“Joel said to Nicole, ‘Let’s get married before you go to jail,’� a source close to the couple reports. “She was so happy. He’s doing this so she feels secure behind bars. The last thing he wants is for her to worry about where they’re at while she’s in jail.�
On Friday, July 27, Nicole was sentenced to four days in jail for driving under the influence (She was caught speeding the wrong way down a Burbank, California, highway in December.) She has the option of choosing a city or county lockup, and because she has a credit of six hours, she’ll end up serving only three days. She has until September 28th to turn herself in.
At this point, the couple is eyeing a September 21st wedding, primarily because Joel has a 19-day break from his current concert tour with his band, Good Charlotte, and because it’s Nicole’s 26th birthday to boot! If they stick to that plan, Richie, will likely do her jai time form September 24-27.
At that stage, “Nicole wants to get married first, and then serve her time,� the source says. “But she’s way too stressed about jail to plan the wedding, so she’s hiring a wedding planner to coordinate the details.� They’ll most likely tie the knot at Joel’s mansion in Glendale, California, although Nicole’s dad, Lionel Richie, has offered his house in Bel-Air if they want to use it. The other, less public option is to head to Madden’s hometown near Annapolis, Maryland. “Joel doesn’t want a circus,� another friend says.
Joel “feels a sense of responsibility toward Nicole,� the friend says. “Joel is scared – Nicole’s pregnancy is not something he’s taking lightly. It’s been anxious times for them, but Joel finally told her, ‘We need to get beyond all the bulls ---t that is dragging us down and learn to lean on each other.’ That was music to Nicole’s ears – she couldn’t stand the thought of losing him and facing jail.�
Until now, Joel seemed to be dragging his heels when Nicole insisted they get married right away, the friend says. “He really hadn’t had time to process it all. The prospect of becoming a father was a pretty heavy hammer on him,� the friend says.
“But seeing how scared Nicole was about going to court brought out his protective streak. Hew wanted to give her something to hang onto. There are a lot of times I thought he would throw in the towel with her, but the truth is, he really does love her.�
And of course, Lionel wholeheartedly favors the pair getting hitched.
“Nicole told Lionel of her plans and he’s over the moon about them,� says the friend. “It’s what he has wanted all along. He really wants Nicole to find some meaning in her life, and hopefully marriage and a baby will provide just that.�
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