Brussels hip-hop artist Stromae married his girlfriend in Mechelen at the weekend, a surprise ceremony even for the guests

Belgian hip-hop singer Stromae married his girlfriend of two years, Coralie Barbier (pictured), at the weekend in Mechelen. The ceremony was a secret, even to the guests, who were invited to “a party” by the Brussels celebrity.

Stromae, 30, invited 180 people to the Martin’s Patershof hotel in Mechelen, which is built inside an old church. Each room in the unique hotel contains its own section of the church’s original stained-glass window. The guests only learned of the wedding when they arrived at the hotel.

Barbier is Stromae’s stylist, an incredibly important position in his entourage as anyone familiar with the musician will realise.