Vanessa Bryant Honors Kobe on What Would’ve Been Their 24th Wedding Anniversary
Vanessa Bryant is honoring her late husband, NBA Legend Kobe Bryant, with a heartwarming tribute on what would’ve marked their 24th wedding anniversary.
On Thursday (April 18), the mom of four posted a throwback photo of her and Kobe attending the “Rush Hour 2” premiere back in July 2001—just months after they exchanged vows.
In the caption, she wrote simply but powerfully, “#24. #Anniversary ❤️ @kobebryant ⛪️❤️ 4/18/01 🙏🏽,” a subtle nod to both their anniversary and Kobe’s iconic No.24 Lakers jersey.
The couple met in 1999 and got engaged roughly six months later, tying the knot on April 18, 2001, in an intimate ceremony at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Dana Point, California, with just a dozen guests present.
Together, they raised four daughters: Natalia, Bianka, Capri, and Gianna, who tragically passed away alongside her father in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, with seven others. Kobe was 41, and Gianna was 13.
Vanessa’s anniversary tribute comes just days before the fifth anniversary of that heartbreaking loss — and on the heels of her latest effort to keep their legacies alive. On April 15, she announced the upcoming release of “Mamba & Mambacita Forever,” a coffee table book featuring over 100 murals and the powerful stories behind them.
Set for release on August 19, just days ahead of Kobe Bryant Day (8/24), the project aims to showcase the global love that continues to surround the Bryants.
