NFL star Austin Ekeler is married!
The Washington Commanders running back, 28, married dancer and TikToker Melanie Wilking on Saturday, May 25 at the Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa, surrounded by 138 loved ones, including several of Ekeler’s NFL friends.
Wilking tells Keynote USA that the couple chose Las Vegas because it is their “home base” and would be a fun vacation destination for their friends and family traveling from out of state for the wedding. Her venue, she says, was “different from anywhere else we visited” during the planning process.
“The Hilton has a beautiful garden and a stunning view of the lake. It’s hard to find a lake and garden in the desert, so we knew this was the place,” he notes.
The goal, Wilking says, was to throw “a fun party” and share their special day with all their loved ones gathered together. “Living away from our families isn’t always easy, so having everyone in one place was really all we wanted,” he adds.
Austin Ekeler and Melanie Wilking at their wedding in Las Vegas.
Bethany Paige Photography
The couple, who worked with planner Brittany Griffor of Symphony Weddings & Events, requested that their guests wear all black. “I saw a video online of all the guests dressed in black at a wedding and fell in love with the concept. I knew I wanted that for our big day,” explains Wilking.
“We wanted the night to be sophisticated and classic,” she adds of the dress code, designed to complement the wedding’s color palette, which included all-white flowers and black-and-white decor.
During the ceremony, officiated by Bill Ekeler, Austin’s cousin and business partner, the couple recited traditional vows. They also exchanged vows privately the night before their wedding. Wilking’s wedding ring was especially meaningful to the bride, as it once belonged to her great-great-grandmother and was passed down to her from her mother.
Austin Ekeler and Melanie Wilking at their wedding in Las Vegas.
Bethany Paige Photography
The bride walked down the aisle wearing a strapless Rivini by Rita Vinieris dress, featuring a classic A-line silhouette. “As soon as I put it on, I knew it was the one. I had my parents and my grandmother with me, and seeing their faces when I came out of the dressing room sealed the deal,” he recalls.
She and Austin opted for a very small wedding party, with the bride’s two best friends as flower girls. Another friend of Wilking, electric violinist Spags, performed during the ceremony.
In a sweet touch, the couple designated seats and placed photographs in them to honor loved ones no longer with them, including three of Wilking’s grandparents and Austin’s late agent and best friend Cameron Weiss, who died in September. “We wanted to make sure everyone was with us on our big day,” Wilking notes.
Never miss a story — sign up for Keynote USA’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best Keynote USA has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Austin Ekeler and Melanie Wilking at their wedding in Las Vegas.
Bethany Paige Photography
Following the ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests enjoyed a plated meal with a menu that included summer strawberry salad, orange-glazed chicken, greens, and mashed potatoes.
For dessert, the couple chose a three-tier vintage-style wedding cake with layers of vanilla and strawberry filling, chocolate with cookies and cream filling, and almonds. “We couldn’t decide on just one,” Wilking jokes about the variety of flavors.
Once the dancing began, Austin and Wilking shared their first dance as husband and wife to Parmalee’s “Take My Name.”
Austin Ekeler and Melanie Wilking at their wedding in Las Vegas.
Bethany Paige Photography
Looking back on their wedding, Wilking says it was a perfect day: “It was everything we ever wanted and more. Having everyone in our family travel to Las Vegas to celebrate our love is something I could only have dreamed of. They are very grateful.”
The couple, who met on Instagram (Austin took the first step by DMing Wilking) got engaged on August 24, 2023. “It was definitely the best surprise of my life,” she recalls of the proposal, which took place in the top. from a cliff next to the ocean in Laguna Beach, California, with their families present to celebrate the moment with them.
The Keynote USA Puzzler crossword is here! How fast can you solve it? Play now!
Now that they are married, the couple is looking forward to the end of their long-distance relationship after spending the last few years shuttling back and forth between California, Las Vegas and, since Austin signed with the Commanders in March, Virginia .
Austin Ekeler and Melanie Wilking at their wedding in Las Vegas.
Bethany Paige Photography
“This will finally be the chapter where we all do it together. Of course, we will both have to travel in the future, but now we will call the same place home: Virginia during the season and Las Vegas in the off-season.” Wilking says.
They are excited to enter this new chapter of their lives together, which they hope to fill with many new adventures and experiences.
“To me, marriage means a partner who will always be there for you through thick and thin. It’s going through life with your best friend by your side, creating experiences and a family together,” Wilking tells Keynote USA.
Austin adds, “It means being with a forever partner to grow and explore the adventure of life together.”
Keynote USA
For the Latest Sports News, Follow @Keynote USA Sports on Twitter.