Former England rugby star Danny Cipriani and American actress AnnaLynne McCord have married in a low-key backyard ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday.
The wedding was the first of three planned celebrations, with the newlyweds preparing to host two further ceremonies in London and Cambodia following recent controversy over a crowdfunding page set up to help pay for their nuptials.
The couple exchanged vows under an arch decorated with pink roses in a backyard ceremony attended by their American friends and family, who sat on folded chairs. A welcoming sign displayed alongside their names and wedding date read: "I have found the one my soul loves". Cipriani, 38, was seen holding the sign above his head during the post-ceremony celebrations.
McCord, 39, forwent a traditional ivory dress in favour of a high-necked, pastel floral-embroidered ballgown paired with a cathedral-length veil and sparkling silver heels. Cipriani wore a dark suit with a matching shirt and no tie.
The bride was assisted by a vast wedding party of 12 bridesmaids, who all wore mismatched blush pink dresses. During the post-ceremony photo shoot, McCord sprawled out on the road in her gown to capture a playful photograph, while the newlyweds later posed for pictures in their Los Angeles neighbourhood.
According to People, McCord's wedding ring is a 15-carat, emerald-cut diamond with seven round accent diamonds set in yellow gold on each side of the band.
Bridal reactions and social media messages
On Sunday morning, McCord shared a video on social media from bed while Cipriani slept beside her, introducing herself as "Mrs AnnaLynne Cipriani". Turning to her new husband, she laughed and said: "I married the love of my life yesterday."
"And it's real. It wasn't a dream. This love is a grace upon my being," McCord said. "Every moment of this creation, of this ceremony, every moment of this ritual."
She added: "Every stolen glance until we can just stand there holding hands looking in each other's eyes for a frozen moment that held the current of infinity. It was incredibly timeless."
Reflecting on the atmosphere surrounding their big day, McCord continued: "It's all a blessing. The energies swelling around this wedding are all completely perfect. No misstep. No comment. No headline. Not a single word."
Crowdfunding backlash and online threats
The wedding came after controversy surrounding a wedding website created on the Honeyfund platform, where the couple requested financial contributions from guests totaling £10,660, excluding a separate cash donation option. Guests were invited to donate between £75 ($100) and £450 ($600) toward specific expenses, including reception drinks, flowers, and their wedding cake.
The funding request was criticized by insiders as "tacky and distasteful" for "two celebrities who boast a lavish lifestyle". Both Cipriani and McCord are reported to have amassed substantial fortunes during their respective careers.
Addressing the backlash days before the wedding, McCord told The Sun that she had mistakenly made the wedding wish list public when she intended to send it only to her guest list. "Everyone was asking what they could give us. I was like, I have five blenders. I have everything for my home," she explained.
McCord noted that the invitation asked guests to contribute to specific elements of the day: "We wrote on the wedding invite that in lieu of gifts we would love to feel our guests' contributions in the flowers, music and on our big day. I didn't know that it was an open link until a co-star at work asked me: 'Are you crowdfunding for your wedding?'"
She revealed that the public link resulted in severe online abuse and threats. "I was told I was despicable and that I was trying to extort money from my wedding guests. People actually donated $10 towards the wedding so they could write on the site that Danny and I were disgusting. There were even death threats," McCord said.
Relationship history and future plans
Despite the controversy, the newlyweds are moving forward with plans for two additional wedding ceremonies. A second event will take place in London to allow more of Cipriani's family to attend following the short notice of the Los Angeles gathering, while a third will be a traditional celebration in Cambodia.
Cipriani and McCord first met on the celebrity dating app Raya approximately a decade ago, with McCord describing the former sportsman as her "soulmate". The couple dated on and off for several years, splitting in 2020 before reconnecting in 2024.
After separating again in January last year, they rekindled their relationship last summer when they were seen kissing at an Emmy nomination party hosted by The McCord List in July. Cipriani confirmed their reunion later that month with an Instagram post for her birthday, writing: "Happy birthday to My Love. Your light shines so bright, as you see the light in everyone you meet. You give your heart so effortlessly. You are creating a world of unity and love with your star dust everywhere you go. Love you."
Cipriani is believed to have earned around £4 million during a rugby career in which he represented Wasps, Sale Sharks, Gloucester, Bath, and the Melbourne Rebels, as well as making 16 appearances for England.
McCord has earned a similar fortune through her acting career, having risen to prominence in television series such as Nip/Tuck and 90210 during the 2000s. Her casting in the daytime soap opera Days Of Our Lives was announced in 2023.
Cipriani was previously married to Victoria Rose. The former couple met in 2019, became engaged in August 2020, and married in a private ceremony on April 27, 2022. Rose filed for divorce in August 2024, nine months after their separation, later stating in an interview last year that she felt blindsided when Cipriani announced their split on Instagram and left her "with no explanation".
