Nelly Celebrates 2nd Wedding Anniversary with a Heartfelt Surprise of Hundreds of Roses for Ashanti
Nelly and Ashanti.
Credit :
Nelly/Instagram
NEED TO KNOW
- Nelly surprised Ashanti with a grand floral display to celebrate their second wedding anniversary on December 27.
- The arrangement featured red and pink flowers, numerous bouquets, and romantic candlelight.
- The two Grammy-winning artists first met in 2003, dated for a decade, and rekindled their romance in 2023.
Nelly and Ashanti’s relationship continues to flourish, marked by a romantic gesture that captured the essence of their love.
On December 28, Ashanti shared a video on Instagram showcasing the elaborate surprise orchestrated by Nelly — born Cornell Iral Haynes Jr. — for their anniversary. The couple’s journey began at a press conference during the Grammy Awards in 2003, leading to a decade-long relationship that ended in 2013. They revived their connection in September 2023.
The Instagram clip, seemingly filmed by Nelly, depicts their home transformed by an abundance of flowers, with red and pink arrangements lining a path adorned with rose petals and soft candlelight.
Among the striking visuals, a bouquet of red roses featured a black ribbon stating “Happy ♡ Anniversary” in gold, complemented by a heart-shaped sign made of red roses that read “Mrs. Haynes.” Ashanti appeared in the video, holding a delicate pink bouquet, her joy evident as she took in the stunning surprise.
In the caption, Ashanti expressed her affection: “Living in the moment all day yesterday ( and night 😈🤣) 12/27/25 I love you babe!!! @nelly ❤️🙏🏽👰🏽♀️🤵🏽💍 Thank you @bloomingboxshop 🌷🌺🌸🌹.”
Nelly, 51, and Ashanti, 45, welcomed their son Kareem Kenkaide 17 months ago. Their romantic history has been complex, with Ashanti acknowledging during a VH1 special that it took time for Nelly to obtain her phone number. She recounted that their relationship evolved gradually, with their first public outing noted in a 2005 interview.
Despite managing their connection discreetly for years, the couple surfaced together occasionally. In 2008, Ashanti commented, “Me and Nelly, we’re good friends. We kick it – hang out a lot. The industry is very hard, so it’s good to have fun and lighten it up.” When probed about marriage, she teased, “Oh no. Noooo! No engagement … but definitely in the future. Ha! Ha!”
Ashanti and Nelly in Atlanta in November 2025.
Paras Griffin/Getty
Although breakup rumors surfaced in 2013, the two maintained a positive rapport. Their reunion on the Verzuz stage in 2021 was a delightful surprise for fans, further solidified by public appearances together over the past two years. The couple confirmed their relationship in September 2023, culminating in their wedding on December 27.
