Perrie Edwards, the singer known for her work with the British girl group Little Mix, experienced a moment of intense personal distress shortly before her wedding to professional footballer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in Portugal. The artist reported that a significant piece of sentimental jewelry went missing in the days leading up to the ceremony, causing her to fear the item had been stolen.
The nuptials, which took place on a Saturday in the village of Estoi, were attended by close friends and family, including Edwards’ former bandmates Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall. The incident involving the missing heirloom was resolved on the morning of the wedding when her hairstylist, Aaron Carlo, discovered the item concealed within her hair extensions. This discovery, which Edwards described as a relief, preceded the couple’s exchange of vows.
The Search for the Missing Heirloom
The piece in question was a diamond necklace that Oxlade-Chamberlain had gifted to Edwards following the birth of their son, Axel, in 2021. According to Edwards, the necklace was a staple of her daily wardrobe, making its sudden disappearance particularly distressing. The realization that the item was missing occurred the day before the couple was scheduled to depart for their wedding destination in Portugal.
In a recent interview, Edwards detailed the extent of the search efforts, noting that she and her team inspected various locations in an attempt to locate the jewelry. “I cried all day, we looked everywhere – we even checked the hoover – but it was gone. I was convinced someone had stolen it,” she stated. The fear of theft added a layer of anxiety to the final preparations for the wedding, which the couple aimed to keep relatively low-key.
The wedding took place in the scenic village of Estoi, Portugal, bringing together close family and friends for the celebration.
A Last-Minute Discovery
The resolution to the missing jewelry saga came unexpectedly on the morning of the ceremony. While preparing Edwards for the wedding, her hairstylist, Aaron Carlo, was working with her hair extensions when he found the necklace caught within them. The moment was documented as a highly emotional one for the singer, who had resigned herself to the item being lost.
Edwards noted that the recovery of the necklace served as an emotional turning point for her wedding day. “He was sorting through my hair extensions, and he said: ‘Okay, Perrie: what I’m about to show you is your something old, your something new, your everything in one, and you’re going to cry,’” she recalled. The recovery allowed the ceremony to proceed as planned, with the singer later describing the event as one defined by a sense of relief and joy.
Reflecting on a Milestone Year
The wedding ceremony, held at a Catholic church in Estoi, marked a significant personal milestone for the couple, who have been in a relationship since 2017 and announced their engagement in 2022. The union comes during a busy period for Edwards, who released her debut self-titled solo album in September 2024. The couple also welcomed their second child, daughter Alanis, in January 2024.
The logistical challenges of balancing a professional music career with significant personal life events were a topic of discussion for Edwards earlier this year. When asked about the timing of her album release and the birth of her daughter, she described the confluence of events as “wild” but manageable. She noted that the industry’s typical slowdown at the end of the year provided a window for her to focus on both her professional obligations and her family life.
The couple, who share two children, have been together since 2017.
Wedding Day Atmosphere and Bandmate Attendance
The ceremony was characterized by an emotional atmosphere, with Edwards noting that Oxlade-Chamberlain, who she described as generally reserved, was visibly moved during the exchange of vows. The couple’s shared experience at the altar was a highlight of the day, which she described as being “full of love.”
The event also served as a reunion for the members of Little Mix. While Jade Thirlwall had to depart early to fulfill a commitment at the Primavera Sound festival in Porto, Leigh-Anne Pinnock remained for the duration of the reception. Edwards shared that the group’s history was celebrated during the evening, with the attendees participating in choreography and song selections that referenced their time in the band. As the couple moves forward, they continue to balance their public careers with their expanding family life in the wake of their recent marriage.
Readers are invited to share their thoughts or reflections on the couple’s recent milestone in the comments section below.