This Lucky Couple Just Won the Knot’s 2017 Dream Wedding
The Knot’s 2017 Dream Wedding winning couple has been announced, and the prize could not have gone to a more outstanding and deserving pair. You may have even heard of the lucky ladies who won — WNBA athlete Elena Delle Donne who competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics and her partner, Amanda Clifton, the director of Donnes’ Skills Academy. Winning this annual contest means everything — the cake, the dresses, the decor, etc. — will be covered by The Knot. Donne and her fiancée are The Knot’s first same-sex couple to be awarded the annual Dream Wedding, and they plan to celebrate with a ceremony that is not only environmentally friendly, but also gives back.
Donne and Clifton met through mutual friends and knew pretty quickly they were meant to be. After sweet proposals from both of them (each including their pups), they started to imagine their big day. To assist in planning, The Knot hooked the ladies up with Brooklyn-based wedding planner and designer, Jove Meyer, who will help make the wedding day’s carbon footprint super small. Along with sustainable design choices, all the food and flowers will be as locally sourced as possible.
To fulfill their goal of giving back, the couple plan to set up a charity registry on TheKnot.com. The money will be donated to the Elena Delle Donne Foundation, which supports the specials needs community (including events like the Special Olympics) and those suffering Lyme Disease. Both causes are very personal for the couple because of Donne’s sister, Lizzie, who was born blind, deaf, and with other special needs, while Donne was diagnosed with Lyme Disease in 2008.
“We’ve never seen a couple more passionate about giving to others than Elena and Amanda,” said Kellie Gould, editor in chief of The Knot. “It’s incredibly heartwarming to see the special bond and relationship that Elena has with her sister Lizzie, and all of the work that she and Amanda do for other families through their foundation. It was an easy decision for us to offer the Dream Wedding to this truly selfless couple.”
We think it’s obvious these women are extremely deserving of the most special wedding day possible. The Knot says Donne and Clifton are planning their wedding for summer 2017.
“Getting married is something every girl dreams about and working with The Knot is truly surreal,” Donne said. “Amanda and I want nothing more than to bring our family and friends together and have the best time ever. Not only are we thrilled to be the first same-sex Dream Wedding couple of The Knot; we’re excited to have a platform to raise money and awareness for causes we’re truly passionate about.”
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(Photos via Hudson Nichols Photography / The Knot)