17th December, 2011 -
Marriage
'''AJ of the Backstreet Boys doesn't take care of his wedding preparations'''
No professional job is more complex than being a "wedding planner," AJ McLean, a Backstreet Boys member, makes sure.
Although he doesn't devote himself to that, the team's ringleader, who's preparing for his wedding with Rochelle Deanna Karidis, is the big hero for the singer and ballet dancer.
It's customary for most men to take a back seat in wedding planning. But Backstreet Boys' AJ McLean is getting ready to tie the knot with fiancée Rochelle Deanna Karidis. Before it all happened, he told ''People'' back in April and admitted exclusively to ''OK''! that he was highly involved in the planning, branding himself a very hands-on "groomzilla".
"I'm hands-on," he said about planning his goth-themed evening ceremony.
The pair, who got engaged in Las Vegas, plans to tie the knot in May, with AJ recently confessing he has turned into a "groomzilla," planning the wedding while makeup artist Rochelle concentrates on her studies.
"When I realized everything that to do charm my profession is not so complicated as I believed. I prefer not to say his name; however, I acknowledge their work and congratulate you because I would go crazy. I am choosing flowers, the right colors, tables, and chairs like the one for the bride and the groom, pleasing moms, dads, and guests. It looks complex and worthy of welcome," AJ said in an interview.
"I am the groomzilla. I am letting my fiancée deal with school, and I am taking on the added pressure, but we are perfect teammates, so we are helping each other out," the 32-year-old gushed good-naturedly to ''OK''! at the 2nd Annual Get Lucky for Lupus event in L.A.
AJ could not be more excited for his upcoming wedding on May 14, especially with the help of celebrity wedding planner Mindy Weiss.
"When it comes to the flower arrangements, the food, the entertainment, she wants me to do it, so I have been meeting with our wedding planner, Mindy Weiss, the most amazing wedding planner in the world. So, she and her whole team are making it so easy for us," AJ explained on Wednesday.
The Florida native even gave ''OK''! a sneak peek at what to expect on the big day.
"I'll tell you that my fiancée is wearing a black dress, and I am wearing a white suit. The theme is Moulin Rouge. I have some other friends who may perform and do our first dance." But why Rochelle?
"It just clicked. We've been dating for a year and a half. I proposed to her (Rochelle) on my birthday in January. I just knew. There was this moment when you know. This is it. I am done searching the world." AJ is already thinking about the future and having babies!
"We'd like to be married for a couple of years, enjoy it, and then get in lots and lots of practice. But I am going to have a girl, I know it! Brian Littrell has a boy, Howie Dorough has a boy, and I can guarantee mine will be a girl."
The wedding planning is taking a backseat to working on new music with his band, OhYeah, and a new Backstreet Boys record.
The hitch was supposed to happen in May, but AJ sought treatment "for personal reasons" in January and checked into a rehab center for a month, so the couple reportedly put it on hold. Still, McLean and Karidis have sent out 'Save the Date' notices to friends and family, asking them to keep December 17 free for the knot-tying!
Last year, Howie, Brian, and Nick's companion proposed to his girlfriend and wanted to get married in May, but due to all the preparations that lay ahead, he changed the date to the end of the year.
His band, along with New Kids on the Block, is releasing their album, NKOTBSB, in three weeks, which features successful hits from both bands and remixes of their shared successes.
So, you should know by now that the Backstreet Boys' resident bad boy, A.J. McLean, is tying the knot this winter to his longtime girlfriend, Rochelle Deanna Karidis. What you might not have known is that it's going to be one of the sickest, "craziest" celebrity weddings ever. Here to talk all about it is the wedding minister, Tyler Shields!
Yeppers! The renowned celebrity photographer revealed that, as a close friend of A.J.'s, he would officiate at the ceremony on December 17. He's dubbing it the "I Do Or Die wedding" between the pair and adds that it will be the year's highlight! He explains:
"I'm much more nervous about being the minister than when I'm taking photographs of young Hollywood. But I can promise people there will be plenty of surprises, and it will be one of the craziest celebrity weddings ever. A.J. is a friend of mine, and I'm pleased for them both and thrilled to be a part of their big day."
The couple is still planning the event, which will feature numerous big-name stars.
The couple postponed their wedding date after A.J. checked into rehab earlier this year.
The singer proposed to Karidis while he was celebrating his 32nd birthday in a Las Vegas nightclub – but they have now sent out notices to family and friends to keep their new December date free.
The happy couple is going for a Moulin Rouge-themed wedding, and it's understood they will be serenaded by his fellow Backstreet Boys members Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, and former bandmate Kevin Richardson.
Karidis and McLean want to hear the band's fans' favorite hit, "I Want It That Way," as their first dance song.
The Millionaire singer, who proposed to his longtime girlfriend on his 32nd birthday in January 2010 in Las Vegas, has credited his new bride as the person who helped him beat his drug addiction, encouraging his sobriety.
McLean previously wrote on his Twitter account, linking to his then-fiancée's Twitter handle: "I really miss and love @rochelle_deanna. You are my whole world, and I cannot wait to spend my life with you. W out u here I am lost!"
The famous Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean will finally marry his fiancée, the beautiful Rochelle Karidis, on December 17 this year. There is something unusual that the Backstreet Boys singer has tried. He selected the wedding invitation cards, but they were strange. Still, He's had blood on his mind, presuming all his guests must have completely freaked out by the invitations. The wedding invitations seem to have been dipped in red blood. It appears that he fantasizes about Gothic imagery, and his invitations have a death theme, with lettering that resembles blood.
Additionally, the black and red invitation resembled an invitation to a Halloween party. It looked like Count Dracula or Ed Hardy designed them. They contain bloody lettering and creepy gothic imagery. So the guests could make out that the nuptials would be unconventional.
'''Wedding invitations'''
The wedding invitations said it all. The entire cards were black and were peculiarly featured with borders. Additionally, the words were written in dark red ink. All this indicated that the wedding had a Gothic theme.
'''A.J McLean's''' '''Gothic wedding theme'''
According to reports by TMZ, the wedding is planned to evoke a Gothic atmosphere, and they have shared photos of the death-themed invitations with fans. For example, the lettering on the invites contains blood-red writing. The venue for the Gothic wedding ceremony has been planned and will take place at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where celebrity photographer Tyler Shields will officiate the ceremony. So, he is the one who has had the opportunity to capture all the fantastic and unique wedding moments. According to him, this is the craziest celebrity wedding that is going to take place.
There is undoubtedly a touch of McLean's characteristic dark style in the invitations. A week earlier, guests received a Gothic, death-themed invitation that came inside a box containing an RSVP card for them to confirm their attendance, a dance card indicating the sequence of events, and, for those who were interested, a photo opportunity.
'''Wedding Elegance'''
The theme has been disclosed in the reports. According to the invitations, you are requested to refrain from bringing cameras or mobile phones, as they are not permitted. But, of course, all cell phones and cameras are banned from the wedding venue during the wedding celebration. We will get a visual scoop soon! The chief wedding planner, Mindy Weiss, is excited about the unusual wedding theme. She also says that since it is Gothic, she has been working hard to make it a success and is trying all possible ways to make this wedding elegant. The challenges have been coming her way, but she loves the road paved with challenges. All the members of the Backstreet Boys will surely attend the wedding.
If the invitation is a prelude to the wedding theme, then Gothic would most certainly be the theme, but that was not the case. A.J. had mentioned that he would wear a white suit, whereas his fiancée would wear a black dress with Moulin Rouge as the wedding theme!
A.J. McLean and his former Backstreet Boys bandmate Kevin Richardson meet at Katsuya in Hollywood for A.J.'s bachelor party. A.J. is set to marry Rochelle Deanna Karidis - the woman he credits with helping him beat his addiction problems - in December.
The night before the wedding, a rehearsal dinner was held, to which McLean and Karidis invited the closest family and friends. On the same day, Dominique, a close friend of AJ and Rochelle, was celebrating her birthday.
Sorry, BSB fans and 90s babies, pay attention: Another Backstreet Boys vocalist, '''A.J. McLean''', is officially off the market and is now a married man, '''''JustJared.com''''' can confirm! So, we're sending our congrats to boy band Backstreet Boys vocalist hunk A.J. McLean and his longtime girlfriend, Rochelle Karidis, who finally walked down the aisle this weekend!
On Saturday, McLean took to his Twitter account to thank his fans for their support in the run-up to his big day and posted a picture of himself looking calm and collected while donning a pair of sunglasses. He tweeted: "Thanks for all the support and a married I will be. (sic)"
Judging from McLean's tweets, the boy band star couldn't wait to tie the knot with his lady love. So, the night before the nuptials, in an earlier message, the singer took to his Twitter to express his anticipation regarding his walk down the aisle, tweeting, "Wedding is tomorrow, Ro and I could barely sleep last night, I think we're a little excited!" He even wrote in the days leading up to the wedding event: "I'm so nervous and excited for tomorrow."
The 33-year-old boy band singer Alexander James McLean, known as A.J., finally married his model girlfriend Rochelle DeAnna Karidis in a long-expected Goth-themed ceremony officiated by photographer pal Tyler Shields on Saturday (December 17, 2011) at the posh Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles. We're so happy for the loving couple!
Monday morning, SheKnows spoke with Fellow Backstreet Boys member '''Howie Dorough''', who'd just returned to Florida after attending McLean's nuptials and was recovering from the wedding weekend. He revealed to CBSNews.com that the intimate ceremony wasn't the typical tearjerker. "It was such a hilarious wedding," said Dorough. He wouldn't describe it as usual or traditional, but it was great. "It was unbelievable and crazy," he said. "Very gothic, very out there."
Instead of an over-the-top romantic setting, the couple opted for a Goth theme. Regarding McLean's choice of decor, Dorough joked, "I wouldn't expect anything different or less from A.J. He's crazy out there." The gothic-themed wedding may be unconventional, but it was a labor of love for the couple. Before the ceremony, McLean, wearing a red bow tie with his suit, waited, hung with his groomsmen, and "looked happy and excited," says a guest.
According to '''PEOPLE''', modeling a Vera Wang gown, Karidis reportedly walked down the aisle to the tune of Guns N' Roses' power ballad anthem "November Rain." She exchanged vows with McLean under a clear tent on the Crystal Lawn, filled with white rose petals, under an embellished, decorated gazebo covered in white hydrangeas. At the same time, guests were surrounded by warm, glowing elements, such as romantic Roman chandeliers. So gorgeous! Regarding the actual vows, celeb wedding planner Mindy Weiss reportedly planned the event and the vows. According to Us Weekly, instead of acquiring a priest, his pal and celebrity photographer, Tyler Shields, officiated the modern evening wedding ceremony outside the hotel's back garden.
During the momentous occasion, the remaining Backstreet Boys happily took a backseat to the groom. "Me and the guys, we all were able to sit and watch the wedding, which was great," said Dorough. "I liked being a spectator. You get the full view of everything happening. It was lots of fun, and all the guys were there. It was great seeing another one of our guys go down that aisle."
According to '''''UsMagazine.com''''', friends and family were attracted and surrounded the nuptials. The ceremony was a nostalgic throwback to the '90s pop scene. Other guests included celebrity guests such as comedienne '''Kathy Griffin''', New Kids on the Block singer '''Joey McIntyre''', and all of A.J.'s fellow Backstreet Boys bandmates (former member) '''Kevin Richardson''', '''Brian Littrell''', '''Nick Carter''', and Dorough.
To match everything, their wedding bands also seem inspired by the Gothic colors of red, black, and white. Their recent picture shows the couple showcasing their dazzling, coordinated diamond-encrusted wedding rings and nail polish, with McLean sporting black with a red heart on his ring finger and Karidis wearing red with a black heart on hers, along with heavily tattooed hands. As for their matching wedding bands, Karidis's is black with diamonds, and McLean's is red with a single diamond. Even the sheer pale whiteness of Rochelle's skin adds to the Gothic look! So, they have a thing going for Gothic! It's a fitting color scheme for McLean and Karidis, following McLean's proposal onstage at the Hard Rock Hotel's nightclub in Las Vegas in January 2010.
Following the exchange of vows, once the pair were pronounced husband and wife, it was time to unwind. After the intimate ceremony service, guests continued the celebrations. Next, they headed to the hotel's Crystal ballroom for a goth-inspired evening of food and dance reception filled with dancing (and dinner, of course), where guests dined and danced following the intimate "I Do's"... When it came to the reception, you couldn't stop the guests from cutting a rug. Dorough exclaimed, "There was a lot of dancing, that's for sure. All of us, all the Backstreet Boys, were out there on the floor. We partied. We danced our butts off."
The most rebellious guy of the Backstreet Boys, McLean, could hardly contain his excitement in the days leading up to the Saturday festivities. The inked pair have been waiting for this joyful day for a long time after previously postponing saying "I do" to give the pop singer time to recover from his third stint in rehab for the third time to receive treatment early this year in January. He cited "personal reasons" but has previously been in rehabilitation twice, in 2001 and 2002, for depression, alcohol and drug addiction, and anxiety. Still, thanks to his new bride, he's clean and now feels the whole intention of improving and not relapsing. "I am a delighted man. We are doing a tour. I do what I like. I have always liked my profession to the maximum and enjoy it a hundred percent. I am thrilled to be with the woman that I love, and she loves me, and I am very much grateful to the life to be sober, recovered, clear, and enjoy every moment". It came just two months after the singer and the Backstreet Boys announced plans to stage a comeback, followed by them teaming up with the New Kids on the Block as the temporary boy band supergroup NKOTBSB for their successful NKOTBSB tour, making it the 17th highest-grossing tour of 2011. "I met my match, my equal, my best friend for life," he says. "The only woman alive to tame the savage beast."
McLean adds, "The best part of our wedding day? Our wedding day was the most kickass wedding, in my opinion, in history!"
While they had a wonderful day, A.J. McLean and his new wife, Rochelle DeAnna Karidis, tried to sneak out of their wedding at the Beverly Hills Hotel early, but the guests scuppered their plan, and it didn't go as planned.
He said: "We tried to sneak out early, but my dumbass stopped and talked to everyone on the way out the door. Once we returned to our hotel room, we crashed on our couch, exhausted and starving, and took it all in. We ordered room service and then went straight to sleep. It's been a whirlwind; this is huge. And, of course, the next big thing is kids."
Preparing to add to the McLean clan, the singer and Karidis recently moved from Hollywood to the Valley area of Los Angeles to live in a bigger home in preparation to start a family earlier this year because it offered more space "to raise a family," he said in the Spring. But as for plans to start a family, he is in no rush to hear the pitter-patter of little feet just yet. McLean recently told People that he's in no hurry to have children. "I think we'll be married for about three years before we have kids," he added. So, while the couple hopes to have children, they plan to wait a while to enjoy being married first. It looks like he's making a good decision after all those trips to rehab; he'd better stay sober for a couple of years before taking on serious responsibility!
Thanks to JoJo Wright, we have learned some details about the wedding:
- The theme of the wedding was Gothic
- A.J. was accompanied to the altar by the song "SWAT Team."
- Rochelle was wearing an epic black Dolce & Gabbana suit.
- All the BSBs were there.
- On the way to the altar, the songs "Crush" by Garbage and "November Rain" were sung by a children's choir.
- He had some drinks with Howie and his wife after the wedding and talked to Brian on the dance floor; Kevin and Brian's children, Mason and Baylee, were there and enjoyed the party by dancing.
- He and his wife were sitting at the same table as Joey McIntyre (NKOTB), his wife, and Kathy Griffin
- Brian gave a lovely speech congratulating the couple. (The 33-year-old loved the jokes at his expense because they were what he expected on his wedding day.)
- Guests all receive a black and red favor gift bag
As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, the couple became engaged in January 2010, nearly two years ago, when McLean took the stage, brought out, and proposed to Karidis to the delight of the audience while celebrating his 32nd birthday at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas—how adorable!
We hope they're delighted together! It sounds like a fun evening. Congrats to the happy couple, AJ and Rochelle!!
Following the model Heidi Klum's separation, they interviewed Mindy Weiss, the wedding planner who organized AJ and Rochelle's wedding. During the interview, Mindy makes a tiny mention of the McLean ceremony.
''"They wanted a Gothic theme. We painted by hand the blood-dripping that fell from the tablecloths. The centerpieces were hearts of red roses with a dagger on them. They were very colorful and had a lot of personalities. I always tell the couples to personalize them. In the end, no one wondered what wedding he was at."'' Mindy Weiss
The couple is all about putting a spin on tradition. A great way to make it unique, you two!
'''Sealed with a Kiss'''
After proposing two years ago on stage in Las Vegas, AJ finally tied the knot with his "best friend," Rochelle.
'''AJ'S MCLEAN GOTH WEDDING'''
From skeletons to swords, the Backstreet Boys and his bride take InTouch inside their spooky celebration.
When the Backstreet Boys' AJ McLean and his Makeup artist fiancée, Rochelle Deanna Karidis, began planning their wedding, they envisioned a "Glam Goth" affair that wouldn't look out of place in Tim Burton's eerie escapade, Beetlejuice. "We had some petty off-the-wall ideas," AJ reveals to In Touch in an exclusive interview. So, with the help of wedding planner-to-star Mindy Weiss, who masterminded Katy Perry and Russell Brand's innovative Indian "I do's," AJ and Rochelle tied the knot in a suitably ghoulish style at the Beverly Hills Hotel on December 17.
"It was a complete fantasy," recalls AJ. "We had 'blood' dripping off tables, crosses, candles, daggers, and skulls, plus thousands and thousands of red and black roses."
Though the couple went away over budget (spending close to $400,000), AJ says the splurge was well worth it: "It was bigger and better than we ever could have imagined."
'''Personal Touches'''
But while the wedding had a sinister and spooky theme, it didn't lack a sweet and sentimental sensibility:
The bride walked down the aisle to Guns N' Roses' "November Rain" (a dedication to Rochelle's dad); AJ's close friend, celebrity photographer Tyler Shields, officiated the deeply personal ceremony; and the couple – who postponed their first attempt while AJ sought treatment for his alcohol addiction – exchanged heartfelt vows in front of 250 loved ones. "We said, 'Let's be honest in the moment and just say what's on our minds and in our heart,'" explains AJ. "We barely made it through without crying!"
Their first dance song? OneRepublic's "All This Time." "It's about being on the road and away from the person you love and who – and I know this may sound kind of cheesy and Jerry Maguire – but who does complete you," says AJ, who serenaded his new bride. At the same time, they danced, after which guests boogied down on the red lacquer floor and ate ricotta-stuffed gnocchi, Caprese salad, sea bass, and filet mignon.
Next up for the couple? "We want to start a family," reveals AJ. But first, it's off to a ten-day honeymoon in Bora Bora. "We can't wait."
'''FASHION-FORWARD'''
In keeping with the black-and-red theme, Rochelle wore a "soft and elegant" Vera Wang gown, while AJ accessorized a Hugo Boss suit with a bright red bow tie and shoes.
'''BACKSTREET'S BACK ALRIGHT!'''
AJ's bandmates Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell, and Howie Dorough, here with New Kids on the Block's Joey McIntyre, gave "inspirational, heartfelt" speeches. "It's cool to see all my boys happy for me, and they all love Ro," notes AJ.
'''THE CAKES'''
Each layer of the five-tier cake by Charm City Cakes differed from red velvet to fudge brownie.
'''GOTH DECOR'''
"The most unusual request was for hand-painted 'blood' dripping down the tablecloths," says wedding planner Mindy Weiss.
'''SERIOUS BLING'''
XIV Karats in Beverly Hills designed one-of-a-kind infinity bands with black and white diamonds and rubies.
'''CELEB GUESTS'''
"Kathy Griffin has always had a little crush on AJ," laughs Rochelle of the comedian, who brought along marketing manager Randy Bick.
'''Joy, Tears, and a Black Wedding Dress!'''
I'm not perfect, but I try every day to be sober.
After battling his demons in rehab, Backstreet Boy AJ McLean weds his long-suffering lady…
When the invites went out, red swirls – were those blood spatters? – On embossed gold and black, it made it clear this was no traditional wedding. Instead, Alexander James McLean, aka AJ, a Backstreet Boy (and, as some would say, the dangerous one), was celebrating his love for Rochelle Deanna Karidis in a Gothic ceremony at LA's famous Beverly Hills Hotel – and the bride was wearing black!
AJ, now 33 with 16 years in one of the world's biggest pop bands, has always been the unconventional sort – there's the piercing eyeliner and tattoos for a start. Then Rochelle, 30, a former waitress-turned-makeup artist, also has tattoos that run from her wrists up her arms.
AJ and Rochelle gathered friends and family to celebrate their solemn promise that they'd love each other forever, no matter what. When twilight finally made the day's shadows grow longer, and the tune #1 Crush by Garbage gave way to Guns N' Roses' November Rain, banks of church candles in red holders were lit to guide Rochelle down a carpet of white rose petals and down to the garden altar. Tyler Shields, photographer to the stars and today's wedding officiator, along with best man Chris Cecere and a very nervous groom, waited to meet her gaze.
AJ and Rochelle exchanged their vows from the heart, and the singer later told us, "We looked at each other and said how we felt. I could have said a few things, but I'm glad I didn't. It would have been a frickin' tearfest!"
The bride stated, "Ditto." 'The crowd laughed, and I kept it short and sweet,' she gushed. Then, thinking of AJ's recent stint in rehab for substance abuse, she told us, "We've been through a lot, and I'll be there through whatever else."
Following the special day, ''OK''! spoke to the newlyweds. Here, we have the lowdown on the cheeky Backstreet Boys speeches and why it all went a bit like Nacho Libre.
'''Congratulations! How does it feel to be married?'''
'''AJ:''' Amazing. We keep catching ourselves staring at our rings. It's incredible, a dream come true.
'''Rochelle:''' I'm thrilled. My girlfriends are already calling me "Mrs. Mclean"! It will take a bit of getting used to, but it's excellent!
'''You had a stunning red-and-black theme – was it fun to plan?'''
'''AJ:''' The whole thing was ten million times bigger and better than I could have imagined.
'''Rochelle:''' Our wedding planner, Mindy Weiss, took a lot of inspiration from one of my tattoos, so there were roses everywhere. AJ is more of a planner than me and had these big ideas about blood dripping and Gothic touches. So, I was along for the ride!
'''Rochelle, did you always know you wanted a black wedding gown?'''
I heard Vera Wang had a black wedding dress, so I went to see it. I looked in the mirror with it on in the shop when AJ walked in! So, he saw me in it before our wedding day.
'''AJ:''' We're unconventional! My brother-in-law, Andre, bought Mexican wrestling masks for all the groomsmen to wear – it was a very Nacho Libre way for him to break the ice!
'''Were there any emotional moments?'''
'''AJ:''' I just tried not to look at my mom because I knew that if I did, I would end up in tears. I did get choked up a couple of times!
'''Rochelle:''' I walked down the aisle to Guns N' Roses' November Rain in tribute to my dad, who couldn't be at the wedding for personal family reasons, so I lost it. But my mom and I looked at each other, and I sucked it up!
'''AJ:''' Our first dance was also exceptional – OneRepublic's All This Time. I sang. We were lost in the moment; we gripped each other so tightly!
'''AJ, your Backstreet Boys bandmates were out in full force – did they embarrass you in their wedding speeches?'''
'''AJ:''' They said they would roast and tease me a bit, but mostly, they gave me words of wisdom and encouragement. Nick's speech was the weirdest. He called Rochelle Lydia and said we were characters out of Beetlejuice. I loved the speeches by my best man, Chris, and Rochelle's maid of honor and her sister, Priscilla. Let's say Rochelle and I were sober at the wedding – no one else was!
'''What did you say to each other once the guests had gone home?'''
'''AJ:''' We tried to sneak out early, but my dumbass stopped and talked to everyone on the way out the door. Once we returned to our hotel room, we crashed on the couch, exhausted and starving, and took it all in. Then, we ordered room service and went straight to sleep! It's been a whirlwind, and this is huge. And, of course, the next big thing is kids!
'''Did you say it – are kids in the plan?'''
'''AJ:''' Not anytime soon. We want to enjoy our marriage for a few years because having kids is beautiful, but it's a lot of work!
'''Rochelle:''' I'm not getting broody yet. I'm okay with waiting for a couple of years. We want to get settled into marriage first. Being a parent is a life-long job!
'''Remind us how you guys met.'''
'''AJ:''' Rochelle used to work as a bartender and waitress at Saddleback Ranch. I asked her out almost six years ago, and she said yes. So, I asked her to come to my house to watch a movie.
'''Rochelle''': I was like, "What kind of girl does he think I am?"
'''AJ:''' I ended up dating someone else for a year and a half.
'''Rochelle''': Then he came in again, and I was so mortified to wait on him again because I didn't think he'd remember me – but he did!
'''AJ:''' You're hard to forget, babe.
'''Rochelle, were you worried about getting involved with someone in showbiz?'''
'''Rochelle:''' I had no idea who he was the first time I saw him! He introduced himself as Alex. I was like, who is this AJ? The funny thing is that my older brother worked on Backstreet's Back music video. Many of my family has been in the entertainment business, mainly behind the camera.
'''AJ:''' When I was younger, I had fun living the rock 'n' roll lifestyle on the road, but I did have six relationships, maybe. Then, something clicked on my birthday two years ago in Las Vegas. I knew this was who I wanted to spend my life with, so I proposed and threw her through a loop, but my mom was proud!
'''Your big day was scheduled for May 2011, but it was postponed'''
'''AJ:''' It was, but you know what? It made it better for both of us. I know people thought I postponed it to go to rehab, but I was already five months out of rehab. It was because I would've been on tour right after the wedding.
'''After AJ's battle with addiction, Rochelle - you're a girl who stands by her man…'''
I am! Learning about addiction and adjusting to my role in helping him recover was a rough road. But it's been great ever since. AJ has been working hard on the program, and it's such a breath of fresh air.
'''AJ, was there a time when you worried your demons would be too much for Rochelle to bear?'''
There was a long stint where I was out of control and getting worse. So, I do not know what it's like to be on the receiving end. She's (Rochelle) never picked up a drug in her life, and although she was never a big drinker, she's been sobered for two years to be supportive. So, Rochelle had ample opportunity to walk away. But, as they say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
'''You feel to know what the bad times feel like'''
Yes, and God forbid I relapse. I genuinely try to put Rochelle's feelings first. Is it worth going out, getting drunk, coming home, and dealing with the repercussions? Now, it's not. I'm not perfect, but I try to stay sober every day, and being straight at my wedding was incredible. I could absorb it, even though it's all kind of a blur!
'''Where are you going on your honeymoon?'''
'''AJ:''' We're going to Bora Bora in Tahiti in January. We're off to where they shot Couple Retreat, with the little private bungalows over the water.
'''Rochelle:''' When AJ tours with NKOTBSB in April, I'm coming to London. My whole life, I have always wanted to go there!
'''AJ:''' If I could live in any place outside of the continental U.S., it would be there!
'''Finally, what is the secret of staying happy together?'''
'''Rochelle:''' Communication, understanding, and supporting each other through our lives and careers. He understands I can't come on the road with him for three months.
'''AJ:''' I am not ashamed to say we go to couples' therapy. And, of course, loyalty and faithfulness. We love each other, and that's never going to change, and if it did, it would only be to give our love even more strength.
9th January, 2010 -
Engagement
Well, she will never forget the backdrop. A.J. McLean, a celebrated member of the iconic boy band the Backstreet Boys, celebrated his birthday in style this year. With years of success and countless hits behind him, fans heaved a collective sigh when AJ McLean, known for his hit 'Quit Playing Games with My Heart,' went off the market. Instead, the boy bander proposed to his model girlfriend on stage at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's Wasted Space nightclub, where he celebrated his 32nd birthday last weekend, a significant date for both of them, according to recent reports. The proposal, a unique and spontaneous event, was a delightful surprise for everyone, including the 32-year-old vocalist, Rochelle Deanna Karidis, who accepted AJ's sudden proposal, his rep confirmed to MTV News.
McLean knew it was time to make Karidis an honest woman. He spoke to MTV News about the engagement and said he couldn't have picked a better girl to make his future Mrs. McLean.
The proposal was not a spur-of-the-moment decision for McLean. "I had this on my mind for months now," he revealed. "There were talks amongst me and some of my friends, and actually, I kind of brought it up to [bandmate] Howie [Dorough] once before, as well as Nick [Carter], about possibly doing it on New Year's." However, he decided to wait a little longer. It was during a dinner at Nobu, just before the proposal, that McLean felt a sudden certainty. "I'm just done. I'm done, and this is the one, and she's phenomenal."
Karidis and McLean have been building a solid bond that McLean describes as a true friendship for nearly a year. "She is my true best friend," he shared. "She (Rochelle) is amazing. She's very talented, supportive, and understanding. She's everything you can want in someone, plus 10-gazillion more." This realization, combined with the magic of the night, led McLean to propose. "That night, I looked at her and said, 'I'm gonna do it tonight.'"
It was a night to remember, Friday, January 8, 2010, at the Hard Rock's Wasted Space nightclub, located inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The Backstreet Boys' dreamy bad boy (they're still together!) was there, celebrating his 32nd birthday in Las Vegas with his girlfriend and friends. But this was no ordinary birthday celebration. McLean had a surprise up his sleeve. He snuck out to buy a gift for his girlfriend, initially planning a bracelet but opting for a more significant upgrade: an engagement ring. The unique twist? He proposed in the most unexpected of places, on stage, in front of a crowd of 300 people, adding a touch of drama and excitement to the proposal. The overwhelming support and love from friends and fans in the audience, who were equally surprised and delighted, made this a truly memorable and inclusive event. The choice of the Wasted Space nightclub added a personal touch to the proposal, making it a significant moment in their relationship. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, their joy adding to the magic of the night.
A source told E! Online that McLean reportedly bought the beautiful, gorgeous, stunning engagement diamond ring a few hours before the public proposal inside the Hard Rock Hotel's jewelry store, Rocks The Jewelers, that night. "The ring is a one-of-a-kind," McLean explained. "It is a square head with princess-cut diamonds surrounding it and a one-carat diamond in the center. There are also about 20 or 25 princess-cut diamonds on the actual band. It's a gorgeous ring." McLean quickly rushed back to Wasted Space for the strike of midnight and the change of date to Jan. 9. Shortly after midnight, the morning of his birthday, he reportedly jumped on the stage and invited Karidis to join him as friends watched the DJ silence the music. The ring, a symbol of their love and commitment, was a perfect fit for the occasion. The ring's design and the thought behind it added a personal touch to the proposal, making it even more special.
He admitted that he didn't doubt that she would accept his proposal. "I [wasn't] nervous that she'd say no," he said. "I was more nervous than she wouldn't feel comfortable in front of a crowd."
McLean's decision to propose on stage was not a random choice, but a childhood fantasy come true. "That was something else I always wanted to do," he said. "I had this childhood fantasy of, once I do propose, it's just somehow got to be onstage. So I just went up there and grabbed a mic." This unique and entertaining choice of venue for the proposal reflects McLean's love for performing and his desire to share this significant moment with his fans and friends, making it a memorable event for everyone present.
"He got up on stage, and the DJ turned the music off." A witness told People and E! Online that of Karidis, "She seemed very surprised and didn't seem to know why he was getting on stage," adding, "Even his friends were shocked. They knew he would propose, but didn't think he would do it tonight." A photo from the event shows McLean kneeling and holding out a ring. An Us Weekly source added, "So he asked brought her to come up to the middle of the stage, stopped the music, When she did, the singer dropped down to one knee and said that they had been dating for a long time took the ring out of his pocket, and proposed in front of 300 people, and she squatted down with him. Then, of course, she said, "Yes!" and hugged him, and the crowd erupted in applause. He took the ring out of his pocket and put it on her hand, and they left the club shortly after this happened." As you can imagine, the spectators were delighted. Still, surprise and the same feeling were for their friends and Rochelle, who were expecting him to do it the least bit. What a pleasant surprise! It may have been spur-of-the-moment, but that doesn't make it any less romantic. Way to bring it, AJ!
According to E!, the newly engaged pair plans to continue celebrating AJ's birthday and the engagement celebration tonight at another Hard Rock club, the newly opened Vanity nightclub. They were presented with a bottle of champagne by Jason Giambi, co-owner of the club, who also celebrated his 39th birthday with friends that night. McLean and his fiancée are staying in the new HRH Tower Spa Suite. As they embark on this new chapter in their lives, the couple is excited about the future and the adventures that await them. Congrats to the happy couple!
McLean isn't the only Backstreet Boy excited about the engagement. "Nick was extremely happy for me," he said. "Howie didn't know. So I texted Howie [on my birthday]...and he sent me one back in all capitals, all exclamation points: 'Finally! Congratulations.' I haven't heard from Brian yet, but I have heard that he sends his best through management because Brian has been swamped with his family."
For the rest of the Boys, their seventh full-length album hit shelves back in October, and their second greatest hits album, ''Playlist: The Very Best of the Backstreet Boys,'' is set for a Jan. 26, 2010, release.
