Couples who medal together, stay together.
Updated Jul 16, 2024Exclusive: Olympic Bronze Medalist Alex Bowen Reveals His Wedding Album
The water polo star wed Hilary Hansen in Coronado, California on August 31.
Water polo brought Olympian Alex Bowen and his wife, Hilary (Hansen) Bowen, together. The couple shares an incredibly appropriate meet-cute, considering Bowen took home a bronze medal with Team USA at the 2024 Olympics in Paris just a few weeks ago. It was a monumental victory, especially because it was the men's water polo team's first Olympic medal in sixteen years—but the championship was just one of the many milestones Bowen experienced this summer.
On August 31, 2024, Alex Bowen married his wife in a beautiful outdoor ceremony in Coronado, California. The couple exchanged vows in front of 200 guests, including Bowen's water polo teammates. We have an inside look at the couple's wedding here, from the "elegant" theme to the thoughtful venue that honored their family.
Hilary and Alex Bowen's Wedding Photos & Details
Alex Bowen and his wife Hilary Hansen's first date was over a year in the making. The two were set up by his water polo teammate, Jesse Smith, who is Hansen's cousin. A fellow water polo fan who played in high school, Hansen agreed when Smith offered to put them in touch in 2020.
After months of missed connections due to the pandemic, as well as Bowen's rigorous training schedule overseas, they planned their first date over the Fourth of July holiday weekend the following year, when Bowen would be home briefly before the Tokyo Olympics. Hansen shared the news with her father, Mark, who was a lifelong water polo fan. "I was like, 'Dad, Jesse's setting me up with his teammate. He's from San Diego,'" Hansen recalls. "My dad asked, 'Who is it?' I told him it was Alex Bowen, and my dad said, 'Hil, do not screw this one up.'"
FEATURED VIDEO FROM THE KNOT
Tragically, a week before the holiday, Hansen's father unexpectedly passed away. Smith told Bowen they could reschedule, but the athlete refused: "I said, 'It sounds like she needs a fun date guy,'" he tells us.
So, on July 3, 2021, Bowen showed up at Hansen's patriotic party where he met her entire family. "He walked in, gave everyone a hug, and said, 'How can we honor Mark?' My dad loved tequila, so we all took a shot," Hansen remembers. "It went off without a hitch."
Although Bowen left the country later that month to compete in the Olympics, the two began dating shortly after. They've navigated long distance for the majority of their relationship, thanks in part to Bowen's training and competition cycle, which takes him all around the world.
When he proposed in Paris in 2022, the couple already had a wedding date and venue in mind. "The church we got married at is where my dad is buried," Hansen explains, adding that it's also where her parents tied the knot. "We walked by the church one day [before we got engaged], and I asked if we could have our first look in the memorial garden so my dad could have a first look too."
While they aren't religious, Bowen insisted that the church was the perfect setting. "He said, 'No, we're getting married here. It's the only place your dad can watch you walk down the aisle,'" she continues. As such, they booked Christ Church Coronado two years in advance—not only to account for the Olympics timeline, but also so they could ensure her father would be included on the big day.
Two weeks after the 2024 Paris Games, 200 of the couple's loved ones flew to Coronado, California, for the celebration. With a "classically chic" vision, the couple worked with Jennifer Hughes of Laurel Street Events to bring their elegant aesthetic to life. "I've known Jennifer almost my whole life, and I've dabbled in helping coordinate events with her," Hansen says. "I knew I wanted her to plan our wedding because she's just so talented."
Even though Bowen's intense training schedule kept him in Europe during the majority of their planning process, he was adamant about being involved in "every wedding decision." For them, that meant establishing a routine transcending time zones where they could schedule phone calls to go over every single detail, from the floral arrangements to the color palettes.
On the morning of the wedding, Hansen got ready with her bridesmaids, who wore light blue mismatched gowns. She slipped into a lace wedding dress with a crepe skirt and cathedral train, which she found on a shopping trip with her mom. "When I flew home from France after getting engaged, I immediately went to a dress appointment with my maid of honor and my mom," she says. "I didn't find anything I loved, so I made an appointment at LUV Bridal in San Diego with just my mom. She's my best friend, so I really wanted that moment for us."
After trying on a few more styles, they both knew when she found the one. "When I put on my dress, it was everything I wanted. I felt like a bride and my mom's eyes got watery. I knew it was it."
As promised, the bride and groom shared an emotional first look at the memorial garden outside the church, where they enjoyed a few quiet moments alone to honor the father of the bride.
As the wedding began, the groom walked down the aisle with his parents, while the bride shared the special moment with her mom. During the ceremony, the couple recited custom-written vows—which the bride says weren't finalized until after the Games. "Mine were already done, but Alex had a little work to do once the Olympics were over," she jokes.
Photo: Valerie Lendvay
,Officiant: Mother Rebecca Hansen
They also exchanged wedding rings by Renae Johnson-Weise of Muhl Jewelers. Bowen received Hansen's father's wedding ring, which was originally designed by Johnson-Weise's grandmother. Hansen's custom wedding ring included gemstones from her mother's engagement ring, accented with family heirlooms.
Crown Town Music provided the soundtrack for both the ceremony and cocktail hour. Once the ceremony was over, guests enjoyed two signature cocktails: the "Fun Date Guy," a spicy ranch water (which is what Bowen and Hansen drank on their first date), and "The Bean," a traditional Moscow mule named after the bride's childhood nickname. During the interlude, guests enjoyed a fresh seafood display—a nod to the couple's favorite food.
As guests found their seats, they were surprised with personalized thank-you notes on their place settings. "Our wedding was a destination for a lot of our guests, so we really wanted to ensure they knew how much it meant to us," the bride says.
When the newlyweds entered the party, they shared their first dance to "Lifetime" by Justin Bieber.
Dinner consisted of a buffet-style spread with braised short ribs, chicken, salad and vegetables, courtesy of Feast and Fareway. While the couple sliced into a two-tier buttercream cake with blood orange filling, created by Frost Me, guests indulged in cupcakes of the same flavor.
Dancing was non-negotiable for the Bowens, who hired SD Party Time DJs to keep the fun going late into the evening. "We were super excited to see the party they created," Hansen says. "Alex and I both have a wide taste in music, from Taylor Swift and Shania Twain to Ludacris and Cardi B. Plus, we had some classic oldies mixed in too."
Before the night was over, the bride changed into a fringe two-piece set with glittery sneakers for dancing. As their loved ones cleared out, the newlyweds shared a private last dance alone in their reception space.
Now that the wedding is over, the couple has their sights set on the future. "We're planning on having little ones quickly," Hansen says. "One thing I look forward to the most is being able to show our kids that he gets to live out his dream every day."
On that note, Bowen adds, his Olympic dreams aren't quite over yet: "It's hard to say no to LA in 2028," he says with a smile.
Alex Bowen's Wedding Vendors
Wedding Planner: Jennifer Hughes, Laurel Street Events; Photographer: Valerie Lendvay O'Reilly; Ceremony Venue: Christ Church Coronado; Reception Venue: Feast and Fareway; Florist: MR Floral and Events; Wedding Dress Salon: LUV Bridal; Wedding Rings: Muhl Jewelers; Hair Stylist: Brittany Withouski; Makeup Artist: Aryanna Acreneaux; Officiant: Mother Rebecca Hansen; Rentals: Platinum Event Rentals; Linens: BBJ La Tavola; Stationery and Signage: Seaside Papery; Catering: Feast and Fareway; Cake: Frost Me; Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music; Crown Town Music; Entertainment: SD Party Time DJs; Transportation: Old Town Trolley, Reliable Transportation; Seating Chart & Welcome Sign: Epoch Design
