Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro discusses her plans for matrimony with Boris Becker
Until the very last moment, the secret wedding of tennis legend Boris Becker and financial analyst Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro remained undisclosed. More than the location, which was set to be the picturesque Italian town of Portofino, the 85 guests were oblivious. But now, the bride has chosen to disclose details.
Boris Becker, the former tennis champion, tied the knot again on a Saturday, this time to risk analyst Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro, in the quaint Italian fishing village of Portofino. Vogue has published the wedding photographs, highlighting an affair shrouded in complete secrecy.
The 85 attendees remained in the dark until the very end, even about the venue of the ceremony. They were transported in Porsche shuttles, with blindfolds, to the wedding venue. As reported by Bild, guests even had to cover their phone cameras to prevent any leaks of information.
Two days prior to the big day, the bride opened up to Vogue about their choice of wedding location. Originally, she had considered Rome, her hometown, but the couple preferred a location that felt like home, reminding them of their shared life. Venice, Lake Como, and Portofino were considered.
Their decision was swift, made during a visit in February this year. De Carvalho Monteiro recounted: "As soon as we arrived and stepped into the location, I had a vision of our wedding. Boris and I looked at each other, and we knew this was where we would celebrate our big day."
Wedding dress inspired by Magritte's art
The couple opted for a do-it-yourself approach, forgoing a wedding planner. "I organized everything myself, assisted by Boris and our assistant," explained de Carvalho Monteiro. The 'Dolce Vita' theme served as inspiration for the wedding. The dress, long, white, strapless, and form-fitting, was made of layered chiffon and featured a very long veil. It was a collaboration with Andrea Ravieli, inspired by René Magritte's painting "The Lovers". The painting symbolized "trust, even when you can't see each other," as de Carvalho Monteiro put it.
The photographs show de Carvalho Monteiro wore a white-and-black polka-dot dress for the rehearsal dinner the previous day. For the wedding party, she donned a white ensemble with a white blazer, matching her husband's attire. The wedding cake was a four-tiered cream cake, embellished with roses, and numerous roses adorned the long dining table.
For her, marriage signifies "committing to caring for each other, trusting each other, and staying together," explained de Carvalho Monteiro. Even the challenging periods, including Becker's conviction and imprisonment, seem to have brought the couple closer, as she stated in the interview: "To be honest, I believe we strengthened our marriage a few years ago when we faced certain challenges together."
Marriage: An investment
From the perspective of a risk analyst, de Carvalho Monteiro highlights her view on marriage: "You have to invest in it and work on it every day. It's a decision you make every day. You can't just give up when it gets difficult. It's hard work, and I've realized that. I believe we both have."
Boris Becker is on his third marriage: He was married to Barbara Becker from 1993 to 2001 and has two sons, Noah and Elias Becker, who are 30 and 25 years old respectively. In 2009, he married his then-girlfriend Lilly Becker, and they had a son, Amadeus, now 14 years old. Boris Becker also has a daughter, Anna Ermakova, with Russian-British model Angela Ermakova. Since 2020, Becker has been in a relationship with Italian Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro. At the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, he announced their engagement.
The wedding photographs revealed an event filled with secrecy, showcasing 'The entertainment' of a star-studded, secretive ceremony. Reflecting on their wedding location, de Carvalho Monteiro shared that they decided upon Portofino after feeling a strong connection to the place, expressing that it felt like their 'home'.
