Former The Saturdays star Vanessa White has shared a double dose of exciting personal news, revealing the gender of her first child and the intimate details of her recent London wedding.
A Secret Ceremony and a Special Reveal
The 36-year-old singer took to Instagram on Monday to announce she had legally married her fiancé, DJ Emmanuel Lawal. The low-key ceremony took place at Hackney Town Hall with just two witnesses in attendance, one of whom was their photographer.
In a subsequent chat with British Vogue, Vanessa reflected on the simple joy of their private 'I Do's'. 'It was so nice,' she said. 'I really do recommend people just going off and doing it on their own.'
It was during this conversation that Vanessa also revealed the gender of the baby she is expecting. She confirmed she and Emmanuel are anticipating the arrival of a baby boy. The couple are already looking forward to him playing a part in their future plans. 'Knowing that he will be there is the nicest thing,' she said of the thought of him being a pageboy at their larger celebration.
The Rush to the Altar and the Perfect Dress
The couple's journey to the registry office was a whirlwind. Emmanuel proposed on November 8 during a weekend in the Cotswolds, and Vanessa announced both her engagement and pregnancy just last month. They decided not to wait to make their union official.
'Obviously Vanessa is pregnant, and it's nearly Christmas, so things have been hectic, so we kept putting it off,' Emmanuel explained. 'Then we realised if we didn't sort something soon, it wasn't going to happen.'
Finding a bridal outfit presented a unique challenge due to her pregnancy. Vanessa admitted she initially envisioned a 'cool suit' for a registry office wedding, but her changing figure led her to a stunning silk long-sleeved gown with lace intersections from Self Portrait X Christopher Kane. 'When I tried on the dress, I knew it had to be it,' she said.
She accessorised with a vintage-inspired hairband from Jennifer Behr, wore Christian Louboutin shoes, and carried a bouquet of calla lilies, completing her own hair and makeup for the special day.
Celebration and Future Plans
After the ceremony, the newlyweds changed and enjoyed a private dinner at Alex Dilling at the Hotel Café Royal, where the chef closed the restaurant exclusively for them. They celebrated for hours, were presented with a 'gorgeous fig cake' as their wedding cake, and were whisked home in a chauffeur-driven Bentley at 11pm.
This legal ceremony was just the first step in their wedding celebrations. The pair are now preparing for a big celebration in Mallorca next summer, where their son will be in attendance.
Vanessa and Emmanuel, who have been dating for four years with a brief break in 2023, first sparked romance rumours in August 2020. Vanessa was previously in a long-term relationship with Gary Salter before their split in April 2017.
