Engaged couple ‘married the Knicks’ among millions at historic parade
Here comes the bride, all dressed in Knicks pride.
After five decades without a ring, both Stephanie Denise, a NYC-area newlywed who tied the knot with her long-time beau, Renny Smith, during the NBA Championship parade Thursday, and the New York Knicks have got their hands on the hardware.
“We married the championship after 53 years — after 53 years of being engaged,” Denise, 61, from Central Islip, and Smith, 65, of Brooklyn, cheered while dressed for their I Do’s downtown.
But the twosome, who’ve only been dating for eight months, exclusively tells The Post that they didn’t actually tie the knot during the parade.
Instead, the New Yorkers unofficially “married” themselves to the Knicks, whom they have long rooted for since the early 1970s.
“I came up with the concept of celebrating the Knicks with our symbolic wedding during the NBA Finals,” Denise explained.
“The Knicks put New York City back on the map this year,” Smith, an executive director of a grassroots advocacy firm, said. “Stephanie came up with the idea and ran it by me. I said, ‘Yes, let’s do it.’
“We love the Knicks and we love one another,” he continued, revealing their plans to officially swap vows before the end of the year, “God willing.”
Theirs was a head-turning spectacle that nearly stole the spotlight from the A-list likes of Jalen Brunson, Karl Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby.
The blushing “bride,” a fashion designer, dazzled in handcrafted, custom wedding attire.
The gown, adorned with royal sequins, featured a mid-thigh slit, an ornate orange and white striped detail along its rollup sleeves and strings of pearls cascading across its back.
Denise finished the look with a flower-crown veil, lace gloves, an eye-catching pair of team-stamped sneakers and a bouquet comprised of orange and blue blooms.
She told The Post the frock took two weeks to complete to perfection.
Her beau stunned in a royal blue gown, adorned with royal sequins, featuring a mid-thigh slit, an ornate orange and white striped detail along its sleeves and strings of pearls cascading across its back.
She and her sweetie were just two in the millions who descended upon Lower Manhattan to revel in the splendor of the Knicks nirvana.
Much like the couple, the Big Apple ballers reached the ultimate dream this week, securing the title of world champions for the first time since 1973.
Denise and her spouse weren’t the only honeys who chose the parade as their big day backdrop. Glittering gals and grooms locked lips for The Post cameras while pounding the pavement alongside drummers and flag dancers.
A separate set of sweethearts, too, posed in their matrimonial best front of digital signage reading, “NYCDOT Go Knicks!! 2026 Champs.
