The recent wedding ceremony involving former glamour model Katie Price and her partner Lee Andrews in Dubai has been revealed as a purely symbolic event with absolutely no legal standing, according to an exclusive investigation by the Daily Mail.
Celebrant Confirms Ceremony Was For Show
The celebrant who conducted the event, Darryl Rees, has confirmed to the Mail that what took place was a performance rather than a legally binding marriage. Rees, a part-time DJ and MC originally from Swansea who has been conducting symbolic weddings in Dubai for five years, stated clearly: "I'm a showman, you have to go to court to have it legalised."
Rees explained that most British couples who opt for such symbolic ceremonies in Dubai's exotic locations typically complete the legal formalities either through a Dubai court or a UK register office either before or after their ceremonial event. It remains unclear whether Price and Andrews have undertaken or plan to undertake these necessary legal steps.
Whirlwind Romance Raises Eyebrows
The speed of this relationship has raised significant concerns among Price's family members, who are reportedly planning an intervention. The mother-of-five announced her engagement to Dubai-based entrepreneur Lee Andrews just days after her breakup from reality star JJ Slater, with whom she had been in a two-year relationship.
Photographs from the ceremony show Price gazing adoringly at Andrews while wearing a skimpy cut-out dress and displaying what appears to be the same diamond engagement ring that Andrews reportedly gave to his ex-wife just four months earlier.
Ceremony Details Emerge
The event took place in the grounds of the luxurious One and Only Royal Mirage hotel on Dubai's famous Palm Jumeirah island, where rooms cost approximately £600 per night. The couple exchanged vows while standing in beautiful gardens by the shores of the Persian Gulf, surrounded by rose petals, with celebrant Darryl Rees reading from an iPad.
Rees described the couple's dynamic during the ceremony: "From my point of view, they seemed like a lovely couple. They appeared very much smitten by each other. When I was speaking to Lee initially, he was clearly head over heels for Katie and very excited to marry the girl."
He added: "They were both looking into each other's eyes the whole time when I was doing the reading, never looked away, just transfixed like any couple would be, madly in love."
Understanding Symbolic Weddings in Dubai
Leading Dubai wedding expert Rhiannon Downie-Hurst, founder of Bride Club ME, explained the common practice of symbolic ceremonies in the region: "In Dubai and the wider UAE, there is a clear distinction between a legal marriage and a ceremonial or symbolic wedding celebration."
She continued: "Many couples legally marry in their home country, via their embassy, courts or religious institutions, and then hold a symbolic wedding ceremony in Dubai at a later date. This is extremely common."
While recent legal reforms have made civil marriages more accessible in several emirates, the process still requires formal applications, identity checks, supporting documentation and legal approvals. For UK nationals, this typically involves official attestation of divorce paperwork and other documents that usually need preparation in advance.
Family Concerns and Rapid Developments
Sources close to Price's family have expressed deep concern about the rapid progression of this relationship. One insider told The Sun: "Everyone is worried she's spinning out of control. They haven't even met this man and if she's only known him a week, he could be anyone."
Adding to the whirlwind nature of events, Andrews has shared on Instagram that Price has changed her surname to Katie P Andrews. The celebrations reportedly continued with claims that Andrews has purchased a £180,000 Ferrari for his new partner.
This development follows Monday's Daily Mail revelation that Andrews' LinkedIn CV contained several questionable claims, including assertions about being a multi-millionaire and having advised both the Labour Party and the King's Trust.
Katie Price's representative declined to comment when contacted by the Daily Mail regarding these latest developments.
