David & Victoria Beckham: Their 25 Year Relationship Timeline
It’s a quarter of a century since David and Victoria Beckham first went on a date. Discover their relationship highlights, from how they met to where they got married to those famous matching outfits…
Who knew that Hitched shared an anniversary with none other than David and Victoria Beckham? We’ve been providing you with wedding planning inspiration, advice and intel for 25 years, while the Beckhams have also been feeling the love since their very first meeting in 1997.
In 2016 Victoria revealed to British Vogue that David asked for her number after their first encounter in the Manchester United Players’ Lounge following a charity football match, and that Victoria obliged by writing it on a London-Manchester plane ticket. Apparently David still has that ticket, which says everything you need to know about their enduring romance. Well, perhaps not everything. Here’s a timeline of the Beckhams’ 25 year relationship, with key facts about how long they dated, the lavish Beckham wedding and all things brand ‘Beckham’.
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David & Victoria Beckham’s Relationship Timeline
1997: Victoria Adams and David Beckham Meet
Clearly the air in the Manchester United Players’ Lounge was electric – Victoria told Vogue that meeting David was “love at first sight”. She fell for his family values and “cute smile”, acknowledging that she was “the famous one” at the time (she notes that he hadn’t “even made the first team at this stage”).
January 1998: David and Victoria Beckham Announce Their Engagement
David and Victoria Beckham got engaged at Rookery Hall in Cheshire after dating for less than a year. David popped the question after a Manchester United match and they announced their engagement wearing matching black turtlenecks during a press conference shortly afterwards, thus beginning the Posh and Becks media phenomenon.
Victoria Beckham’s Engagement Ring
David proposed with a bespoke marquise cut diamond set on a yellow gold band, but Victoria Beckham’s engagement ring collection has grown significantly since the late 90s. Over the Beckhams’ 25 years of marriage, it’s reported that Victoria has acquired no fewer than 15 engagement rings in total, ranging from gobstopper sized coloured gemstones to the latest, a chic square cut yellow diamond pavé engagement ring.
READ MORE: Everything You Need to Know about Buying a Diamond
4th March 1999: Brooklyn Beckham is Born
Victoria and David announce the birth of their first child just four months before their wedding. Elton John is Brooklyn’s godfather with Elizabeth Hurley taking the role of godmother. The Beckhams don’t do things by halves.
4th July 1999: David and Victoria Beckham’s Wedding Day
The Beckhams got married at Luttrellstown Castle just outside of Dublin, Ireland. Speaking to Kirsty Young about the big day in the 75th Anniversary edition of Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, David Beckham acknowledged that “we did throw a lot at it” – here’s the lowdown on the Beckham wedding.
The Wedding Venue
The couple chose the 567 acre surrounds of the frankly magical Luttrellstown Castle as their celebrity wedding venue and it’s certainly not short on history or fairy tale appeal. Its name is taken from the castle’s original owners, the Luttrell family, who lived at the estate for over 300 years. Its towers date back to the 15th century and the grounds incorporate a 20 acre lake, a waterfall, a championship golf house and an alpine lodge style clubhouse with views over the Wicklow mountains. The castle itself has 20 opulent bedrooms with marble bathtubs and four poster beds as standard.
The Wedding Theme
Victoria and David chose a Robin Hood theme according to the Luttrellstown Castle team, “with a colour scheme that included burgundy, dark green and, most famously, cardinal purple” (we’ll come to that in a moment). The theme could have been chosen to reflect the ancient forest setting, as Luttrellstown Castle boasts over 300 species of trees and plants in its enormous walled grounds – it’s definitely a Green Isle rival to Sherwood Forest.
READ MORE: The 10 Most Popular Wedding Themes on Pinterest Revealed
The Wedding Outfits
Unsurprisingly, matchy-matchy was the order of the day. For the wedding ceremony Victoria wore a strapless ivory satin Vera Wang wedding gown with a corseted bodice and 20 foot train. Her wedding accessories included an 18 karat gold tiara designed by Irish jeweller Slim Barrett, a diamond crucifix necklace and tiny diamond studs. David wore an all-white suit and ivory silk tie to match Victoria’s wedding dress.
For the reception, the newlyweds changed into matching regal purple outfits. Victoria opted for a floral one shoulder dress with a split skirt while David wore a vibrant purple suit complete with purple floral buttonhole. Both wore Manolo Blahnik shoes – Victoria’s were silver and strappy, David’s were Cadbury hued suede. Even Brooklyn adhered to the colour palette in a purple cowboy hat, purple suit, purple bib and purple shoes. David revealed to Kirsty Young that the violet fanfare didn’t end there. “I even had a top hat in purple. What was I thinking?”. It was without doubt a look of its time, but it’s undeniably iconic. Even the wedding guests adhered to a colour theme, with Victoria and David stipulating a monochrome dress code.
See more iconic celebrity wedding dresses here.
Victoria Beckham’s Bouquet
Victoria eschewed flowers in favour of a rustic bouquet made up of long flowing vines, twigs and apples, with her sister and maid of honour Louise carrying a smaller version of the same bouquet.
The Best Man and Bridesmaids
Victoria’s sister Louise and Louise’s 13 month old daughter Liberty were bridesmaids, as was David’s niece Georgina who was just 16 months old. Louise wore a strapless Chloé dress with a white skirt and champagne and gold embellished corset, while the little ones were dressed as woodland fairies. On the groom’s side, fellow Manchester United footballer Gary Neville was David’s best man.
The Ceremony
Only 29 close friends and family members attended the Beckham’s intimate wedding ceremony in a small chapel near Luttrellstown Castle. The couple reportedly released a dove after saying their vows and an orchestra played ‘Goodbye’ by The Spice Girls.
The Reception
In contrast to the small wedding ceremony, 230 guests attended the Beckham’s wedding reception, including Sir Bobby Charlton, David Seaman and, of course, each member of The Spice Girls. Elton John and Sir Alex Ferguson unfortunately couldn’t make the day.
The newlyweds sat on huge golden thrones and apparently a Beckham family flag was raised above the castle.
The Cake
Victoria and David cut a three tiered foliage and apple adorned white iced cake with a sword, in true keeping with the Robin Hood theme.
READ MORE: 40 Gorgeous Rustic Wedding Cake Ideas
The First Dance
Beckham's first dance was to “It Had to Be You”, which was followed by a fireworks display over the Luttrellstown grounds.
October 1999: The Beckhams buy ‘Beckingham Palace’
David and Victoria put down roots at Rowneybury House in Hertfordshire, with the 12 acre estate and mansion dubbed ‘Beckingham Palace’ by the press.
September 2002: Romeo Beckham is Born
The couple announced the birth of their second son in London.
April 2003: The Beckham Family move to Madrid
David is transferred to Real Madrid and the family relocate to the Spanish capital.
November 2003: David Beckham is Awarded an OBE
He brought his parents along to Buckingham Palace and described receiving the award as “his proudest moment”.
February 2005: Cruz Beckham is Born
Victoria gives birth to the couple’s third son in Madrid.
July 2007: The Beckham Family move to LA
David is signed by LA Galaxy and the family move stateside, with Tom Cruise throwing them a starry welcome party.
September 2008: Victoria Launches her Fashion Brand
Victoria debuts her first fashion collection at New York Fashion Week. Meanwhile the couple team up on brand collaborations for the likes of Emporio Armani.
April 2011: David and Victoria attend the Wedding of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
David wears a morning suit and Victoria, who is pregnant at the time, wears a loose navy minidress and matching hat. You can see our favourite celebrity wedding guest looks here.
READ MORE: Prince William and Kate Middleton's 56 Cutest Moments
July 2011: Harper Seven is Born
Victoria gives birth in LA to her fourth child, a daughter named Harper Seven.
January 2013: The Beckham Family Move Back to the UK
After David announced his retirement from football the Beckhams moved to London, later buying a grand townhouse in London’s Holland Park.
April 2017: Victoria Beckham is Awarded an OBE
Victoria joins her husband on the Queen’s honours’ list for services to the fashion industry.
July 2017: David and Victoria Beckham Renew Their Wedding Vows
David tells Desert Islands Discs’ Kirsty Young that he and Victoria renewed their vows at home with just six people as witnesses.
May 2018: David and Victoria Beckham attend the Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In strikingly similar ensembles to those worn at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Beckhams make the star studded royal wedding guest list. See our favourite iconic royal wedding dresses throughout history here.
July 2019: The Beckhams Celebrate Their 20th Wedding Anniversary
Victoria shares a loved up Instagram post to mark the couple’s 20th wedding anniversary. David and Victoria spend the day on a romantic private tour of the Château de Versailles just outside Paris.
READ MORE: 20th Wedding Anniversary Gifts – 30 China and Platinum Present Ideas
May 2021: David and Victoria Beckham’s Have a Net Worth of £380 million
The Sunday Times’ Rich List publishes the couple’s net worth, with their wealth derived from football, fashion, property, e-sports and David’s Haig Club whisky brand with Diageo, to name just a few of their commercial interests. Their Holland Park townhouse alone is now valued at £31 million.
January 2022: The Beckhams Celebrate 25 Years Together
They kick off their engagement anniversary month with a large family holiday in the sunshine.
Wondering how to mark your own engagement anniversary? Here are 44 cute ways to celebrate your original engagement date.
