Lionel Richie has revealed he didn’t need ‘to vet’ Elliot Grainge before he married his daughter Sofia on Saturday.
Sofia, 24, wed Elliot, a 29-year-old music executive, in Antibes, France, over the weekend and was walked down the aisle by her doting father.
Lionel, 73, has now revealed that he didn’t have any concerns about Elliot, as he’s known him for many years.
He told Entertainment Tonight: ‘This is [my] baby girl. All I can say to you is, for every dad that’s ever been this way or getting ready to experience it, it is a humbling time in your life. Because you’re handing one of the loves of your life away.
‘But really, I’ll tell you a story, I’ve known Elliot since he was nine. So interestingly enough, I didn’t have to vet the kid. I know who he is!’
Sweet: Lionel Richie said he didn’t need to ‘vet’ Elliot Grainge before he married his daughter Sofia, as he has known him for years
Doting father: The music legend, 73, walked Sofia down the aisle and has now revealed he cried during the ceremony
Lionel also revealed that the wedding was a very emotional occasion.
He shared: ‘I mean, I was crying. It was it was a great ceremony. I love that it was one of those moments I will never, ever forget.’
The model, 24, radiated beauty on her big day as she posed for pictures in a beaded ivory gown alongside the British music executive.
After saying ‘I do’ in front of her closest loved ones, she beamed with joy as she cosied up to her man for official wedding photographs.
Taking a moment of her own, Sofia then stood at the top of a flight of stairs for her own bridal pictures, smiling from-ear-to-ear as her guests watched on in awe.
Posing for a series of family portraits, the newly-weds were joined by their nearest and dearest – Sofia’s parents, Lionel Richie and Dianne Alexander and Elliot’s father Lucian Grainge and stepmother, Caroline Grainge.
Sofia also shared a sweet embrace with her father who kissed her tenderly on the forehead.
Earlier in the day’s proceedings, the pair shared a special moment together as Lionel sweetly walked her down a flight of stairs and through the aisle to marry Elliot.
Gorgeous: The model, 24, radiated beauty on her big day as she posed for pictures in a beaded ivory gown
Sofia looked sensational as she linked arms with the four-time Grammy winner, who led his youngest daughter, clad in a breathtaking custom wedding dress, to her groom.
The blushing bride – who had a total of three Chanel dresses for her wedding weekend, including the one she wore to her rehearsal dinner the day prior – wore a delicate gown with iridescent white sequins and a criss-cross neckline, which was inspired by a look from Chanel’s fall 2023 collection.
The groom cut a dapper figure in a black tuxedo and bow tie as he stood alongside his father Lucian Grainge and stepmother, Caroline Grainge.
The couple opted for a traditionally Jewish ceremony, after Christian-born Sofia revealed she had converted.
Vogue first confirmed that the couple exchanged vows on Saturday evening in the South of France.
In a video on the publication’s Instagram, Lionel’s daughter gushed about her groom, 30: ‘I am so excited. [It’s] because I’m marrying Elliot, I know that sounds cheesy—but he is the man of my dreams.’
As for what he might think of her wedding dress, she said: ‘I honestly think Elliot is going to love it. He is my biggest cheerleader when it comes to anything I wear. If he doesn’t cry, I’ll be very sad.’
Elliot is the son of Lucian Grainge, the chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group.
Engaged: Richie announced her engagement to Grainge in 2022, showing off her splendid ring
Romantic: She included a number of snaps shots from the proposal, including the moment Elliot got down on one knee
He works as the CEO of indie record label 10K Projects and works with Trippie Redd and Tekashi 6ix9ine.
Sofia and Elliott got engaged in April 2022, taking to Instagram at the time to announce the news as they shared snaps of the sweet candlelight proposal.
The couple started dating in early 2021 and they went Instagram official in April 2021.
A source spoke to Entertainment Tonight at the time and expressed that the happy couple had known each other for an extended period of time prior to the start of their romance.
‘They have been friends for years and Elliot is also close with Sofia’s brother, Miles. It’s very nice for Sofia to date someone who her family approves of and likes,’ they said.
Meanwhile another source told US Weekly of their early romance at the time: ‘Their relationship took off and they have been getting closer and closer and spend practically every day together.’
Sofia was previously in a high-profile relationship with reality television personality Scott Disick, whom she began seeing in 2017. He reportedly ‘tried to keep busy’ in the run-up to the wedding.
The former couple, who had a 16-year age gap, were together for nearly three years before they broke things off in May 2020.
They then reconciled that July, although they went on to separate for a final time in August.
Sofia has also been linked to a string of eligible bachelors including Cha Cha Matcha founder Matthew Morton and Israeli shipping heir Gil Ofer.
The ex: Sofia was previously in a high-profile relationship with reality television personality Scott Disick, 39, whom she began seeing in 2017; Scott and Sofia pictured in 2019
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk