All that dancing finally paid off… Laila Ali waltzed her way through a picture perfect wedding to retired NFL star Curtis Conway in L.A. last night.
According to news reports, the boxing champ and former “Dancing with the Stars” contestant said “I do” in front of 200 guests, including her famous father, Muhammad Ali. The bridal party was reportedly a family affair with Laila’s sister serving as a bridesmaid and Conway’s 12-year-old twin sons acting as ring bearers while his 8-year-old daughter served as the flower girl.
Regular “Dancing” fans heard a lot about the preparations being made for the big day from Ali while she competed on the show this past spring. And staying true to form (no frou-frou gowns for her), the 29-year-old bride glided down the aisle wearing a form fitting champagne-colored silk charmeuse strapless mermaid gown by Amy Michelson.
Ali and her new husband met two years ago when Conway hosted a party at his home. He then popped the question last Thanksgiving.
While Ali and pals twirled their way around the dance floor a slew of A-list stars partied like it was 1999 in another part of town. The festivities had nothing to do with a wedding, but rather with the arrival of David and Victoria Beckham to Los Angeles.
I told you about the big shindig in previous blogs, but I couldn’t help but once again wonder how it is that these British imports can attract more stars to a Sunday night welcome party than a major motion film premiere?
Along with superstar duos Tom and Katie Cruise and Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith (who hosted the party) other guests included Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, Brooke Shields, Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy, Bruce Willis, Eva Longoria (minus new hubby Tony Parker), Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Quincy Jones.
Cruise even flew in for the weekend from Germany where he’s shooting a new movie just so he could hit the dance floor with his British buddies.
Maybe their invite got lost in the mail… or perhaps they were simply too exhausted from hosting their own shindig. Either way, about-to-pop actress Naomi Watts and her boyfriend Live Schreiber hosted their own baby shower this weekend. (A new twist in baby showers?)
The actress is expecting the couple’s first child any day (any hour) now, but still mustered up enough energy to host 15 guests, including actresses Kate Hudson and Carla Gugino. And, yes, Schreiber did stick around for the festivities. According to sources, the 39-year-old father-to-be was the only male guest at the shower.