Michael Clifford and Crystal Leigh.Photo: Nardia and Dan Niles/ Foolishly Rushing In
Michael CliffordandCrystal Leighare looking forward to forever.
The5 Seconds of Summermember and his longtime love are celebrating their first wedding anniversary on Tuesday following the secret ceremony they held last year, PEOPLE can exclusively reveal.
Clifford, 26,popped the questionto the former talent manager, 32, in January 2019 — and the original plan was to wed on Jan. 11, 2021, their fifth dating anniversary. The couple planned to hold the wedding in Bali, but instead decided to postpone to a later date when it’s safer for friends and family to travel due to COVID-19.
Nonetheless, the couple decided to get creative to “preserve their original wedding date.”
Michael Clifford and Crystal Leigh.Nardia and Dan Niles/ Foolishly Rushing In
Among the guests were of course 5SOS bandmates Luke Hemmings, Calum Hood and Ashton Irwin, who recentlycelebrated their 10-year anniversaryas a band and released their single “2011.” The band is currently gearing up for their 2022 North American and European tour, set to kick off in Dublin, Ireland in April.
The atmosphere.Nardia and Dan Niles/ Foolishly Rushing In
The florals.Nardia and Dan Niles/ Foolishly Rushing In
“It was definitely a random assortment of meat pies and vegan fried chicken. Turns out they go together pretty nicely,” Clifford joked to PEOPLE.
The gathering was a memorable one for the couple, though they reassure fans that they’re saving many of their important moments for the official ceremony — including reciting their wedding vows.
“I really wanted to save all of the traditional special wedding moments for our actual ceremony so I’m able to enjoy them with my mom,” Leigh said. “We’re actually both only children, so we want to make sure all of our parents get to experience every aspect of our wedding since they only get to do it once! No pressure.”
Michael Clifford.Nardia and Dan Niles/ Foolishly Rushing In
At the end of the day, it was about bringing their loved ones together for the special day.
“We were most excited to be near our friends all together for the first time in a while due to COVID,” the couple told PEOPLE. “To be officially married, even in secret, was so special for us too — officially Mr. and Mrs.”
A notable moment from the evening, the couple remembered, was when Hemmings' fiancée,Sierra Deaton, gifted Leigh a framed picture of her late father so that “he could be there.” Hemmings and Deaton also performed a duet of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” for the newlyweds.
Nardia and Dan Niles/ Foolishly Rushing In
Clifford and Leigh also recalled a moment that lightened the mood.
Crystal Leigh and her bridal party.Nardia and Dan Niles/ Foolishly Rushing In
Michael Clifford and his groomsmen.Nardia and Dan Niles/ Foolishly Rushing In
Their honeymoon was postponed to a later date, but the couple did find an unconventional way to soak in the moment in the middle of home renovations.
“Our honeymoon was amazing. We said we wanted no construction workers at our house for three days. We got about a day of silence,” Clifford joked.
Leigh added, “We just hope to honeymoon in Bali with all of our friends and family after the real wedding.”
As for what the bride is most excited about when it comes to marriage? Getting to “actually walk down the aisle” and “cake!”
source: people.com
