Mel C 'secretly married' Aussie partner Chris Dingwall in Sydney weeks before lavish English wedding - as her hidden 'something blue' in her dress is revealed

Mel C dazzled guests as she slipped into a backless dress to marry her Australian partner Chris Dingwall during a picturesque countryside wedding in England over the weekend.

But it has now been revealed the pair secretly tied the knot just weeks earlier in Australia.

According to Vogue, the 52-year-old singer and the model legally married in an intimate ceremony in his hometown of Sydney before celebrating with family and friends at Country House Cumbria in England's Lake District on Saturday.

The previously unknown detail emerged as the fashion bible published a look inside the couple's wedding, revealing that the UK celebration was symbolic, rather than their legal ceremony.

One particularly sentimental detail was also unveiled, with Melanie incorporating a special Australian touch into her bridal look.

The Spice Girls star had the words 'Sydney' and '7.6.2026' embroidered in blue into the inside of her custom Victoria Beckham wedding gown as her 'something blue', commemorating the date and place where she and Dingwall officially became husband and wife.

Beckham, who designed the elegant backless gown, admitted she only found out about the Australian wedding plans just days before Mel boarded her flight.

'I was actually having dinner with Melanie and asked her what she was up to,' Beckham told Vogue.

'She very casually told me she was leaving for Australia in two days and getting married!'

While Beckham was unable to attend the English celebration because she was in the United States with husband David Beckham for World Cup commitments, she ensured she still played a major role in her friend's milestone by gifting her the bespoke wedding dress.

The sleek ivory gown featured a dramatic open back and minimalist silhouette, with the hidden blue embroidery stitched inside as a discreet nod to the couple's first wedding in Sydney.

Mel was joined at her England ceremony by Spice Girls bandmates Emma Bunton, Melanie Brown and Geri Halliwell-Horner, while Victoria was the only member absent from the celebrations.

Her 17-year-old daughter Scarlett, whom she shares with former partner Thomas Starr, served as a bridesmaid during the intimate ceremony.

The couple exchanged vows surrounded by close family and friends at the exclusive Country House Cumbria venue, although the idyllic occasion was briefly interrupted when a herd of cows wandered towards the ceremony from a neighbouring paddock.

Guests were momentarily startled before the celebration continued without incident.

Sources previously told the Daily Mail the newlyweds had deliberately opted for a smaller celebration.

'Mel and Chris wanted an understated wedding, she didn't want a big flashy day but something smaller and very classy,' a source said.

'Mel swore she would never get married, having a big do wasn't really for her.

'It is the perfect venue for them, totally out of the way but in the most beautiful place and everyone had the most fantastic time.'

The wedding marks Mel's first marriage and makes her the last Spice Girl to walk down the aisle.

Mel and Dingwall first met in 2023 after matching on the exclusive dating app Raya while she was in London and he was living in Sydney.

Despite the long distance, the singer was preparing for an Australian DJ tour and decided to meet him in person.

The relationship quickly blossomed, with Dingwall becoming the inspiration behind several songs on her recent album Sweat.

Earlier this year, Mel hinted wedding bells could be on the horizon, telling 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.'