NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Knot, Friday announced 2015 WNBA MVP, Washington Mystics player and Olympic gold medalist Elena Delle Donne and fiancée Amanda Clifton as The Knot 2017 Dream Wedding couple. On the fifth anniversary of The Knot Dream Wedding, this year’s wedding will give back in more ways than one. Elena and Amanda are not only choosing to have a wedding to celebrate their love, but also to give back to others and the environment in a big way. In lieu of registering for gifts, the couple will create a charity registry on TheKnot.com allowing fans, family and friends to donate to the Elena Delle Donne Foundation, benefiting the special needs community, and those suffering Lyme Disease. Both causes are close to the couple as Elena’s sister Lizzie was born deaf, blind and with other disabilities, and Elena was diagnosed with Lyme Disease in 2008.
Elena and Amanda’s affinity for giving back will be brought to life throughout their entire wedding with the help of Brooklyn, New York–based renowned wedding planner and designer Jove Meyer. The wedding will be created with a highly reduced carbon footprint, making sustainable choices and keeping the environment in mind. All food and floral arrangements will be seasonal and locally sourced whenever possible, and following the festivities, extra food will be donated to homeless shelters and all flowers will be given to local hospitals and nursing homes for others to enjoy.
Elena and Amanda, who serves as the director of the De11e Donne Academy, met four years ago after being set up by a mutual friend. Two dogs and three years later, they were both plotting proposals to one another: First, Amanda surprised Elena with an intimate Lake Michigan proposal where their Great Dane, Wrigley, was the star of the show, as Amanda asked Elena to marry her with a ring attached to his collar. A few weeks later, their other dog, Rasta, a black Labrador retriever, adorned in a dog wedding dress and veil, took the spotlight in Elena’s proposal. Amanda walked into her and Elena’s Chicago home to find Rasta positioned next to a homemade sign that read, “Marry Me.” Elena then proposed to Amanda on the rooftop of their condo with ring in hand, and all of their favorite meals from places they had lived together. Shortly before Elena’s departure to compete in the Summer 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, the couple publicly confirmed their engagement.
After hearing the couple’s story and their personal commitment to helping others, The Knot knew it wanted to give Elena and Amanda the wedding of their dreams. The couple’s entire wedding—from flowers to the dresses and the cake—will all be taken care of, courtesy of The Knot.
“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.”
“Getting married is something every girl dreams about and working with The Knot is truly surreal,” said Elena Delle Donne. “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.”
