Melanie Chisholm, known to millions as Mel C or Sporty Spice, married her model boyfriend Chris Dingwall on Saturday in a private ceremony at the Country House Cumbria in the Lake District.
Geri Halliwell, another of the original Spice Girls, was among the first to arrive at the venue, accompanied by her husband, Christian Horner. Halliwell was seen driving into the picturesque estate, which is co-owned by West End actor Ben Forster, who previously starred with Chisholm in the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar."
Sources indicated that Chisholm and Dingwall desired an intimate and understated wedding, a stark contrast to a large, elaborate celebration. This sentiment aligns with Chisholm's past comments about not expecting to marry again. "Mel and Chris wanted an understated wedding; she didn't want a big flashy day, but something smaller and very classy," a source told the Daily Mail.
The venue, Country House Cumbria, is described as a "perfect setting for an elopement, small, sophisticated wedding." The Victorian hotel, built in 1862, features six rooms and a lawn for celebrations. It was purchased and renovated by Forster and his partner, Paul Longman.
Chisholm, 52, is the final member of the Spice Girls to marry. She met Dingwall, who is reportedly in his 40s, in 2023 on the dating app Raya. Their relationship began after friends encouraged Chisholm to try the app, playfully dubbing the search "boy Bingo."
Despite Dingwall living in Sydney and Chisholm being in London, she took a chance on the relationship. She had an upcoming DJ tour in Australia, which facilitated their first official date in Sydney in November 2023. After arriving early to combat jet lag, Chisholm met Dingwall for dinner that same evening.
Victoria Beckham was invited to the wedding but is currently in the United States for the World Cup. The other Spice Girls, Emma Bunton and Melanie Brown, are also expected to attend the ceremony.