BEN Ofoedu has finally met the woman of his dreams and is sparing no expense when it comes to their three-day luxury wedding.
The Phats & Small singer, who was previously engaged to Vanessa Feltz, is due to marry businesswoman Vanessa Brown in July.
The couple got engaged in New York in February[/caption]
They got engaged on a romantic trip to New York in February, just weeks after going official on another lavish getaway in Dubai, and have moved into a £1.8m property in Soho.
Now, they’ve set a date for their wedding at a picturesque location in the Lake District and revealed their celebrity guest list.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Ben, 52, took a swipe at his TV star ex, 63, and their 16-year engagement, hinting he’d been strung along.
Speaking of his wedding plans with his new fiancee, Ben said: “The intention was to be married and have a couple of kids. I mean the whole purpose of getting engaged is to get married.
“So we didn’t want anything long-winded, which is why, with the wedding coming up in July this year, it’s in full wedding planning mode. There’s so much to sort out.”
Ben and former This Morning host Feltz split in December 2022 after she discovered he’d cheated on her.
Though he initially apologised, Ben has since hit out at his ex for “stealing his best years” and accused her of using him to boost her public image.
He also spoke of his heartache at “getting nothing” from their relationship after he sacrificed starting a family.
However, he will now realise his dreams with his new Vanessa, and the couple have hired a private castle complete with a chapel that will host 60 of their family members and closest friends.
Among the wedding party is Boyzone‘s Shane Lynch, who is Ben’s best man, and pop stars Dane Bowers, S Club’s Bradley Wright and Five’s Abz Love.
They’ve all met Vanessa, 29, and are totally supportive of their relationship.
“It means a lot to me to have all my friends give me the thumbs up,” said Ben.
“There’s a three-day wedding celebration. We’ve got a summer soiree the night before, a barbecue, then the whole day of celebrations the day after and then a farewell brunch. So it’ll be jam-packed.”
The entertainment is being described as “world class” and will have something for everyone.
He added: “We’ve got everything from a bagpiper to a saxophonist and then we’re thinking of maybe hiring a carousel because the venue has got beautiful gardens.
“We’ve got a dedicated marquee specifically for entertainment so I think everyone attending is going to have such a great three days. It’s going to be no expense spared. You only get married once.”
Vanessa already has her bespoke wedding dress sorted, which is fittingly being made by a New York designer.
Ben got down on one knee in Central Park by the famous Bow Bridge that features in Christmas flick Elf, Vanessa’s favourite film.
She said of the proposal: “I had absolutely no idea so it was quite a shock. I thought he’d maybe fell over or something.”
Both bride and groom will have a costume change for the reception as they party into the night with their loved ones.
Before all of that though, is the small matter of stag and hen parties.
Ben feels he’s a bit too old for a stereotypical boozy stag, but his mates have insisted he has one and they’ll be travelling to Belfast ahead of the big day.
Ben and Vanessa went Instagram official in January[/caption]
Ben split from ex Precious Muir amicably last year[/caption]
He was previously engaged to former This Morning host Vanessa Feltz[/caption]
He said: “I really wasn’t for it because I’m not into the traditional getting tied to a tree or stripping or all that all that sort of stuff, but my friends are insistent on it and so I’m leaving it in their hands.
“We also said we would do a joint stag and hen do. That’s nice and quite modern.”
The wedding will be captured by a videographer travelling up from Devon, and Ben said the finished product will be a “movie”.
While the vows are still months away, the couple have discussed honeymoon locations with Mauritius, South Africa and the Maldives all in the running.
Ben and Vanessa were first introduced at an event a year ago while he was in a relationship with ex-girlfriend Precious Muir, 40.
Though he found her attractive, they remained friends until he became single late last year.
He appeared as a guest on Vanessa’s podcast and found himself working with her again at a horse racing meet in Carlisle.
Describing their connection, Ben said: “Now we’re best friends in a relationship.”
Differing attitudes towards parenthood were one of the stumbling blocks in Ben’s last relationship.
He also previously spoke about giving up his baby dream in his former relationship with ex-fiancé Vanessa.
But he insists he and Vanessa are on the same page.
“I think if we’re blessed enough two (kids) would be ideal,” he said.
“Yes, a boy and a girl because you’ve got the best of both worlds there.”
Shane Lynch will be Ben’s best man[/caption]
