Peltz’s vow renewal gown choice fuels speculation of simmering tensions with Beckham’s in-laws

For most couples, a vow renewal is a gesture reserved for significant milestones — a 25th anniversary, a life-changing hardship overcome, or the empty nest years. For Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz, however, just three years of marriage — and an ongoing undercurrent of family tension — was reason enough to stage a second, lavish ceremony.

Earlier this month, the pair exchanged vows again, this time at the Peltz family’s estate in Westchester County, New York. Their first wedding, in April 2022, was a £3 million spectacle at the Peltz family’s beachfront mansion in Palm Beach, Florida. While that day was steeped in opulence, their vow renewal carried a sharper edge — particularly in the symbolism of Nicola’s gown.

The bride chose to wear her mother Claudia Peltz’s original 1985 wedding dress, a vintage ivory silk design updated for the occasion. The gown’s dropped waist and off-the-shoulder balloon sleeves, decorated with floral appliqué, gave it a romantic, Old Hollywood air. Yet for observers aware of the much-discussed rift between Nicola and her Beckham in-laws, the choice of dress was loaded with meaning.

In 2022, reports circulated of tensions between Nicola and Victoria Beckham, fuelled by disagreements over Nicola’s bridal styling and the absence of a Beckham-designed gown at the original wedding. Nicola later dismissed the feud rumours in interviews, but her decision to again forgo a Beckham creation — and instead spotlight her mother’s wedding dress — has reignited speculation.

The Westchester event was intentionally more private than their Palm Beach nuptials, with no official guest list disclosed. Still, family members were present, including Brooklyn’s parents, David and Victoria Beckham. Nelson Peltz, Nicola’s billionaire father, officiated the ceremony, lending the renewal a distinctly Peltz-centric stamp.

Social media posts from the day painted a carefully curated picture: photographs of Nicola in her reworked vintage gown, Brooklyn in a classic black suit, and intimate moments shared beneath a floral archway. The setting was elegant but less ostentatious than their first wedding — suggesting a deliberate pivot towards heritage and sentiment over spectacle.

But while the aesthetic leaned towards nostalgia, the subtext of Nicola’s styling choice didn’t go unnoticed. Fashion insiders described the gown as a “power move” — one that reclaimed the narrative around her wedding-day image. By wearing her mother’s dress, Nicola not only honoured her family heritage but also subtly reinforced her independence from Beckham-brand influence.

Brooklyn, the eldest of the Beckham children, has embraced the Peltz orbit since their marriage, splitting his time between family homes and frequently featuring in Nicola’s creative projects. Their public image as a united front contrasts sharply with the gossip surrounding behind-the-scenes tensions between the two families.

The original wedding dress story — in which Victoria Beckham’s atelier reportedly created a gown for Nicola before plans changed — became a tabloid fixture in 2022. Choosing Claudia Peltz’s 1985 gown for the vow renewal inevitably resurrected those headlines, whether intentionally or not.

While Nicola has maintained that there is “no feud,” the timing and symbolism of her choice suggest a layered message. Wearing her mother’s dress placed her firmly within her own family’s legacy, making the vow renewal as much a celebration of Peltz’s heritage as of her marriage.

For the Beckhams and Peltzes alike, appearances are paramount — and Nicola’s gown ensured that the second wedding made a statement without a single direct word. Whether seen as a heartfelt tribute or a subtle act of defiance, it was a choice that kept the conversation — and the speculation — alive.