When 2 Become 1: Mel C, 52, marries model Chris Dingwall in a 'perfect' Lake District wedding surrounded by her Spice Girls bandmates - and with a cheeky nod to her Sporty roots

Melanie C married model Chris Dingwall in a 'perfect' Lake District wedding in the grounds of The Country House Cumbria on Saturday. The star has always championed girl power, and proved that bond is stronger than ever when she posed alongside three of her beloved Spice Girls in a wedding portrait published by Vogue.The singer, 52, looked every inch the radiant bride in a sleek white gown designed by fellow Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, also 52, as she and Chris said, 'I do'.Standing proudly at the centre of the photograph, Melanie beamed as she was joined by fellow Spice Girls, Mel B, 51, Geri Halliwell, 52, and Emma Bunton, 50, who all brought plenty of glamour to the celebrations in an array of pastel outfits. Despite being in New York, Victoria's influence on her best friend's wedding was unmistakable, with Melanie's effortlessly elegant dress featuring the clean lines and understated tailoring that have become synonymous with the designer's luxury fashion label. Melanie kept her accessories simple, carrying a delicate bouquet of white flowers while letting the gown take centre stage. Melanie C married model Chris Dingwall in a 'perfect' Lake District wedding in the grounds of The Country House Cumbria on Saturday The star has always championed girl power, and proved that bond is stronger than ever when she posed alongside three of her beloved Spice Girls in a wedding portrait published by Vogue (Mel B, Melanie C, Geri and Emma pictured L-R) Melanie met Chris, thought to be in his 40s, in 2023 on the exclusive dating app, RayaThe singer, 52, looked every inch the radiant bride in a sleek white gown designed by fellow Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, also 52, as she and Chris said, 'I do'Her glamorous guests complemented the bridal look perfectly, with Mel B opting for a shimmering champagne bodycon dress, Geri wearing a romantic floral gown, while Emma chose a statement pink checked Vivienne Westwood trouser suit.In a host of photos released by Vogue, Melanie was seen getting her dress fitted, and walking hand in hand with her new husband Chris. Melanie told Vogue: 'The spark was immediate,’ she said. 'I was 49 when I met Chris and I was in a really good place. We had a date in Australia, and it’s been difficult to separate us ever since.'He’s been such a beautiful addition to mine and my daughter’s life. Because, you know, I’m a single mum. My daughter is 17, and we’re pretty resilient the two of us, we’re a team. For anybody coming into our world… it was going to be tough, and he just fits perfectly. It’s a beautiful dynamic.’Melanie met Chris, thought to be in his 40s, in 2023 on the exclusive dating app, Raya.She admitted she originally thought she was finished with romance following her split from previous long-term partners, including Thomas Starr.But during a night out at the pub, her friends convinced her to download the app, turning the search for a partner into a game they jokingly dubbed 'boy Bingo'.The couple first had a legal ceremony in Australia and one particularly sentimental detail was also unveiled, with Melanie incorporating a special Australian touch into her sleek ivory gown, which featured a dramatic open back and minimalist silhouette.The Spice Girl had the words 'Sydney' and '7.6.2026' embroidered in blue into the inside of her custom-made Victoria Beckham wedding gown as her 'something blue', commemorating the date and place where she and Dingwall officially became husband and wife.Melanie also revealed her 'something borrowed' for the Sydney ceremony, came from the wardrobe of none other than her friend and fellow Spice Girl, fashion designer Victoria Beckham.Speaking in the Vogue feature, Victoria said: 'I was actually having dinner with Melanie and asked her what she was up to.'She very casually told me she was leaving for Australia in two days and getting married! When I asked what she was wearing, she mentioned she had actually ordered one of my dresses but that it didn’t quite fit, and she didn’t have time to get it altered before leaving.'I happened to have that exact dress in my own wardrobe and offered to lend it to her.’ Melanie kept her accessories simple, carrying a delicate bouquet of white flowers while letting the gown take centre stage Melanie told Vogue: 'The spark was immediate. I was 49 when I met Chris and I was in a really good place. We had a date in Australia, and it’s been difficult to separate us ever since' Despite being in New York, Victoria's influence on her best friend's wedding was unmistakable, with Melanie's effortlessly elegant dress featuring the clean lines and understated tailoring that have become synonymous with the designer's luxury fashion label The couple first had a legal ceremony in Australia and one particularly sentimental detail was also unveiled, with Melanie incorporating a special Australian touch into her sleek ivory gown, which featured a dramatic open back and minimalist silhouetteThe Spice Girl had the words 'Sydney' and '7.6.2026' embroidered in blue into the inside of her custom-made Victoria Beckham wedding gown as her 'something blue' Melanie and Chris wanted an understated wedding, she didn't want a big flashy day but something smaller and very classy Nestled in the picturesque Cumbrian countryside, the Country House Cumbria claims to be the 'perfect setting for an elopement, small, sophisticated wedding', which Melanie is said to have been keen to have Insiders also revealed that the reception at the venue, in Castle Carrock on the edge of the Pennines, went on until the early hours of Sunday Melanie recently opened up about her future with Chris – and whether wedding bells could be in their plans Mel flashed her inked skin in her elegant wedding gownThe friends then explained how after Victoria knew she was getting married later in the UK in Cumbria, she offered to make her a dress for the ceremony.Melanie said: 'Victoria was so excited about being able to do this for me, and having her and Scarlet there [when she was trying on her dress in London]… every step of the way has been very special. Plus, I just love her clothes.'A source told the Mail on Sunday: '[The dress] was a gift from Victoria; they are really close. Victoria would have loved to have been there if she could.Melanie and Chris wanted an understated wedding, she didn't want a big flashy day but something smaller and very classy. 'Melanie 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.'Victoria couldn't be there but she loves Melanie, and she will have made sure that she sent a beautiful present.'Nestled in the picturesque Cumbrian countryside, the Country House Cumbria claims to be the 'perfect setting for an elopement, small, sophisticated wedding', which Melanie is said to have been keen to have.It is co-owned by West End actor Ben Forster, who starred alongside her in the stage production of the rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar in 2013, and his property developer partner Paul Longman.Guests said that it was a 'perfect' ceremony, where Melanie's daughter Scarlett, 17, from her relationship with property developer Thomas Starr, acted as a bridesmaid. However, there was a slight hiccup when a herd of cows from a nearby farm ran towards the Victorian venue while the singer and Chris were saying their vows. Guests looked alarmed when they saw the animals. Melanie's big day included a cheeky nod to her Sporty roots as she also wore some custom Adidas both in the morning and the evening. She wore a custom Adidas robe to get ready for the ceremony, made from ivory silk with white silk stripes. The look was completed with custom white and gold sliders featuring the wedding date in gold on the side.After the meal, Melanie changed into another custom Adidas look — an elevated interpretation of a tracksuit, with high-waisted, wide-legged trousers and a cropped jacket featuring a peaked lapel and deep ribbed waistband. This look was again made from ivory silk with white silk stripes, worn with custom Superstar trainers.Insiders also revealed that the reception at the venue, in Castle Carrock on the edge of the Pennines, went on until the early hours of Sunday.They added that Melanie and Chris invited everyone to join them for dinner at the Duke of Cumberland pub on Friday night, where they hired it out for guests to enjoy a meal together.The following day, guests were driven to the venue for the ceremony, where the bride and groom lucked out with the most 'perfect weather'. Melanie's big day included a cheeky nod to her Sporty roots as she also wore some custom Adidas both in the morning and the evening After the meal, Melanie changed into another custom Adidas look — an elevated interpretation of a tracksuit, with high-waisted, wide-legged trousers and a cropped jacket featuring a peaked lapel and deep ribbed waistband This look was again made from ivory silk with white silk stripes, worn with custom Superstar trainersThe Mail On Sunday reported that Mel B was among those who gave speeches at the reception and her words brought some guests to tears.A source said: 'Mel B gave a speech which got a lot of laughs, as well as some tears - it was really beautiful.'Geri was there but there was no awkwardness between her and Mel B. It was a day for celebrating Melanie and Chris's love for each other and that was all anyone wanted to do.' Melanie recently opened up about her future with Chris – and whether wedding bells could be in their plans. She told The Times back in January: '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.'In May, she explained how elements of her new album Sweat were inspired by her future husband-to-be.She said: 'Not long into making the record, I met somebody new, I fell in love, and so I ended up having this wonderful arc of emotions throughout the album – of heartbreak and then that excitement of a new relationship.' She added to The Telegraph: 'He's very laid-back. He's loads of fun… we work out together. We have very similar personalities and lifestyles.'Melanie had previously sworn off marriage, but in a recent interview she admitted her deep loneliness during her Spice Girls years contributed to her battle with depression.The singer wrote about her clinical depression diagnosis in her 2022 memoir, Who I Am: My Story, revealing how she hit rock bottom when the Spice Girls split in 2000 and her issues with binge drinking and binge eating intensified.Melanie has explained how her depression 'was very environmental' and stemmed in part from feeling 'lonely'.At the height of the Spice Girls' fame in the late 1990s, most of Melanie's bandmates were in settled relationships. Victoria had married and welcomed her first child with David Beckham by 1999, Mel B married first husband Jimmy Gulzar in 1998 and had her first child a year later, while Emma began a romance with her now-husband Jade Jones in 1999.Meanwhile, Geri was enjoying a string of high-profile romances, leading Melanie to admit she felt left behind.Speaking on The Louis Theroux Podcast, she said being single 'has been quite a big theme of my adult life, really. It was a long time before I was in a long-term relationship'.She insisted she never dated a fan, explaining that the perception of sex and fame going hand-in-hand was wide off the mark. 'It's completely different. I mean, don't get me wrong, other people had a better success rate than I did,' the popstar explained.'You know, like historically with boy bands or rock bands, it's like, "Oh, you know, pick a member of the crowd... bring her back." Our gigs weren't like that.'They were full of young girls and gays, which are the best audience. You just don't get any action. But it was quite lonely for me at times.'I think there was many times in the band when we were working together where I was the only one without a partner... I would have liked to have dated. I had a dry spell. That's what we call it.'She added that her depression came from 'the experiences that I'd had, and just getting to that point where I couldn't continue living the way I was living'.'That was a really long road back to health, and I never really stopped. It was a different time as well, because I probably would have benefited to go off and have some time to heal, but I was touring and promoting my solo stuff,' she said.Melanie did have some high-profile romances in the 1990s, including a brief, month-long fling with Robbie Williams in 1997 at the height of their pop fame. In her memoir, Melanie writes about how she was left heartbroken by Robbie after he 'behaved badly', claiming that the Take That star led her on and then 'abruptly' dropped her, which left her heartbroken.'It was a million years ago and lasted two seconds. Oh God, that sounds really bad. Oh, well,' she told Theroux.Melanie went on to have a four-month romance in 2000 with another boyband star - J Brown from 5ive, with the Melanie admitting she is still friends with her 'lovely' ex. 'I've not spoken to him for a while actually, but he's an ex I've remained friends with. I don't remain friends with many exes, but he's a lovely boy,' she said.'I saw Robbie recently. I mean, God, we were kids. Do you know what I mean? It's like we're talking like, 20-odd years ago. Nearly 30 years ago. It's a long time.'