As it turns out, actress Gabourey Sidibe has been married for more than a year – and she and husband Brandon Frankel have kept it a secret from the public. Revealing the news on Monday morning’s “Live With Kelly and Ryan,” Sidibe dropped the bombshell, telling the hosts, “The thing about weddings is I don’t like them. I don’t like them. Here’s an example of how much I don’t like them: I’m actually married. We got married over a year ago.” Ripa and Seacrest appeared to be just as stunned as the rest of the world when Sidibe clarified this was the first time she had announced her “kitchen table” wedding.
Sidibe and Frankel later posted their rings on Instagram, with Sidibe’s caption reading, “These are our official wedding photos! The Wedding at the kitchen counter featuring our rings by @happyjewelers, followed by an extremely lit reception with Aaron sniffing flowers sent to us and then a very romantic sunset dinner featuring our mask because we were still in the thick of the pandemic. We really do want to have a wedding someday but I just couldn’t wait to marry this amazing man.”
Sidibe wears a bridal white shirt and two pearl barrettes in the first image, showing off her baguette-cut diamond eternity band and stacked solitaire engagement ring set with a round-cut diamond and pavé band. Next to her, Frankel also holds up his hand for the camera, revealing a diamond eternity band with a slightly thicker channel setting than hers.
Though the exact styles of Sidibe’s rings have not yet been confirmed, her engagement ring looks very similar to a 1.69 round brilliant natural diamond ring that Happy Jewelers currently sells. The company crafts baguette eternity bands to order in a variety of gold finishes and diamond sizes.
Sidibe announced her engagement back in November 2020 on Instagram, showing off the solitaire ring gifted to her by her now-husband Frankel. While it’s unclear when they first began dating, the duo became Instagram official in September 2019, sharing a photo from date night on Frankel’s feed.
In May 2022, Sidibe wore a number of wedding looks in the digital issue of Brides, and, while it was published under the guise of “why Sidibe won’t wear a traditional wedding gown for her upcoming nuptials,” the joke was on us, because Sidibe had technically already tied the knot.
Ahead, see Sidibe’s carousel post as shared on social media, as well as options to shop similar rings for yourself if you’re in the market – whether you’re planning a lavish affair or opting for the more casual kitchen wedding environment embraced by Sidibe and Frankel.