Melanie C's Lake District wedding to Chris Dingwall was tinged with sadness as two key people were absent: Victoria Beckham and the groom's mother.
While Geri Halliwell-Horner, Melanie Brown, and Emma Bunton attended, Victoria Beckham was not there, having committed to watching the World Cup final in New York with husband David Beckham.
“Melanie was really upset. She so wanted the whole group to be together again,” a source said. “So although Posh gave her the dress, it just wasn’t the same as her being there.”
Victoria Designed the Dress
Victoria designed Melanie's backless satin and lace wedding gown. Melanie told Vogue, “Victoria wanted to make it much more personal to me. She found some gorgeous vintage lace, and everything was really delicately dyed to the perfect shade. It’s very flattering, open at the back.”
Melanie added that her daughter Scarlett, 17, also had input: “My daughter was at the first fitting, and she wanted a bit more drama in the length. The line from Scarlet has been, ‘It’s my wedding, too!’”
Groom's Mother Passed Away
The wedding took place at a Georgian mansion owned by West End star Ben Forster. Chris's mother Kerry died in late 2024 from Parkinson’s Plus. “It was so sad Chris’s mum could not be there,” a source said. “It really did make a difference on the day – Melanie loves Chris so much and was obviously heartbroken for his sake.”
Chris announced Kerry's death on Instagram in January 2025: “On Boxing Day we lost our Mum, Kerry Dingwall, after a difficult battle with Parkinson’s Plus. She was the most loving, kind, generous and thoughtful person.”
Couple's Romance
Melanie and Chris met on dating app Raya in 2023. He proposed last July in Majorca. “It was beautiful, just the two of us,” Melanie said. “He couldn’t believe I was surprised, but I was floored.”
The couple had a civil ceremony in Sydney days before the UK bash. For that occasion, Melanie wore a dress borrowed from Victoria's wardrobe. Victoria told Vogue, “I happened to have that exact dress in my own wardrobe and offered to lend it to her.”
Melanie described the lace cami dress as “very special”. She added, “There’s just something about her clothes… they have a real simplicity, especially the slip dresses.”
Of Chris, Melanie said, “He’s one of those people that just doesn’t get all up in your business, you know? He’s quietly in the sidelines being uber supportive. And he’s wonderful.”
