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Ariana Grande has made headlines throughout several of her relationships, culminating in the 2020 hit single "Thank U, Next". But now, it seems like she's ready to finally settle down. After an exciting engagement with real estate agent Dalton Gomez, who designed her engagement ring, Grande shared photos from her wedding through her Instagram. Most celebrities are known for their high profile weddings that feature elaborate affairs with celebrity guests and performances, but Grande chose to dial it back, resulting in an intimate affair between her and a few friends.
Ariana Grande isn't the only person to scale down her wedding ceremony either. A new trend has emerged called the ceremini or minimony that replaces a large and expensive wedding with a smaller and much more intimate celebration. This trend is partially a result of the mass gathering restrictions from the previous year, as well as a financial decision covered frequently in the new Netflix series Marriage or Mortgage.
The Wedding Ceremini
The wedding ceremony took place at the couple's home in Montecito, California. The wedding accommodated only 20 guests which resulted in an emotional "I Do" moment by candlelight. Adorned in a strapless, floor length gown, Grande also sported a custom white veil topped with a bow. In conjunction with the stripped down affair, the couple even settled for a large white rug as opposed to the traditional aisle runner.
The tables were adorned with candles and Grande's Instagram famous puppy Toulouse was also in attendance. The couple exchanged informal wedding vows that were honest and off the cuff.
Her Husband
Dalton Gomez first made headlines in January of 2020 when it was announced that Ariana had started dating a mystery man. He then went on to appear in the music video for her pandemic hit single "Stuck With U". The couple then became Instagram official in June of 2020 when Grande shared a picture of them together celebrating her birthday. The couple then got engaged in December of 2020 which culminated in a celebratory post from Grande with a caption that said "forever n then some".
Dalton gained further attention as a suitable suitor when news came that he helped design Ariana Grande's engagement ring. The unique concept featured a stunning 8-carat diamond along with a pearl that belonged to Grande's grandmother. Estimates related to the cost of the ring have ranged from $300,000 to over $750,000.
Secret Celebrity Weddings
Grande isn't the only celebrity to surprise the public with the announcement of her wedding. Earlier this year, Aubrey Plaza also announced on social media that she had tied the knot secretly with her long term boyfriend and creative collaborator Jeff Baena. Kristen Wiig also announced her surprise, intimate-style wedding with her partner Avi Rothman.
The concept of the smaller wedding has expanded beyond celebrities to also include members of the royal family. Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi secretly married during the pandemic, having a small wedding with friends and family. The socially distanced ceremony was held at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge in Windsor and featured royals such as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Andrew.
Smaller the Scale, Sweeter the Ceremony
Hamish Shepherd, the founder and CEO of the wedding planning app Bridebook stated to Glamour that “the news that Ariana Grande was married with just a handful of guests comes as no surprise. Many celebrities and even royals are eschewing the typical big celebrity wedding, opting for a chic and tasteful event." This statement coincides with the recent popularity of the new Netflix reality series Marriage or Mortgage. The show revolves around couples who are faced with a decision on whether to spend their savings on a dream wedding or on the downpayment of a new home. The series showcases just how expensive the wedding industry can be. The average cost of a wedding, pre pandemic during the 2019 year, was $33,900. This price alone is enough to qualify for a downpayment on a variety of homes throughout the country. But the show also offers a glimpse for couples who are looking to get the best of both worlds and here inlies the ceremini. These micro weddings serve to save money on the overall ceremony which can then be split between the wedding and the future home.
There are also a variety of other benefits to having a much more intimate wedding. These include a reduction in pressure of having to state your vows in front of a group of sometimes hundreds of other people. The less people, the higher the budget also becomes when regarding catering and food. Much time is saved by having to repeatedly thank people for coming, and overall, the planning seems to be a much less stressful process. Regardless of the celebrity or the average person chooses to have an elaborate affair or a private engagement, the couple's night still ends the same, with wedding bells and a night that starts the rest of forever with their newly wedded partner.
Sources: MSN, Glamour, TheKnot, Insider, BelfastTelegraph, Independent, Hello, Cosmopolitan, TheList, PageSix, Pulse, LATimes, VanityFair, DailyMail