoia played in the background. “I actually felt so sick the entire day, and when it was almost time to walk, my heart was beating out of my chest,” Simone reveals. “I’ve never been so nervous before in my life. [But,] I felt confident walking down the aisle. Seeing Jonathan at the altar was a dream. Our guests were cheering for everyone. I was shocked by the love in the air. The ceremony was so beautiful and dreamy!”
During the service, the couple tried to keep things as lighthearted as possible. “Jonathan and I just tuned into each other and blocked everyone out,” Simone says. “I fell in love with him all over.” After being pronounced husband and wife, the newlyweds recessed back up the aisle to the beat of water drums.
“Whales were jumping out of the water as our ceremony started,” Simone says. “Whale season is over by the way. It sprinkled for two minutes after we got married—which is good luck!—and we had a full moon. It was truly the most magical!"
Following the service, the newlyweds took some time for formal pictures, both alone and with their families, before heading into their first dance—followed, of course, by dinner and dessert. “Nobu actually made our big main cake—it was red velvet,” Simone says. “It was so stunning and delicious. The second cake was technically the groom’s cake. It was an ice cream cake that Jonathan requested at the start of our wedding planning process. He needed that, and it actually came from Dairy Queen. Everyone raved about it!”
Omar from Alex DJ Cabo Events handled all of the entertainment. “He was amazing, and Jonathan sent him a suggested playlist to help him set the mood for the reception and after-party,” Simone says. “Entertainment was on point, and I could not have asked for more!” The evening ended with an after-party in a similar place to where it all began—at Ardea Steakhouse—that included plenty of late-night bites and dancing. “I’m so sad it’s all over,” Simone says. “I want to do it again. We had the best night of our lives. It was a 12 out of 10!"
Photo: Stanlo Photography1/98
Photo: Stanlo Photography2/98
