Melanie Chisholm, widely known as Sporty Spice, married Australian model Chris Dingwall on Saturday in the Lake District. The ceremony took place at Country House Cumbria, a venue described as a picturesque setting for intimate weddings.
Chisholm, 52, wore a floor-length white gown designed by her friend Victoria Beckham, who was unable to attend but sent the dress as a gift. The bride carried a bouquet of wildflowers. Her daughter Scarlett, 17, served as a bridesmaid.
Spice Girls bandmates Emma Bunton, Melanie Brown, and Geri Halliwell-Horner were present. Halliwell-Horner was seen arriving with her husband, Christian Horner. While Beckham could not be there due to commitments in the U.S., a source noted that she and Chisholm are close.
Despite a brief interruption when a herd of cows from a nearby farm approached the venue during the vows, guests described the ceremony as "perfect." The couple had reportedly desired an "understated" and "classy" wedding, a sentiment Chisholm had previously expressed, having once sworn off marriage.
Chisholm met Dingwall in 2023 via the dating app Raya. She had previously expressed that she did not expect marriage to be part of her future after previous relationships. In January, she told The Times, "It's something I didn't think would be part of my story, but I'm so happy with Chris. Maybe it is something that will be in my life." She also mentioned that elements of her album "Sweat" were inspired by her new relationship, describing her boyfriend as "laid-back" and fun, with whom they share similar lifestyles.
Chisholm has spoken openly about her past struggles with depression and loneliness during her time in the Spice Girls. In her 2022 memoir, she detailed her diagnosis and how feeling alone contributed to her mental health challenges, especially when other band members were in established relationships. She noted that the period was different regarding mental health support, and she continued touring and promoting her solo work while dealing with her struggles.
Earlier romances for Chisholm included a brief relationship with Robbie Williams in 1997 and a four-month relationship with J Brown from the band 5ive in 2000, with whom she remains friends.