Kelsey Williams & Joc Pederson - From Being Old Friends to Becoming Husband and Wife
Kelsey Williams is the wife of Joc Pederson, the professional baseball outfielder, two-time All-Star, and two-time World Series champion. She became famous after she began her relationship with the athlete.
Joc Pederson is a baseball player who started his career in 2010 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and since 2022, he has played with the San Francisco Giants. The Major League Baseball star married his longtime girlfriend, Kelsey Williams, in 2018.
Kelsey Williams, or as she writes on her Instagram bio, Kelsey Pederson, prefers to stay out of the spotlight and has her Instagram set to private. But her husband still shares her photos on his page.
Joc Pederson and Kelsey Williams at the 7th annual Ping Pong 4 Purpose celebrity tournament fundraiser on August 8, 2019, in Los Angeles | Source: Getty Images
Kelsey Williams Is an Athlete like Her Husband
Kelsey was born Kelsey Elizabeth Williams in Raleigh, North Carolina, on July 22, 1993. She is one of the three daughters born to Jeff Williams and Melissa Williams; her sisters are Avery Williams and Marin Williams.
She attended Amador Valley High School, where she played volleyball and was a letter winner four times. As a senior, she was a captain of the school's team and was named East Bay Prep Athlete of the Year.
Kelsey received numerous awards and accolades in high school, including being the four-year honor roll selection, appearing on the Principal's List as a junior and senior, receiving Amador Award for overall impact on the school, and more.
She went on to graduate with a degree in psychology from Duke University. While at university, she also played volleyball as a setter for The Duke volleyball team.
While there is no information on when she graduated, Kelsey volunteered as an assistant coach for the 2015 season at the San Diego State University Aztecs women's volleyball team.
Joc Pederson & Kelsey Williams Started Off as Longtime Friends
Joc and Kelsey were friends but started dating in 2015. Shortly after their relationship began, he texted her, saying he would get married in Santa Barbara because the city's beauty had captivated him.
True to his words, on January 6, 2018, the couple married in the presence of their 250 guests in a lavish winter ceremony at the Villa Sevillano polo field in Santa Barbara.
The couple chose gray letterpress and rose-gold foil invitations for their big day with the K&J logo and circle shape. They also asked their guests to wear creative black tie attires to fit their theme.
Before Joc and Kelsey walked down the aisle, they had seven children lead the ceremony. The children included six flower girls who tossed petals, and one ring bearer who walked the couple's pup, Blue.
After the children, the couple's grandparents, parents, bridesmaids, and groomsmen walked down the aisle; the bride followed with her dad to the sounds of Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love," performed live by John Legend.
Later that year, "American Idol" winner Scott McCreery also used the famous song for his wedding to his longtime girlfriend, Gabi Dugal.
Kelsey wore a Marchesa gown and veil for the main event as she met Joc, who wore a navy-blue Alba tuxedo and matching velvet Salvatore Ferragamo loafers on the wooden platform where they exchanged their personalized vows.
The bride's father, Jeff, officiated the ceremony, and after the couple shared their first official kiss, they walked down the aisle to petals being thrown at them.
Kelsey changed into an Atelier Pronovias dress for their candle-lit reception as she and Joc cut their wedding cake. While they also had a DJ, they had their first dance to Legend's "Surefire."
Before the day was over, the couple planted a tree to signify cultivating a new life together. After the reception, their guests waved sparklers at them as they drove off in a vintage Rolls Royce.
For their fourth anniversary in 2022, Joc took to his Instagram to relive their wedding day. In the caption of his post, he wrote:
"Still get goose bumps … 4 years strong 2 kids 1 dog…let the story continue ❤️ love you."
Kelsey and Joc Pederson Share Two Beautiful Kids: One Boy and One Girl
Kelsey and Joc welcomed their first child, a daughter, Poppy Jett Pederson, in October 2018. The baseball player announced the arrival of his daughter on his Instagram on October 15, 2018.
On September 6, 2020, they welcomed their son, a month before the Dodgers won the 2020 World Series championship victory after beating Tampa Bay Rays. On July 4, 2022, they announced they were expecting their third baby.