Carli Lloyd & Her Husband Spent Nearly 15 Years in a Long-Distance Relationship

Carli Lloyd and her husband, Brian Hollins, were high school sweethearts who saw their relationship stand the test of time despite their demanding professional careers as athletes.

While little is known about Hollins, the pro-golfer has not shied away from singing his wife's praises about her determination and athletic gifts as a well-known female sports player.

He has been by her side while her career took her all around America and watched her compete at the Olympics before they became husband and wife at a perfect beach wedding.

Who Is Brian Hollins?

Hollins is a professional golf player who grew up in Delran, New Jersey. While his future wife lived on one side of Vermes Field, he lived on the other. Before becoming an assistant golf pro, he worked as a teaching and assistant professional at the Willow Brooke Country Club.

He comes from a family of golf lovers as well, and in 2015 he won the OMEGA Player of the Year award and the PAO Player of the Year award after competing in tournaments from as far back as 2009.

Golf also played a role in his relationship with Lloyd, as the pro golfer explained Lloyd's first attempt at the sport was one of his favorite stories to tell about his wife.

During his annual family trip to a campground on a lake in Raystown, Pennsylvania, Hollins was in senior year when he brought Lloyd along. On a grassy bank, Hollins and his family were teeing up golf balls and driving them across the lake.

Still wet from a swim, his wife was dressed in a bikini and insisted she could nail the 350-yard drive across the lake and make it to the other side. Through laughter, Hollins shared:

"She just launches it–it sinks to the bottom of the lake, and we never find it again. She was mortified. Which I thought was pretty hilarious. But that's typical Carli. She always thinks she can do it. She is so determined."

The Couple Was in a Long-Distance Relationship for Nearly 15 Years

As they did not live far from each other, Hollins recalled seeing his wife around and playing soccer when they were younger, and she was the most competitive person he knew.

Hollins also played soccer in high school, and when his wife was not playing club or country soccer, the couple enjoyed going toe-to-toe in friendly neighborhood games that often turned competitive. Hollins' wife said:

"He laughs because he says I always go in harder against him, and I'm like, 'No, you always go harder against me.' It gets heated. We'll lay each other out. You know, it's fun; we get to banter. We get to be outside the relationship lovey-dove type of thing and go battle."

As Lloyd played for clubs around the country, Hollins and his wife had a long-distance relationship for nearly 15 years he popped the question and surprised Lloyd with a cushion-cut engagement ring set on a triple-shank diamond band.

The couple decided to hold off on their wedding until after the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where Lloyd competed with the United States Women's National Team after she was named 2015 FIFA Women's Player of the Year.

Their decision to hold off their wedding gave Lloyd the time to focus solely on her game. However, Hollins and his wife's family were not with her during the international sporting event, as she explained:

"When you go solo, it's so much easier to focus – and Brian and my family understand that."

Hollins grew up watching his wife play soccer and knew how gifted she was with a ball at his feet. So he was fine watching her play in front of the world at a local bar in New Jersey.

Carli Visited Fashion Shows to Find That Particular Dress

In preparation for her 2016 wedding, Lloyd attended William Christopher's Bridal Fashion Week on the hunt for the perfect dress. She viewed his 2016 Fall collection and loved the "spectacular and unique" dresses.

It was her first bridal show, and as she and Hollins chose a beach wedding, the bride-to-be was set on wearing lace on her big day.

Lloyd was the opposite of a bridezilla; as long as her dress, hair, and makeup were beautiful and her guests had a good time, she had a relaxed approach to details such as wedding invitations. She added:

"Lots of people say it's so stressful– this is a fun part! To be able to plan, to be able to buy things. Just enjoy it because it's gonna go by fast, and it'll be over in the blink of an eye."

Cali and Brian Tied the Knot in Mexico

Hollins and Lloyd tied the knot on Friday, November 4, in Puerto Morelos, Mexico. Their 75 guests consisted of their closest friends and family members as the intimate, beachside ceremony took place along the picturesque Mayan Riviera.

Lloyd wore a strapless couture bridal gown from Matthew Christopher's fall 2016 collection while her five bridesmaids stood by her side in Amsale dresses from Bella Bridesmaids.

Hollins wore a silver/blue tux with a white button-up and pink tie. Before the big day, Hollins and his wife hired a photographer to capture shots of them before the serene seaside and setting sun.

They Are in Love Even Decades Later

Like Billy Joel, Hollins' wife took to social media to celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary with a black-and-white picture of the couple. In a heartfelt caption dedicated to him, his wife wrote:

"You are my rock, my biggest supporter, my best friend, and your biggest competitor in sports."

In November 2020, Lloyd reflected on the year as it drew to a close and shared that while it had been a challenging year, it had been their most special anniversary yet.

The olympian also honored their sixth wedding anniversary on Instagram. While she declared her love for Hollins, Lloy also shared that the couple had stood by each other's side despite the ups and downs of their 22 years of marriage.