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Charles Spencer and Cat Jarman's Arizona Wedding
Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer and Princess Diana's brother, married archaeologist Cat Jarman on Friday 15 May 2026. The private ceremony took place in the Arizona desert. Jarman wore a pale blue Grecian-style gown. The designer has not been confirmed. It is the Earl's fourth marriage. The couple co-host a history podcast.
Key Takeaways
- Charles Spencer and Cat Jarman married in a private ceremony in Arizona on Friday 15 May 2026
- The date comes from the Earl's own Instagram caption, as reported by HELLO!
- Jarman wore a pale blue Grecian-style gown; the designer has not been confirmed
- Hola! USA reported a bouquet of white roses and a dark suit with an open-necked blue shirt for the groom
- Photos were taken in front of Cathedral Rock near Sedona, but no venue has been named
- It is the Earl's fourth marriage; the couple met when he reviewed her 2021 book
Charles Spencer married the archaeologist Cat Jarman on Friday 15 May 2026. The private ceremony took place in the Arizona desert.
The 9th Earl Spencer is Princess Diana’s younger brother. Jarman wore a pale blue Grecian-style gown.
It was one of the smallest weddings among all of 2026’s celebrity weddings. Here is what was reported, where sources differ and what UK couples can borrow.
The wedding at a glance
| Detail | What was reported |
|---|---|
| Date | Friday 15 May 2026, per the Earl’s Instagram caption |
| Setting | Private ceremony in the Arizona desert |
| Area | Photos taken at Cathedral Rock, near Sedona |
| Bride’s dress | Pale blue Grecian-style gown; designer not confirmed |
| Accessories | Gold platform heels and a gold pendant necklace (HELLO!) |
| Bouquet | White roses (Hola! USA) |
| Groom | Dark suit, light blue shirt, no tie (Hola! USA) |
| Announced | Instagram, then a joint statement to PEOPLE |
| Marriage | The Earl’s fourth |
The setting: a desert ceremony for two
The couple have not named a venue. Photos showed them holding hands in the desert.
View this post from @charles.earl.spencer on Instagram
The photos were taken in front of Cathedral Rock, near Sedona, according to The Daily Beast, The Australian Women’s Weekly and PureWow. Reality Tea also reported the Sedona area. The ceremony site itself has not been named.
No guests or officiant have been named. The wedding was kept private until the Earl posted photos on Instagram.
He called it his “happiest day ever”. He also quoted a friend who said Jarman would want him “if you lived in a hut”.
Styled image with no people, not the couple’s ceremony site.
The dress: pale blue and Grecian-style
Jarman skipped the white wedding dress. HELLO! described a powder blue, ankle-length Grecian-style gown.
It had a low V-neck, an open back and a billowing skirt. The Australian Women’s Weekly and PureWow also noted cut-outs at the waist.
The designer has not been confirmed. HELLO! named the French label ba&sh and gave a price of £355. It did not say how it identified the dress. No other outlet we checked named a maker. Neither the couple nor the label has commented.
She wore gold platform heels and a gold pendant necklace. Her hair was in a braided updo.
Hola! USA described the dress as a very pale blue linen dress. HELLO!‘s main report also mentioned a white linen dress in one passage. Its dedicated dress story describes the same gown as powder blue.
Styled image with a model, not Cat Jarman or her dress.
The bouquet and the groom
Hola! USA and HELLO!‘s main report describe a bouquet of white roses. HELLO!‘s dress story said the bouquet had blue accents to match the gown.
The Earl wore a dark suit with a light blue, open-necked shirt and no tie, according to Hola! USA and Reality Tea.
Styled image with a model, not Cat Jarman’s bouquet.
The couple
The Earl is 61 and Jarman is 43, according to HELLO!. She is a Norwegian archaeologist and author.
They met when he was asked to review her 2021 Viking history book, River Kings. They have worked on archaeological digs together.
Since 2023 they have co-hosted the history podcast The Rabbit Hole Detectives with Richard Coles.
In a joint statement, they said they felt “so incredibly lucky”. They described moving “from being colleagues, to friendship, to deep love and connection”.
The Earl’s earlier marriages were to Victoria Lockwood, Caroline Freud and Karen Spencer. He lives at Althorp in Northamptonshire.
What UK couples can borrow
A coloured dress
A pale blue gown suits a second marriage or a small ceremony. It also photographs well against open countryside or desert.
Many occasion-wear labels sell long dresses in soft colours. Our royal wedding dresses guide includes Diana’s 1981 dress and the Spencer family tiara.
A ceremony for two abroad
A marriage that is legal where it takes place should be recognised in the UK. Lincolnshire County Council’s guidance says you do not need to register it here.
You must meet the other country’s own rules. Check those with the local authority there before you book anything.
Our guide to eloping in the UK covers the options closer to home.
A small table instead of a big reception
A desert ceremony for two leaves room for a quiet dinner afterwards. A private dining room or a table at a favourite restaurant works the same way in the UK.
Styled image with no people, not the couple’s wedding.
Vows that reflect your story
Second marriages often suit shorter, more personal vows. Our second marriage vows guide has 20 examples.
What we do not know
No venue, officiant or guest list has been published.
The exact ceremony site is unknown. Several outlets place the photos at Cathedral Rock, near Sedona.
The dress designer has not been confirmed. Only HELLO! named ba&sh.
The dress fabric is unclear. Hola! USA says linen, but HELLO!‘s dress story does not name the fabric.
We have not found any honeymoon details.
Sources
We opened these pages when checking the guide. Prices and rules can change, so follow the link before booking.
- HELLO!: Charles Spencer marries Cat Jarman — 15 May date from the Earl's Instagram caption, Arizona setting, ages, fourth marriage, podcast and how the couple met. Checked 26 October 2026
- HELLO!: Cat Jarman's blue wedding dress — Powder blue gown, low V-neck and open back, gold heels, pendant necklace and braided updo. Names ba&sh at £355 without saying how the dress was identified. Checked 26 October 2026
- Hola! USA: wedding photos from Arizona — Very pale blue linen dress, white rose bouquet, groom's dark suit and light blue shirt with no tie, desert setting. Checked 26 October 2026
- Reality Tea: Charles Spencer and Cat Jarman wedding — Places the ceremony in the Sedona area with red rock scenery, and cites the couple's joint statement to PEOPLE. Checked 26 October 2026
- The Daily Beast: Charles Spencer's secret wedding — Private ceremony in Arizona, photos in front of Sedona's Cathedral Rock, ages 61 and 43, and the joint statement. Does not name a dress designer. Checked 28 October 2026
- The Australian Women's Weekly: Charles Spencer and Cat Jarman's wedding — 15 May 2026 date from the Earl's Instagram, pale blue gown with waist cut-outs, gold heels, Cathedral Rock photos. Does not name a dress designer. Checked 28 October 2026
- PureWow: Princess Diana's brother marries — Pale blue sleeveless gown with plunging neckline and side cut-outs, private ceremony in Arizona, Cathedral Rock backdrop. No designer named. Checked 28 October 2026
- Lincolnshire County Council: getting married abroad — A marriage valid where it took place should be recognised in the UK, and there is no requirement to register it here. Checked 26 October 2026
Keep planning
Frequently asked questions
When did Charles Spencer marry Cat Jarman?
They married on Friday 15 May 2026. The date comes from the Earl's own Instagram caption, reported by HELLO!.
Where did Charles Spencer get married?
In a private ceremony in Arizona. Photos showed them at Cathedral Rock near Sedona, but no venue has been named.
What did Cat Jarman wear to marry Earl Spencer?
A pale blue Grecian-style gown. The designer has not been confirmed by the couple or by any label.
Is this Charles Spencer's fourth marriage?
Yes, it is his fourth marriage. His earlier wives were Victoria Lockwood, Caroline Freud and Karen Spencer.
Is a wedding in the US legal back in the UK?
Usually, if it was legal where it took place. Local council guidance says you do not need to register it in the UK.