Melanie Chisholm, widely known as Sporty Spice, is set to marry her Australian model boyfriend, Chris Dingwall, on Saturday afternoon. The ceremony will take place at Country House Cumbria, a venue located in the Lake District and owned by West End actor Ben Forster, who previously starred alongside Chisholm in the 2013 rock musical "Jesus Christ Superstar."
The couple reportedly desired an intimate wedding, with former Spice Girls bandmates Emma Bunton, Melanie Brown, and Geri Halliwell-Horner expected to attend. Victoria Beckham, currently in the U.S. for the World Cup, was invited but will not be present.
A source told the Daily Mail that Chisholm and Dingwall wanted an "understated wedding," describing it as a "smaller and very classy" affair, a sentiment that aligns with Chisholm's past statements about not favoring large celebrations. The venue, described as "totally out of the way but in the most beautiful place," is a Georgian hotel with six rooms and a lawn for celebrations.
Chisholm, 52, is the final member of the Spice Girls to marry. She met Dingwall, believed to be in his 40s, in 2023 via the dating app Raya. Despite previously thinking she was done with romance after her split from long-term partner Thomas Starr, with whom she shares her 17-year-old daughter Scarlett, friends encouraged her to try the app.
Chisholm matched with Dingwall when she was in London and he was based in Sydney. She decided to pursue the relationship, coinciding with an upcoming DJ tour in Australia. Their first official date reportedly occurred in Sydney on November 23, 2023, with Chisholm staying awake all day to combat jet lag before their dinner meeting.
