Professional track star, Olympian, and reigning heptathlon world champion Anna Hall and New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton exchanged vows on April 11 at Oheka Castle on Long Island. “I had seen her running on TV, and when she came across the screen, I thought she was pretty, so I followed her on Instagram,” recalls Darius—as one does in this day and age.
Anna “didn’t think anything” of their Instagram mutualdom: “I just figured it was an athlete respecting an athlete kind of thing,” she says. They remained social media acquaintances, although they didn’t engage much; that was until Darius was in New Jersey for physical therapy in 2024. Anna was nearby, running at a track meet in New York. On his day off, Darius popped by without Anna’s knowledge. He sent her a video of one of her jumps and said “Good job!” before he approached her, properly introduced himself, and asked her out to dinner. The two hit it off immediately.
After a little over a year of dating, they were engaged in November of 2025. “I took her back to the same stadium in New York, where we had met, and proposed on the track,” Darius remembers.
“He told me we were going on a date in the city, which we do a lot,” says Anna. “So I didn’t think anything of it, until he told me he was dressing up. Then I was a little suspicious, because he never dresses up! When the car pulled up to Icahn Stadium, instead of a restaurant, that’s when I knew for sure.”
Their wedding took place five months later at Oheka Castle, a historic jewel of a mansion located on Long Island’s Gold Coast. “The planning process was fun,” Darius notes. “As the groom, I just wanted to help bring Anna’s dreams to life, and Oheka allowed for the perfect canvas to make that dream come true.”
“Our schedules are so crazy,” Anna admits. She was in competition season, but they were determined to be married in 2026. Thankfully, the couple’s planner, Courtney Leeder of Courtney Elizabeth Events, and Anna’s mom offered some relief and quick decision-making through a hectic time.
For Anna, the wedding dress search was easy. “Just one week after we got engaged, I was in L.A. to celebrate Thanksgiving with my sister, her family, and my parents,” she remembers. She made three dress appointments, and found her dress at the second one. “I had no idea what I wanted, and I wasn’t sure I was going to want my muscular arms out,” Anna shares candidly. “At first, I was drawn to really intricate lace detail, sewn on pearls, and embellishments—but when I tried my dress on, I just felt like me. Like I was wearing the dress and not the other way around.” Her dress was by Eden Aharon, styled with Manolo Blahnik heels: “I felt confident in my body,” she says. “It still had beautiful embroidery and structure, but without being too distracting.”
Anna also found herself drawn to refined and simple jewelry. “I wanted to subtly elevate my look but not distract from it,” she explains. “I actually brought a few different earrings and two necklace options, and had my sisters and bridesmaids help me pick them on the day.”
For beauty, Anna knew she wanted to feel like herself, and she felt strongly about wearing her hair down. “In sports, which is 95% of my life, I always have it up, so having it down felt so fun and feminine,” she says. “For makeup, I wanted to be as natural as possible. I wanted my skin to still look like skin and to look like me.”
Darius opted for a classic look, with a custom tux by his “go-to suit lady” Johanna at Alba Legacy, who has dressed him for several events over the years.
The ceremony began with a hymn sung by Darius’s favorite gospel singer, Jekalyn Carr. “Guests were invited to stand and sing along with her and us,” he recalls. “It was a really powerful way to open the ceremony.” Following the hymn, the couple’s officiant and friend Andre Levrone reflected on the importance of marriage. “He involved the guests by asking them if they promised to speak life into us, encourage us, and build our marriage up, to which the crowd responded, ‘We do!’” Anna says. “That was so special for Darius and I to hear and know that every person in attendance was a part of our village as we took the next step.”
The couple exchanged personal vows, traditional vows, and rings. Their immediate families were invited up to the altar to hold hands with them and pray over them, and Jekalyn sang “The Blessing,” which is a prayer over future generations. “That was a tearful and powerful moment with our families,” Anna says. Everyone took their seats again to see Andre pronounce them husband and wife. “We had our first kiss and smiled the whole way back up the aisle.”
“During the ceremony, I felt a little bit of nerves,” Darius admits. “But at the same time, standing up there with your person brings an almost ethereal peace.”
After the ceremony, everyone headed back into the castle library, and the newlyweds shared a little time alone. “We got to take the moment in and hug each other,” Anna says. A table was set with two of each cocktail hour appetizer and their signature drinks: a Shirley Temple and Strawberry Lemonade. Pictures were taken in the lush garden, and they enjoyed building up their energy together before rejoining everyone for the reception.
It was important to the couple that they weaved personal touches through their wedding reception, like with their seating chart and “love wall.” As Anna explains, “We gathered the wedding photos of every married guest attending and framed them on a wall. I tried to find as many as I could on social media so it would be a surprise! The best part of the wedding planning was finding small ways like that to honor our loved ones.”
“Looking back now, it truly feels like a dream,” Darius affirms. “It is hard to believe something like that was real, but it was, and it feels incredible to know that I was a part of something so special before God and family.”
Photo: Magi Fisher
“Our invitation suites. So fun working on these with my mom.” —Anna
Photo: Magi Fisher
“Moments before changing into my dress. I felt so excited and beautiful.” —Anna
Photo: Magi Fisher
“Our rings on our vow books. Darius’s ring has emerald cut diamonds around it to match mine!” —Anna
Photo: Magi Fisher
“Into my dress with my mom and sisters. So happy I loved it just as much as I remembered.” —Anna
Photo: Magi Fisher
“First look with my best friends. Truly the most supportive group of friends a girl could ask for!” —Anna
Photo: Magi Fisher
“Seeing my dad for the first time. We have a special bond so this moment was very sweet.” —Anna
Photo: Magi Fisher
“Me and my three sisters. My biggest blessing.” —Anna
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“Playing spades with my groomsmen.” —Darius
Photo: Magi Fisher
“Had my tux on and was finally starting to feel like gameday.” —Darius
Photo: Magi Fisher
“Shared a few kisses after our first look. Feeling like the luckiest guy in the world.” —Darius
Photo: Magi Fisher
“It was so nice to walk the castle grounds together. Seeing him calmed any nerves.” —Anna
Photo: Magi Fisher
“Felt like we were on a date.” —Anna
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“Thinking about showing our future children these photos.” —Darius
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“Leaving the hidden pool house to go see our families upstairs.” —Darius
Photo: Magi Fisher
“Us.” —Anna
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“Darius helping me get my heel unstuck from my dress.” —Anna
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“Finally getting to have all our family see us together.” —Anna
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“My precious nieces and flowergirls!” —Anna
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“Sisters and baby niece time, my heart was so full.” —Anna
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“Hangin’ with the bros.” —Darius
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“Talking our album pic.” —Darius
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“Showing off my bride.” —Darius
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“Happy moments.” —Anna
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“The view from the garden.” —Anna
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“This garden is what made us fall inlove with the venue.” —Anna
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“The ceremony design was exactly what I dreamed of.” —Anna
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“Loved these comfy garden chairs.” —Anna
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“Watching my bride walk down the aisle to me.” —Darius
Photo: Magi Fisher
“I felt instantly shy when the doors opened but just kept looking at Darius.” —Anna
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“Still my dad’s little girl.” —Anna
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“Hugged my future in-laws and took Anna’s hand.” —Darius
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“Such a clear beautiful day. We prayed so much about the weather and thankfully the sky was clear and it wasn’t too cold.” —Anna
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“I was just so at peace up there with him.” —Anna
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“I was so happy he cried.” —Anna
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“Darius wiping away my tears.” —Anna
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“Our first kiss!” —Anna
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“That’s my husbanddd.” —Anna
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“Felt like a fairytale.” —Anna
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“Pure bliss.” —Anna
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“He is soo handsome.” —Anna
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“Should we trademark that?” —Anna
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“My garden bouquet, I loved it.” —Anna
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“Cocktail hour tasting for us. Had 2 lamb chops and a Shirley Temple post ceremony.” —Anna
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“My man my man my man.” —Anna
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“Luckiest girl in the world.” —Anna
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“Finding humor in the little moments together.” —Darius
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“Celebrating starting our new life together.” —Darius
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“I jump into his arms at least once a day so it only felt right.” —Anna
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“Repping my new name.” —Anna
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“Pure happiness on our way to celebrate with our people.” —Anna
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“The bride looking elegant.” —Darius
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“Our raspberry and red velvet cake.” —Anna
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“Listening to our families tell slightly embarrassing stories.” —Anna
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“Darius and I with my mentor, the icon and goat, Jackie Joyner-Kersee.” —Anna
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“Fit change! I loved how I felt in this dress.” —Anna
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“Always excited to dive into dessert.” —Anna
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“His hands always steadying mine.” —Anna
Photo: Magi Fisher
“Dancing the night away with our people.” —Anna
“Working on Anna’s dougie.” —Darius
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