Tyrese Haliburton and Jade Jones Say “I Do” Just Weeks After Tragic Bachelorette Loss

Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton and his longtime girlfriend, former Iowa State cheerleader Jade Jones, finally made it official on July 21. The couple slipped into a small courthouse ceremony, surrounded by a handful of close friends and family – a modest affair that felt both joyful and profoundly bittersweet.

Jones, 28, posted a simple Instagram carousel to announce the news, captioning it, “it’s (courthouse) official 🍾💍.” She wore a short, white dress with matching heels and a petite bouquet of white blooms, while Haliburton, 26, kept it low‑key in a black t‑shirt and jeans. The photos showed a relaxed vibe – a lot of smiles, a few nervous glances, and an unmistakable sense of relief that the wedding plans were finally moving forward.

What makes the timing especially poignant is the shadow that still looms over the celebration. Less than a month earlier, on June 8, the group’s bachelorette trip to St. Barts took a tragic turn when Jade’s friend Makenzi Kern, 26, suddenly passed away from “health complications.” No exact cause was released, but the loss hit the party hard, and Jade publicly honored Makenzi with a heartfelt Instagram tribute the following day.

In that tribute, Jade wrote, “Kenzi was the funniest, goofiest person I’ve ever met… she lit up every room, especially on a boat.” She went on to say she could imagine no wedding without her friend cheering from the sidelines, and that Makenzi would forever live on in the couple’s memories. Haliburton echoed those feelings on his own Instagram Story, posting, “We will always love and miss you Kenz. Forever thankful for you.”

Even friends of the bride felt the emotion. Jordyn Woods, engaged to Knicks star Karl‑Anthony Towns, commented, “Yayyyy one step closer 🤍,” while also acknowledging the undercurrent of grief that still lingers. The ceremony seemed to serve as both a celebration of love and a quiet tribute to a friend taken too soon.

As the couple embarks on this new chapter, fans and teammates alike are sending good wishes, hoping that the happiness they share will help mend the ache left by Makenzi’s untimely passing. For now, Tyrese and Jade are simply grateful to have each other – and to finally be able to say “I do,” even if the day feels a little different than they’d originally imagined.