With less than six weeks to go before the wedding of Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz, the event’s planning reportedly faced significant challenges, including an incomplete guest list and unconfirmed vendors. Sources reveal that Nicola and her mother, Claudia Peltz, were determined to keep any planning issues hidden from Victoria Beckham, Brooklyn’s mother, amid tensions between the families. Text messages revealed during a 2023 legal dispute showed heightened stress, with Nicola at one point instructing planners to dismiss certain assistants, and Claudia inquiring if Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had been invited. An invitation confusion involving Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton also emerged, adding to the organizers’ difficulties.
Brooklyn Beckham’s contributions to the preparations were described as well-meaning but not necessarily helpful, including requests such as a Wendy’s burger truck offering a customized “Nicola” burger and suggestions to use a net-shooting device to deter paparazzi drones. After the departure of the original planners, celebrity event coordinator Michelle Rago took over with just over a month left. Despite the behind-the-scenes turmoil, the wedding ultimately took place before approximately 500 guests, featuring personalities such as tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, actress Eva Longoria, chef Gordon Ramsay and family, and Spice Girls Mel B and Emma Bunton.
The ceremony was held under three large, air-conditioned marquees overlooking the ocean. The bride arrived escorted by her father, Nelson Peltz, wearing a Valentino gown that was notably not designed by Victoria Beckham, contrary to early speculation. The bride was accompanied by UK artist Sekou, who performed Fleetwood Mac’s “Songbird,” a choice described by some as unconventional for such an occasion. Brooklyn Beckham was visibly emotional during the procession.
A noted point of tension was the absence of Victoria Beckham’s designs among Nicola’s wardrobe beyond the bridal gown, which some interpreted as a deliberate slight. Victoria was among the few to wear her own label at the event, accessorizing with a 21-carat diamond pendant. However, Claudia Peltz overshadowed this with the display of the “Star of the East,” a 95-carat museum-quality diamond.
The ceremony also generated discomfort when the officiating rabbi, not the family’s usual religious leader, mistakenly referred to Brooklyn as “David” twice during the proceedings, highlighting perceptions of Brooklyn’s identity struggles in the shadow of his globally recognized father.
Dinner followed the ceremony, featuring halibut, filet mignon, and a vegan osso buco, accompanied by a jazz quartet and cocktails adorned with white cherry blossoms. Speeches incorporated humor and emotion, with Brooklyn’s best men, Romeo and Cruz, playfully teasing him. David Beckham, whose relationship with Brooklyn had been strained for months, gave a notably lengthy speech focused exclusively on his son, expressing fond memories but neglecting to mention the bride, an omission that some guests found unusual. Nicola’s brother and man of honor, Brad Peltz, offered lighthearted advice about marriage, eliciting laughter from attendees. Nelson Peltz delivered a solemn speech touching on the recent invasion of Ukraine, underscoring contrasting tones between the two families.
The first dances included a South African singer performing “Can’t Help Falling In Love” and Nelson Peltz dancing with his daughter. Later, at 11 p.m., a circular stage rotated to reveal Marc Anthony, a close friend of David Beckham and Brooklyn’s longtime acquaintance, who performed a surprise live set. Though Anthony’s performance was billed as a wedding gift from the Beckhams, the event incurred substantial costs estimated at $250,000—including stage construction and musicians’ fees—that were charged to the Peltz family.
Originally, Nicola and Brooklyn planned to share their first dance with Marc Anthony performing. Nicola changed from her Valentino gown into a Versace “party outfit” for the occasion. However, Brooklyn instead danced with his mother Victoria after she was invited to the stage by the singer. The circumstances surrounding this change remain contested. The Peltz camp blamed Victoria for orchestrating the moment, describing her as seeking the spotlight amid underlying family tensions. Brooklyn later described his mother’s dance moves as “inappropriate,” while Victoria had not consumed alcohol prior to the dance due to ongoing personal conflicts. Some attendees characterized the dance as awkward, while others, mostly close to the Beckhams, saw nothing amiss.
The celebrations continued into the early hours, and the following day, a post-wedding brunch took place in tropical gardens. Brooklyn and Nicola made their entrance wearing more casual attire, while David and Victoria Beckham arrived in a baby blue vintage Jaguar gifted to the couple. The automobile, valued at around $500,000, was an electric conversion by British firm Lunaz, in which David Beckham is an investor. Although the couple participated in photographs with the vehicle, sources suggest they were wary of commercializing their wedding.
When asked about inspirations for their ceremony, Nicola and Brooklyn cited the wedding of Iman and David Bowie, distancing themselves from comparisons to David and Victoria Beckham’s own high-profile wedding, which featured distinctive thrones and matching purple satin outfits. Observers noted this remark as a subtle rebuke amid the ongoing family tensions, which appeared to continue casting a shadow over the event despite the outward appearances of celebration.