Olympic Gold Medalist Simone Manuel Marries Denzel Franklin in Two Weddings: See the Photos! (Exclusive)

Manuel and Franklin, who got engaged in July 2022, first met as freshmen at Stanford University in 2014

Simone Manuel said "I do" twice!

The professional swimmer — who won two gold medals at the 2016 Olympics — tied the knot with longtime love Denzel Franklin in two wedding celebrations. On November 4, 2022, the pair had an intimate sunset ceremony at First Water TrailHead in Maricopa County, Arizona. One year later, they hosted a second "an epic celebration" at The Westin Galleria Houston on Nov. 4. 2023.

"Denzel and I exchanged our own written vows in front of our parents and my grandmother," Manuel tells PEOPLE of the couple's ceremony last year. "We decided to have a small elopement to start our journey and life together as a married couple after moving to Arizona. We opted for an adventure elopement package with Let's Knot and Say We Did, and the experience couldn't have been more romantic, intimate, and special, as we celebrated our love against the beautiful Arizona scenery."

Fresh off their second wedding last month. Manuel, 27, tells PEOPLE the couple's special day "was everything we had dreamed about and hoped for and then some."

"I participated in the wedding planning, but there were so many surprises that Denzel and I didn't know about," she adds.

She and Franklin chose to stage their second nuptials in her hometown of Houston because it's centrally located, making travel easier for their more than 200 guests. Having their loved ones by their side for the occasion was a priority for the couple, who first met in 2014 at a new student orientation as they began their freshman year at Stanford University.

"We wanted a wedding that had nods to our personality as people and a couple. Entertainment, good food and drinks were important to us, but most importantly bringing both sides of our family and friends in one space to have fellowship with one another," she says, noting that the event was "black tie but with a relaxed vibe."

The festivities kicked off on the eve of the wedding with a "Boots and Bling" Texas-themed welcome barbecue for all of their guests. The couple's family members pitched in to cook, making it a fun, casual affair.

"People got to laugh, meet, get to know each other and have a good time. It was a very intimate dinner," Manuel recalls.

On the big day, which was planned by The Wedding Planning RN, the athlete and Franklin exchanged traditional vows in a ceremony officiated by Manuel's childhood pastor from The Church Without Walls, Ralph Douglas West Sr.

The bride walked down the aisle in a Vivienne Atelier lace-embellished dress that she had altered to be strapless. "I felt beautiful in the dress even without makeup on or my hair done nicely, and I surprisingly loved the elegant look of the lace, even though I didn’t think I would wear a lace wedding dress," Manuel says of the design, which also had a sweetheart neckline and sheer skirt.

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For the reception, Manuel changed into Retrofête's Evalina dress, which featured a corset bodice, miniskirt and removable flowing train. She added a little glitz to the look with custom rhinestone trim around the hem and a rhinestone belt. In a fun touch, she paired the dress with white Nike Air Force 1 sneakers which her mother bedazzled with silver jewels for the occasion.

"I wanted my second look to still be bridal but also fun so that I could dance the night away and be comfortable," Manuel says. "The high-low dress had the drama I was looking for with a long train, and the removable skirt allowed me to wear the dress short as we got later into the wedding festivities."

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The reception kicked off with a cocktail hour, as well as hors d'oeuvres including crab cakes, bruschetta and buffalo chicken spring rolls. Dinner was served buffet-style, with a menu featuring lobster bisque, cold penne pasta salad, a sliced fruit display, a roasted garlic mashed potato bar, marinated chicken breast, and porcini-crusted beef tenderloin.

For dessert, guests enjoyed slices of the wedding cake, made by Perfect Petit-Fours. The white almond confection featured buttercream icing and layers of pineapple and strawberry filling.

To bring to life the couple's vision of a "rustic elegance" aesthetic, the reception space by Decor2Remember was filled with lush greenery, flowers and wood accents. The color scheme focused on emerald green and navy blue in a nod to Manuel and Franklin's respective birthstones — peridot and blue sapphire — as well as touches of ivory and gold.

The newlyweds took their first spin on the dance floor as husband and wife to Kenny Lattimore's 1997 hit "For You." In addition to a music by Hustlers Brass Band, DCook Artistry ballet dancers performed during the evening while Signature Eventx provided music, DJ, and the emcee for wedding and reception.

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Manuel and Franklin got engaged in July 2022 during an outing to Pigeon Point Beach and Lighthouse in California. They brought along their Polaroid camera to snap pictures of the scenery.

"As sunset approached, Denzel got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife," Manuel recounts. "It was very intimate, natural and private, and I couldn't ask for a better proposal."

Manuel shared her engagement news on Instagram at the time, writing, "Major changes outside the pool as well… ~ 7.3.22 ~ Easiest and quickest 'YES'!"

She added, "Nothing tops being able to experience life's blessings and challenges with your best friend. So excited to continue this journey called life with you!"

Now, as she settles into married life, the Olympian says she is excited to do life with Franklin by her side.

For her, being married is all about "keeping the promises that you vowed to never break, spending your lifetime with your best friend, and building a future with someone you love and deeply care about."

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Read the original article on People.