Giannis Antetokounmpo: The All-Star Wedding of the Greek Freak

The countdown for the wedding of the year has begun, and tomorrow, Giannis Antetokounmpo will marry the love of his life and mother of his three children, Mariah Riddlesprigger.

All eyes are on Costa Navarino, and tonight, the "Nigerian Party" will be held with traditional outfits reflecting the 29-year-old basketball player's second homeland.

Guests will dress in traditional Nigerian attire, adding a special cultural touch to the event. This day is expected to be full of color and tradition, offering a unique experience to all attendees.

The three-day celebrations began yesterday, Friday, with the "White Party." As the name suggests, the theme was white, with guests wearing white suits designed by Giorgos Papadogamvros, who is also responsible for Giannis Antetokounmpo's wedding attire.

These celebrations are just a prelude to the grand ceremony that will take place tomorrow, Sunday, where Giannis and Mariah will exchange vows of eternal love.

According to reliable information shared by TheTHEMA, the ceremony will not be religious —as the "Greek Freak" is Orthodox and his beloved is Catholic— nor will it be a civil one. Instead, it will be a hybrid ceremony where the couple will commit to spending their lives together. This ceremony will take place on the afternoon of September 1st, at the beachfront of the "W" hotel in Costa Navarino. The location was carefully chosen to meet the couple's strict condition of not subjecting their wedding to the media and social media, at least without their consent. Notably, no guest will have a mobile phone with them.

The couple's arrival

The couple, known for their style and elegance, followed the same theme, offering a stunning start to the wedding events. They arrived at Costa Navarino by boat and walked down the pier hand in hand, Giannis in shorts and Mariah in a white mini dress.

The party took place at the "Between" bar, located safely within the "W" hotel.

VIP parade at Kalamata airport

Traffic at Kalamata airport was particularly busy, with approximately 200 of the couple's guests arriving by private jets and helicopters, mainly from abroad. Among the guests, most of whom are arriving from Greece and the USA, are 30 VVIPs. The term "Very Very Important Person" is not used lightly, as sparse leaks suggest that invitations have been extended to and accepted by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his wife Mareva, NBA legend LeBron James, who is closely connected to the "Greek Freak," Serena Williams, and possibly Kylian Mbappé. However, his commitments to Real Madrid may prevent his attendance. Milwaukee Bucks players, the team's coach, and team president Peter Feigin are also expected to attend.

The wedding will also see the presence of Giannis' teammates from the Greek National Basketball Team, as well as athletes who played alongside him and the Antetokounmpo brothers during their early years at Filathlitikos.

The most distinguished guests will be accommodated in suites at the "W" hotel, which offers the always-welcome butler service, and some will stay at the luxurious "Mandarin" hotel. While some will spend only one night in Messinia, others are expected to combine their wedding invitation with a short vacation in Greece.

The menu and Giannis' love for Mariah

The menu decided by the couple will have a diverse range of references —from refined, elegant versions of the traditional (for Americans) burger to sophisticated modern Greek cuisine. Giannis Antetokounmpo's decision to launch the first wine from his collaboration with Hellenic Wineries through his investment company Ante Inc., in which he owns a 10% share since 2022, is also notable. This will be a rosé wine bearing Mariah Riddlesprigger's name, available in both standard 750ml bottles and magnum editions. Wedding guests will have the privilege of being the first to taste the Greek Freak's inaugural vintage.

One cannot overlook the imaginative way Giannis Antetokounmpo has chosen to once again declare his love for the woman who seems to epitomize his ideal partner. Although neither has spoken about the circumstances of their first meeting, the prevailing story is that they first crossed paths in 2014. At that time, Giannis was in his rookie season with the Milwaukee Bucks, while Mariah, a graduate of Rice University's Sports Management program in Houston, was interning with the American basketball league.

Coming from a sports family—her father Pat was a basketball player—Riddlesprigger also pursued athletics, excelling as a volleyball player like her sisters Makayla and Maya, and was named MVP of the Collegiate Championship in her graduation year.