It was the £3million ‘dream wedding’ that united the daughter of a billionaire and the son of a sports icon – and which appeared flawless on the glossy pages of Vogue magazine. But behind the scenes, Brooklyn Beckham’s wedding to heiress Nicola Peltz was reportedly so messy that even the bride’s father called it a “s*** show.” Now all the drama behind the seemingly elegant society event has been exposed in a shocking 188-page lawsuit filed in Florida.
Wedding planners Nicole Braghin and Arianna Grijalba were “devastated” earlier this month when billionaire businessman Nelson Peltz launched a lawsuit seeking his £132,000 bail back.
Mr Peltz, 80, claims the couple were fired over alleged “mistakes” just weeks before the three-day wedding extravaganza at the £76million family mansion in Palm Beach, Florida last April.
But last week Ms Braghin and Ms Grijalba hit back, calling Mr Peltz a “billionaire bully” and filing a counterclaim in a Miami court for breach of contract and “interference” in a deal. They are also suing bride Nicola Peltz Beckham, her mother Claudia and wedding designer Rishi Patel for at least £41,000 in damages plus costs that could run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
It was the £3million ‘dream wedding’ that united the daughter of a billionaire and the son of a sports icon – and which appeared flawless on the glossy pages of Vogue magazine. But behind the scenes, Brooklyn Beckham’s wedding to heiress Nicola Peltz was reportedly so messy that even the bride’s father called it a “s*** show.”
Wedding planners Nicole Braghin and Arianna Grijalba were “devastated” earlier this month when billionaire businessman Nelson Peltz launched a lawsuit seeking his £132,000 bail back
Your lawsuit alleges:
- Nelson Peltz wanted to “call off the wedding” and reportedly called it “a damn show”, but his wife “begged” him not to do so as it would “destroy Nicola’s career”;
- Actress Nicola reportedly spent $100,000 (£85,000) on hair and makeup, with court documents claiming Ms Peltz asked the planners not to tell her husband because he would “kill her and be so angry”.
- The Peltzes were afraid Victoria Beckham would learn of “mistakes” in wedding planning;
- The couple planned to serve guests burgers named “Brooklyn” and “Nicola” — the latter wrapped in a low-calorie lettuce leaf rather than a bun.
The women’s company Plan Design Events was discontinued in February 2022, just six weeks before the lavish wedding. More than 500 guests attended, including TV chef Gordon Ramsay, Desperate Housewife Eva Longoria, fellow Victoria Spice Girls Mel B and Mel C and David Beckham’s former Manchester United team-mate Phil Neville.
The planners agreed to a fee of £264,000, with Mr Peltz making a deposit of half that amount.
They succeeded Preston Bailey – an industry icon who previously orchestrated Catherine Zeta-Jones’ marriage to Michael Douglas. He said he left after a year of work by mutual consent because his schedule was “overburdened”.
But the planners who replaced him claimed things had been so chaotic — with multiple guest lists and a bride who was reportedly “too busy” to talk on the phone — that things quickly went downhill.
The court documents contain hundreds of WhatsApp chat messages, texts and emails – summarized below – showing guest lists were incomplete, travel arrangements were not made and even the flowers and cake had yet to be sorted out. Hair and make-up artists, photographers and videographers have also not been confirmed.
And when the planners came up with an idea for a wedding band, Nicole branded it “cheesy” and only wanted the lead singer.
Ms Braghin and Ms Grijalba say they worked 17 hour days to try to meet the demands of their customers. And while there had already been reports of a falling out between Nicola and her future mother-in-law over the bride choosing to wear a Valentino couture dress over a dress from Victoria’s label (a feud Nicola later denied), it was clear , the lawsuit states, the Peltzes didn’t want their new in-laws to find out about the last-minute mishaps.
“Both Claudia and Nicola had insisted that Victoria Beckham should not be aware of any internal errors in the ongoing planning of her son’s wedding, including any guest list errors,” the court filings read.
During a meeting on March 1 last year: “Nelson said in front of Braghin and Grijalba that he wanted to ‘cancel the wedding’ and that it was ‘as*** show’ but Claudia asked Nelson not to do it because it so would be ‘destroy Nicola’s career.’
While Mr Peltz reportedly paid £3million for the event, court documents claimed there were some expenses his wife wished to keep secret: ‘Nelson Peltz is believed to have paid more than $100,000 plus travel expenses for Nicolas’ hair and make-up paid up services for the wedding. Claudia mentioned to Braghin that Nelson couldn’t know the cost or he would “kill her and be so angry.” ‘
Ms Braghin, 42, and Ms Grijalba, 40, who have spent 17 years building their business, reveal Nicola sent them an effusive text the day before they were sacked, saying: “You’re killing it!” Her lawsuit also includes messages from Brooklyn describing her as “a perfect gentleman” and praising her “for everything you do.”
A source told The Mail on Sunday: “This lawsuit embodies the world of the super-rich. These event planners found themselves in a difficult spot and poured their hearts into it just six weeks before a wedding that would make waves around the world. Nothing ever seemed good enough. It sheds light on the other half’s life – and it’s not always a pretty picture.”
A spokesman for Mr Peltz said last night that the planners’ complaint “is riddled with inaccuracies and their claims are unfounded”.
Additional Reporting: Daniel Bates
NICOLA SAYS THE GUEST LIST IS SUCH REALIZATION, “IT’S LIKE A MURDER SCENE”
Dozens of text messages are exchanged about the guest list, which often causes Nicola to lose patience.
The bride-to-be writes to her wedding planners: “I didn’t ask for that. I asked about our invite list. IN. VITE. NOT. RSVP. Can you send that to me?’
Nicola, whose messages often contain spelling or grammatical errors, refuses to log into the app guests use to confirm their presence, instead ordering Ms Braghin and Ms Grijalba to email or text her.
When the two beg Nicola to help them, she writes, “Can someone please send me a list of Jas?”
As the troubles continue, Nicola grows even more upset, writing: “I don’t want it to get that complicated. I just want a list PLEASE.
“I often repeated myself. I don’t want an app or Google Doc. Just a text message or email. Simply. Old school. That’s how my mom and I like it!’
At one point, Brooklyn chimes in: “It’s a mess!” Nicola replies: “Omg [Oh my God]more like A MURDER SCENE.’
WE NEED A VERY PINK AFTER PARTY ROOM… AND A WATER DANCE FLOOR
In an exchange, Nicola sends this image of an all pink lounge with a globe light and asks, “Who will make sure this happens for the after party?”
In an exchange, Nicola sends this picture of an all pink lounge with a globe light and asks, “Who is going to make this happen for the after party? This light instead of a disco ball and the mixtures of peach, apricot and baby pink.’ She also wants a “water walk and a water dance floor to match.”
“HEAD DID NOT ACTUALLY explode”
In his lawsuit, Mr. Peltz raised concerns about the planners’ “alcohol references” in their communications. The new papers include a text from Ms. Grijalba after a long day, which reads: “Now I’m going for a tequila, my head is about to explode.” To which Nicola replies, “Yes Queen!!!!!” But the lawsuit adds that “contrary to her texting, Grijalba’s head didn’t explode and she didn’t drink tequila that night.”
FIRED BY A ‘BILLIONAIRE’
After Claudia Peltz fired the wedding planners, Mrs. Grijalba asks why. Mr. Peltz replies, “Arianna, I don’t want to talk to you any further, I clearly can’t. I’ll have my people call you. I don’t like such conversations.’ The wedding planners accuse Mr Peltz of “acting like a billionaire”.
FLOWERS ARE NOT ALL WHITE!
After seeing pictures of peonies and cabbage roses, she writes, “They should be whiter.”
Nicola complains that the flowers aren’t white enough. After seeing pictures of peonies and cabbage roses, she writes, “They should be whiter – I didn’t recognize the second picture [of roses] were cream.’ When a planner suggested a “slight color variation so you can spot individual roses,” Nicola replies, “What do you think?”
BREAK THE BAND! “CHEESY” SINGER EXCLUDED
Nicola claims superstar magician David Blaine offered to entertain guests for free at a dinner the day before the wedding.
She writes, “David Blaine is going to dinner for free on Friday night, he’s my friend.”
But she’s having trouble choosing the band, liking only one performer from the group the wedding planners suggested, dismissing the rest as “very cheesy”.
After Nicola says she “doesn’t want any other backing singers, that’s way too many,” the band’s manager finally agrees to build a group around a member she likes.
Nicola also insists they wear “simple, chic tuxedos” and says the music should be “early 2000s hip-hop,” dismissing the suggestion of anything more traditional.
FREAKING OUT ABOUT ‘EMBASSIVE’ BECKHAM BURGER PROPOSALS
When Nicola sees the proposed dish names, including “Bag It Like Beckham,” she says, “Those names are embarrassing.”
While Brooklyn stays mostly quiet during group texts, one subject gets him very excited – Wendy’s fast food truck.
Guests were apparently treated to a meal from the US burger chain featuring Beckham meals, including the “Nicola and Brooklyn Combo.”
When Nicola sees the proposed dish names, including “Bag It Like Beckham,” she says, “These names are embarrassing.”
One of the planners tries to persuade her: “Fun is good after all the formality and for some that would be Wow! Why did they do this? And the answer is: because you can.’
Nicola replies: ‘I don’t love it.’
Brooklyn, an aspiring chef, writes, “We should make a Brooklyn burger. Luke [sic] Double or single burgers and a Nicola burger witch [sic] it’s not a bun and it’s salad instead of buns and meat for the girls.’
Ms Grijalba points out that a single burger may not look good for a wedding.
Brooklyn agrees and replies, “Oh s*** hahaha”.
Nicola protests a dish being called a ‘Beckham Bag’, texting: ‘I don’t love it. I like personalized but not the one followed by a vomit emoji.
“CAN WE FIRE YOU YET?” NICOLAS BLUNT TEXTS – AND BROOKLYN CAN’T ESCAPE HER ANGRY, TOO
In one of many blunt texts, Nicola demands that staff hired by the previous wedding planners be “cut off”. She says “I hate her” and “can we fire her already” in the group chat with the new wedding planners.
Describing one worker as “slow,” Nicola texted, “He doesn’t work weekends (sic) and when the sun goes down (sic) he won’t work… Honestly he’s pretty crappy to be honest.”
Even her husband-to-be cannot escape Nicolas’ anger. As they discuss the Beckham side of the guest list, Nicola chimes in, saying, “I don’t trust Brooklyn. You should ask an assistant. He has no idea. And guess.’
Six weeks before the wedding, Claudia Peltz also expresses her frustration, complaining about the “EXTRA” cost of hiring new wedding planners. She writes: ‘I certainly didn’t expect that at this point!!!’
THE GUESTS: LEWIS HAMILTON, RON DESANTIS…AND WHO IS MEGHAN?
Claudia Peltz asks “Did Megan get an invite” to which Nicola asks “Who is Megan”
Nicola appears to be losing her temper after finding out F1 driver Lewis Hamilton has not confirmed his participation.
She writes: “Lewis Hamilton has NOT accepted. So please explain why his names are on the list. We spoke with him. He can’t come, so explain to him why you said he answered yes.’
Arianna Grijalba, one of the wedding planners, tries to explain but Nicola remains unimpressed.
Nicola writes: “That’s not true. He DID NOT pledge AT ALL… I’m tired of honestly finding errors on this list of answers. When will I get a clear answer to this?
Among those not welcome at the nuptials was Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a die-hard Republican and possible future presidential candidate who describes his state as the place where “wakes and dies.”
Nicola writes: “Desantis must be removed from the guest list. PLEASE CONFIRM!’
Claudia Peltz asks, “Did Megan get an invite,” to which Nicola asks, “Who is Megan?” Claudia asks: “And Harry”. It’s unclear if this exchange refers to the Duke of Sussex and his wife, correct.
Michael Bay, the director of the Transformers film in which Nicola starred, is also invited. Tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams were among the celebrities who eventually attended.
Is the Beckham boy heading to stardom?
By Katie Hind
Cruz Beckham is launching a pop career with a little help from some of the music industry’s most respected names.
The youngest son of David and Victoria Beckham has been recording in studios across London with Norwegian record producer Fred Ball, whose songs have been performed by Rihanna, Beyoncé and Mariah Carey.
He has also worked with Jordan Riley, a producer and writer who studied at the famous Guildhall School of Music.
And while sources close to the Beckham family say the teenager, who turns 18 tomorrow, has a talent for singing and playing guitar, some have also noted how he’s managed to connect with some of the world’s most in-demand studio musicians to kick world.
One told The Mail on Sunday: “Cruz has been in the studio a lot lately. It’s his passion, he loves it and he’s pretty good at it. But the question remains how does he get so many people to work with him? It wouldn’t be the first time Cruz or his older brothers have been helped by their parents’ connections.”
Cruz recently signed with the management of Tap Music, which also represents Little Mix’s Ellie Goulding and Leigh-Anne Pinnock.
When Cruz was 11, Victoria arranged for Scooter Braun, the music mogul behind Justin Bieber, to manage him and he released a single, If Every Day Was Christmas. David is said to have wanted his son to continue singing as a hobby at such a young age. In 2019, the Beckhams arranged for eldest son Brooklyn to become an intern for society photographer Rankin.