Professional soccer player Hany Mukhtar met Ashley Gowder in Nashville through mutual friends. He proposed on a trip to the Florida Keys in March 2022, surprising Ashley as they sailed at scenic Key Largo. Later that year, following an incredible season, Hany was named MVP for Major League Soccer and won the Golden Boot for scoring the most goals in the league.

They married in March 2023 at Geodis Park, home stadium of Hany’s Nashville Soccer Club. “With the field as our blank canvas,” said Ashley, “we brought our vision to life, creating a truly unforgettable atmosphere in the city that brought us together.” Hosting fewer than 100 guests, the bride said the day was “a private, stress-free wedding, [spent] enjoying the company of our families and close friends, many of whom had traveled from overseas. It was magical to see our cultures collide and to share such an intimate moment together.”

They kicked off the wedding day’s festivities with a pickleball tournament and brunch at the stadium. “We had a custom pickleball arena built,” said the bride. Puma supplied matching tracksuits and sneakers to complete the look. Afterwards, Hany and Ashley went their separate ways, getting ready in their own separate locker rooms.

Ashley wore a one-of-a-kind gown by Olia Zavozina — uniquely designed for the bride’s personality and aesthetic — paired with Christian Louboutin shoes. “Honestly, I could have married Hany in sweatpants and been the happiest girl in the world,” she said. Hany sported a Baynes + Baker tuxedo with Giuseppe Zanotti shoes. He surprised Ashley, opening his tuxedo jacket to reveal its custom lining, adorned with photos of their journey together. 

Echoes of Eden Florals created the bride’s bouquet and all the florals. According to Ashley, the couple looked to soften the space by bringing a “fresh, garden feel inside the industrial stadium.” White Door Events decorated the venue, and Amy and I helped coordinate. Guests enjoyed a seated five-course dinner, then enjoyed cake and sang “Happy Birthday” to Hany.

During the 2022 off-season, the couple began their pre-wedding journey in Istanbul, traveled to Dubai and London, then continued to Munich and Hamburg. They concluded their journey with a visit to Hany’s hometown of Berlin where they caught up with family. Parents are Lisa and Brett Gowder of Woodstock, Georgia, and Ursula and Abubakr Mukhtar of Berlin, Germany.