Surprise! Nelly and Ashanti Are Already Married; Couple Tied the Knot 6 Months Ago

Nelly and Ashanti have been secretly married — for six months!

PEOPLE  obtained documents on Wednesday, June 19, showing that Ashanti, 43, and Nelly, 49, tied the knot back on December 27, 2023. The couple previously announced their engagement and pregnancy with their first child, but not their wedding. TMZ was first to report their wedding news.

Earlier this week, Ashanti told Entertainment Tonight about the proposal and her dream wedding ideas. 

Describing the moment the rapper popped the question, Ashanti said it was a “beautiful, intimate moment” at home. She joked that her outfit proved she was not expecting it at all.

“I definitely had one of his T-shirts and his boxers,” she said.

In May, Ashanti celebrated her first Mother’s Day as an expecting mother, sharing the festivities on Instagram. In the photos, she posed with Nelly and other family members cradling her bump and smiling.

“This Mother’s Day was so special,” Ashanti captioned the post. “Having our families together as we are about to embark on such an incredible journey was amazing. Wishing all of the amazing Moms and Moms to be a beautiful Mother’s Day...!!!! 😆😆😆😆❤️🙏🏽🥳 #grateful 🙏🏽🥰”

She added: “Yeah yeah I know I’m late… it was so much food I got distracted 🤣🤣 Ps… I only had 1 plate tho 🤣🤣👀"

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The couple first began dating in the early 2000s before breaking up in 2013. They rekindled their relationship after another 10 years in 2023, announcing their engagement and pregnancy nearly one year later. 

"I think it surprised both of us,” the "Hot in Herre" hitmaker said on the Boss Moves with Rasheeda show streaming on Philo in September.