Popular worship leader Israel Houghton and daytime talk show host Adrienne Bailon tied the knot last Friday in an intimate ceremony in Paris, France. The newlyweds shared exclusive footage of their big day with Bailon’s co-hosts in the latest episode of “The Real.”
With only 50 people in attendance, the happy couple gathered in the midst of their closest friends and family to celebrate their union.
Before Bailon put on her custom-made wedding gown the women in her family all gathered around her, laid hands and prayed over her.
“It was really important to me that the women in my family pray over me. I have amazing women in my life and they’ve been through so much. They’re strong and they’re kind and they’re good to people. If I could be half of the wife that those women are, I would be so blessed,” Bailon said. “I think keeping God at the center of everything that we do is so important.”
The happy bride also talked about her decision to abstain from sex until their wedding night, saying, “it gives you time to think and find other ways to connect.”
Leading up to the wedding ceremony “The Cheetah Girls” actress left her husband-to-be love letters that he read at different times up until the big day. The final letter was Bailon’s vows, which they both wrote and shared at the ceremony.
In August, Houghton shared an Instagram picture of Bailon’s hand in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, sporting a massive diamond engagement ring, with a long caption reading, in part, “I have seen and felt the essence of God’s grace through the life, the kindness and the courage of this woman. … I’ve taken a giant leap of faith in asking her to share life with me forever and to give me a shot at getting it right this time. She has graciously granted my request. She said yes. Thanks Be To God. Thank you @adriennebailon for graciously loving me.”
At the top of the year, Houghton publicly announced that his marriage of some 20 years was legally over and despite the naysayers, the singer is giving marriage another shot. News of Houghton, 44, and 32-year-old Bailon’s romance first surfaced when she was photographed in a bikini on a beach in Mexico with the Lakewood Church worship leader (currently on indefinite leave) in March.
What started as rumors stemming from tabloid photos that Bailon and Houghton were dating were quickly confirmed. Bailon initially stayed mum as the photos circulated and Houghton was the first to address the rumors.
“I met Adrienne Bailon a bit over two years ago, we worked together and became friends. Our circles connected and we remained good friends. From a friendship, as two single adults we have very recently begun to explore a dating relationship,” he confessed in a Facebook post.
Their relationship first sparked controversy because Houghton publicly repented and addressed his divorce in an open letter posted on Facebook not long before dating Bailon. “It is with a collective heavy heart that we announce that after over 20 years of marriage and a long separation, Meleasa and I are officially divorced,” he wrote.
“Several years ago I failed and sinned in my marriage,” he confessed. “Though this is new to many, it is not new to us as we have been working through this for over five years. Although we tried, the challenges in our relationship have proven too much to overcome.”
Bailon was pegged as the reason for Houghton’s divorce after the beach photos surfaced. But the actress insisted that she didn’t even know him at the time of his personal failure, and said that the public blaming her for his marriage ending was “hurtful.” Houghton has since taken leave of his role as worship leader of Pastor Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, but is still out doing concerts.
Houghton and Bailon first worked together on the 2013 flick produced by Houghton, “I’m in Love with a Church Girl.”
