Ben Ofoedu, the musician formerly of Phats & Small, has tied the knot with Vanessa Brown, an aesthetics expert 23 years his junior, in a lavish £100,000 ceremony at the medieval Rose Castle in Cumbria.
Affectionately calling his new wife “Vanessa 2.0,” Ofoedu, 52, has opened up about his joy at finally becoming a husband, contrasting his newfound happiness with his past 16-year engagement to TV presenter Vanessa Feltz.
A Fairytale Wedding and a New Beginning
The grand celebration, held near Vanessa Brown’s hometown of Carlisle, saw the bride dazzle in a Berta Privee strapless lace gown, while Ofoedu sported a cream suit and black shirt. The day began with a blessing in a tiny church before moving to the castle grounds for the main event.
Notable guests among the 72 attendees included Boyzone’s Shane Lynch, who served as best man, alongside bandmate Keith Duffy, S Club 7’s Bradley McIntosh, and 911’s Lee Brennan. Guests toasted the newlyweds with £33-a-bottle Jean-Noel Heritage Champagne.
The couple shared a romantic first dance to Boyzone’s “Every Day I Love You,” a nod to Ofoedu’s extensive music industry friendships. A £7,500 drone show narrated their love story, which began in April 2024 at the Elite Awards in Carlisle, where Ofoedu was performing as a last-minute addition with Boyz on Block. Their order of service detailed this chance encounter, emphasizing how fate brought them together after a cancellation by Boyzlife. Their whirlwind romance led to a proposal in New York in February 2025.
Dinner tables were named after songs by their musical friends, and guests indulged in a meal featuring lobster ravioli, roast chicken, salmon, and cheese soufflé. Ofoedu, who spent six months preparing for the wedding in the gym, expressed his elation in an exclusive interview with the Mail. “I have been waiting for this feeling, I have always wanted to be married since I was seven years old,” he shared, calling it “the happiest day of my life.”
In his first interview as a married man, Ofoedu openly discussed his previous long-term engagement to Vanessa Feltz, which ended dramatically in 2023 due to his infidelity. “I wasted 17 years of my life,” he stated, adding, “I don’t believe in long engagements any more.” He expressed a newfound clarity, asserting, “If you don’t want to commit to someone, that’s fine. But don’t pretend you do and hold on to someone for a long period of time. Let them free, let them fly.”
Ofoedu, who now refuses to mention Feltz by name, reflected on the public nature of their relationship. “I knew what I was getting into going out with someone that talks about their sex life on TV. What did I expect? It was great media attention for her.”
He credits the difficult breakup with revealing his true friends, particularly his Boyzone bandmates. Ofoedu believes Feltz will see his wedding photos and understand “that everyone here knows the truth about our relationship and the narrative she spun.” He concluded that his love for Vanessa Brown has shown him that his previous relationship “didn’t love me as much as she made out, we had two different definitions of love.”
Vanessa Brown’s Unwavering Support and Future Plans
Bride Vanessa Brown echoed Ofoedu’s sentiments, describing their connection as “instant.” “It was like everything suddenly made sense. When you know, you know,” she beamed. The couple plans to start a family within the next year and embark on a joint business venture.
Addressing her husband’s past, Brown stated, “When it comes to his last relationship, a lot of it is spiteful and untrue.” She firmly believes she is the “right person for him” and that “Everyone always says they have never seen Ben as happy as he is now.” Dismissing any concern about Feltz, she added, “I couldn’t care less about her. She is his ex – I have exes – and they’re in the past. Why would you care?” She advised Feltz to “Enjoy your retirement, your family and just chill. Stop talking about it, it’s so tragic!”
Vanessa’s mother, Lana Brown, 59, who helped plan the wedding, also weighed in. “There’s no doubt in the past 16 years he was not a happy person, he was hurt a lot, but that’s in the past,” she said. She expressed hope that this new chapter would inspire Ofoedu to make music again, stating, “Creativity will begin again, he has taken the chains off his feet and he’s healed.”
The evening concluded with heartfelt speeches, including one from best man Shane Lynch, who shared, “To see his love for Vanessa, it’s beautiful and a blessed day. I am so happy to see Ben so happy. He deserves nothing more than this perfect day.”
The festivities continued into the early hours, with guests enjoying a VIP sing-along with Boyzone members and the option to stay overnight in the 43-bedroom castle.