Mel B to be walked down aisle by close friend as wedding party revealed

Mel B is due to be given away by her close friend as more details about the wedding have emerged. The Mirror can reveal that journalist James Steen will be giving Mel away.

The former Mirror journalist is filling in for Mel's father Martin, who died in 2017 after a five year battle with myeloma cancer. He is a close friend of the singer as well as the husband of Louise Gannon, who is Mel's biographer.

The couple share a son Charlie Steen who is the lead singer of punk band Shame. Mel is set to tie the knot with her long term partner Rory McPhee and his best man is due to be his brother Jordan.

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The couple will get married today at St Paul's Cathedral surrounded by their closest friends and family as well as some other celebrity guests.

Mel and family friend Rory, 37, have known each other for years, and he has worked as her hairstylist. It's thought that things turned romantic between the pair in 2018 and Rory proposed to Mel back in 2022.

Hairstylist Rory has worked in his industry for more than a decade and is described as a curly hair specialist. He's co-founded salons such as Rory James, which is located in Horsforth, close to Mel's own home city of Leeds.

Rory is listed as an artist for Lee Stafford, with him credited as training others in the industry and acting as an ambassador in the educational role. Mel's fiancé is also an artist for the brand Redken, which is part of the L'Oréal Group.

Mel B hasn't held back on anything when it comes to her special day. After saying 'I do' at St Paul's Cathedral, the guests will head to the Shangri-La at The Shard in London.

The Shangri-La charges approximately £280 per person, which could cost Mel £28,000 just for the food and a some drinks. It has been claimed the singer will transport her guests from St Paul's Cathedral to the Shard, which is roughly a 35 minute drive away.

Despite a star-studded guest list, three of the Spice Girls will not be there to celebrate. Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell and Mel C will not be attending the wedding for several reasons.

A source said that there is no bad feeling but they really are just busy. The source said: "There's no snub, the girls are all on friendly terms with one another, but it's no secret that Geri is busy with Christian at Formula One and Victoria is extremely busy with her fashion brand."

Meanwhile, insiders told the Mirror that Mel C would have loved to have been there "but she is on tour in Sweden". They added: "They have a great deal of affection for Melanie."

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