Inside Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union's 20-Year Love Story

When it comes to famous couples in Hollywood, there's hardly anyone as candid as Dwyane Wade and his wife Gabrielle Union. The former NBA all-star and actress have been together for over a decade. After first meeting in 2007 (at a party they were co-hosting!) the two began dating in 2010. Despite a short split in 2013, they got married at a lavish, star-studded wedding in August 2014.

One thing that sets Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade apart from other A-list duos is their willingness to shed light on how they *actually* make their relationship thrive in the public eye. From splitting finances to crafting their prenup and raising a blended family, there isn't much this couple won't talk about—and that's why we love them.

Here, look back on Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union's love story, including when they met, details from their wedding day, and how they've cultivated such a strong foundation.

• Dwyane Wade and his wife Gabrielle Union met in 2007 at a Super Bowl party. They began dating in 2009 and took their romance public in 2010.
• After taking a short break in 2013, Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade got engaged by the end of that year.
• Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union's wedding took place on August 30, 2014, in Miami, Florida.
• After years of infertility struggles, Gabrielle Union and her spouse welcomed daughter Kaavia James via surrogate in 2018. They continue to raise Dwyane's children from previous relationships together.

In this article:

• The Latest News on Dwyane and Gabrielle
• Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade's Relationship Timeline
• Inside Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union's Wedding
• Why They Have a Prenup and Split Finances 50/50
• How They Built a Strong Relationship Foundation

The Latest News on Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union's Relationship

Photo: Edward Berthelot | Getty Images

What are Gabrielle Union and her spouse Dwyane Wade up to these days? They certainly have a lot going on. After a handful of red carpet appearances throughout 2023—including a stop at the Met Gala—the former Miami Heat point guard was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on August 12, 2023. In his acceptance speech, Dwyane Wade gave a heartfelt shoutout to his wife. "My wife, Gab, thank you for making our house a home," he said. "Thank you for making sure our kids feel seen, heard and protected when I'm not around."

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He continued, "Thank you for being on this journey with me these past 15 years. Thank you for learning to love my imperfections, just as much as we enjoyed and love the moments of perfection. I love you."

That same month, the couple also celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary. "My forever MVP," Gabrielle captioned an Instagram post commemorating the milestone. "The highest honor is having you by my side. Nine years down and eternity to go."

How Long Have Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union Been Married?

Dwyane Wade and his wife Gabrielle Union have been married for nine years. Their wedding took place on August 30, 2014, in Miami, Florida.

How Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade Met

Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade met on February 4, 2007, at a Super Bowl party they were set to co-host. But for this famous couple, it wasn't exactly love at first sight. "I stayed on one side of the room with my people," Union said to Essence of their first meeting. "We like to party and he doesn't drink at all. He was on the other side of the room holding bible study."

She later opened up even more about the start of their romance to Glamour in 2014. "When I met Dwyane, his résumé looked like crap: athlete, going through a divorce, nine years younger than me," she said. "None of that screamed, 'Let's have a lasting relationship.'"

Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade's Relationship Timeline

Photo: Rich Fury | Getty Images

Despite the vibes of their first meeting, Gabrielle Union gave Dwyane Wade a chance after going through her own challenging divorce. Look back on Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union's complete relationship timeline, from 2010 to today.

July 2010: Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade Confirm Their Romance

Two years after they first met, Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade began dating in 2009—but they didn't publicly confirm their relationship status until 2010. They made their romance red carpet official at the Summer Groove Benefit Dinner in Hollywood, Florida. A few days later, Gabrielle had a courtside seat where she cheered for Dwyane at his All-Star basketball game.

While the two generally kept their romance private, they did pose together on the February 2012 cover of Essence magazine. In their feature story, they opened up about their plans for the future. "We're not rushing it," he told the publication. "Both of us have been married before, and we understand that if we choose to marry again, we want it to be right. We both took failing at marriage hard. The next time it's gotta be forever."

2013: Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union Split

The following year, Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade briefly split up due to their demanding careers. Following their reconciliation shortly after, Gabrielle opened up about the challenging decision in conversation with Glamour. "When Dwyane and I broke up briefly in 2013, it was because of distance and scheduling," she explained. "I finished filming [Being Mary Jane], then I flew to Vegas right away to start shooting Think Like a Man Too. I couldn't take time off, and I missed some quality togetherness we desperately needed…Moving forward, I decided my work schedule has to make sense for our family."

During their split, Dwyane Wade had a child with reality TV star Aja Metoyer. In her memoir You Got Anything Stronger?, Gabrielle Union candidly wrote about the challenges she faced upon learning the news—but now, she's a proud stepmom to his son, Xavier, as well as his children from his previous marriage.

December 21, 2013: Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union Announce Their Engagement

Photo: @DwyaneWade | Instagram

Despite their break earlier in the year, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union quickly reconciled—and by the end of 2013, they got engaged! In December, the basketball player took to Instagram to share a close-up photo of Gabrielle Union's engagement ring, an incredible 8.5-carat cushion-cut diamond. "She said YES!!!" he captioned the shot.

On Good Morning America, the bride-to-be shared how the proposal went down, noting that Dwyane's kids were involved. "They were like, 'We wanna do a presentation for you,'" she recalled. "They like to do skits and songs and stuff, so we turn around, and they're like, 'Okay, we're ready!' and I turned back around and all the boys were holding up signs that said, 'Will you marry us?'"

At first, Gabrielle didn't think it was "serious," because the kids often asked their parents to get married. But when she saw Dwyane down on one knee, she knew it was the real deal. "I was like, 'Oh, this is serious! This is a thing! Yes! Of course, yes!'" she said.

August 30, 2014: Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union's Wedding Takes Place

Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade got married on August 30, 2014, in Miami, Florida at Chateau Artisan. The intimate event was a star-studded affair, including guests like John Legend, Ludacris and Kevin Hart. Keep scrolling to see more details from Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union's wedding.

November 7, 2018: Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union's First Child is Born

Photo: @GabUnion | Instagram

After years of experiencing infertility struggles, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union welcomed their first child together, daughter Kaavia James, on November 7, 2018. "A LOVELY DAY 👶🏾👶🏾👶🏾 We are sleepless and delirious but so excited to share that our miracle baby arrived last night via surrogate and 11/7 will forever be etched in our hearts as the most loveliest of all the lovely days," the proud parents wrote on Instagram.

February 2020: Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union Support Their Daughter Zaya

The Wade-Union family was in the spotlight again in 2020 when they supported Dwyane's daughter, Zaya, as she publicly came out as transgender. "Zaya, our 12-year-old, came home and said, 'Hey, so I want to talk to you guys. I think going forward, I'm ready to live my truth. And I want to be referenced as she and her. I'd love for you guys to call me Zaya,'" he revealed during an interview with Ellen DeGeneres.

Gabrielle Union also made a statement supporting their child on Twitter: "Meet Zaya. She's compassionate, loving, whip-smart and we are so proud of her. It's OK to listen to, love & respect your children exactly as they are. Love and light good people."

Because of their advocacy for LGBTQ+ youth, Dwyane Wade and his wife Gabrielle Union were included on Time Magazine's list of 100 Most Influential People in 2020.

Inside Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union's Wedding

Photo: @GabUnion | Instagram

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Photo: Erica Melissa

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union's wedding took place on August 30, 2014 at Chateau Artisan, a grand mansion on an island in Miami, Florida. It was an intimate, star-studded affair, and featured performances by John Legend, Ludacris and Questlove, as well as a speech by Kevin Hart. Gabrielle Union's wedding dress was a timeless sweetheart neckline ballgown embellished with crystals and pearls, designed by Dennis Basso. (To this day, it remains one of our favorite celebrity wedding dresses of all time.) The groom looked dapper in a white tuxedo jacket with black pants.

The couple's wedding photographer, Erica Melissa, reminisced on the big day in a blog post about the nuptials. "As everyone took their seats, their kids began the walk down the extended bridge toward the ruins to await the stunning bride," she wrote. "They laughed and danced. Their joy was absolutely contagious. This was one of my favorite moments."

Photo: @GabUnion | Instagram

The bride walked down the aisle while John Legend serenaded guests with a performance of "You and I." When she arrived at the altar, she kissed each of their children before meeting her groom at the end of the aisle. "As their closest family and friends gave them away, there were a ton of tears, a lot of laughs, but above all love…that's what you could feel as it swept over every person in attendance," the vendor continued.

The night concluded with "candles and wishes and a lot of dancing" as the newlyweds celebrated with their closest friends and family. After the nuptials, Dwyane Wade and his wife embarked on a three-party honeymoon to the Maldives, the Serengeti region in Africa, and the Seychelles islands.

Why They Have a Prenup and Split Finances 50/50

Over the years, Gabrielle Union has been a vocal supporter of prenuptial agreements. In fact, she and Dwyane Wade are one of the most well-known celeb couples who have a prenup. During an appearance on the Arsenio Hall Show in 2014, she opened up about her desire to protect her assets—a decision that was influenced by her previous marriage to NFL player Chris Howard.

"The biggest difference between this and the last marriage will be a prenup—at my insistence," she said. "When you have your own stuff, you don't need to worry about anyone else's stuff. So everyone should go into the relationship knowing, 'I'm here for you and you're here for me.' And the reality is I've never seen Dwyane balance a checkbook, so I gotta protect my stuff. It's the wave of the future."

In 2023, Gabrielle Union shed even more light on their finances during an appearance on the Black Millionaires podcast, confirming that she and her husband split their bills. "In this household, we split everything fifty-fifty," she said. "But in the other households that each of us have to support, there's always this like, gorilla on your back, that's like, 'You better work, b---, you better work. Oh, you're going to sleep in?' You know, somebody might not eat."

She added that the "scarcity mindset" she adopted as an up-and-coming actress shaped the way she views finances. "I think I just have more responsibilities for my money," she continued. "I get nervous like, 'Oh God, that movie didn't open. Am I going to have enough to hold everybody up?'"

How the Couple Built a Strong Relationship Foundation

Photo: Arturo Holmes | FilmMagic

In April 2021, Dwyane Wade and his wife pulled back the curtain on what makes his marriage work in an interview with People. "It's about learning about each other, learning what she wants for her life and for her career and trying to support all those things," he told the outlet.

Gabrielle agreed, saying, "This is both of our second marriages, and we're super transparent about that. We didn't do it right, the first time around. There's another way — to be more collaborative and equitable. We humble ourselves, listen and we meet in the middle."