Mel B's Fiancé Asked Her Late Father's Permission to Marry Her Before He Proposed: 'It Was So Lovely'

The Spice Girls star's father, Martin Brown, died in 2017 at the age of 63

Melanie “Mel B” Brown is sharing the touching gesture her fiancé Rory McPhee made before he proposed.

During an appearance on Monday's episode of Today with Hoda & Jenna, the Spice Girls star, 48, revealed that McPhee, 36, asked her late father, Martin Brown, for permission to marry him. Martin died in March 2017 at age 63 after a five-year fight with multiple myeloma.

"He went to my dad’s grave, so he told me afterwards, and asked for my hand in marriage," she recalled of McPhee. "I mean, not that my dad could say anything because he’s...[points down] But it was so lovely."

Mel B also shared that McPhee designed her engagement ring himself — and hid it in a sock drawer for three months before he popped the question.

"I’m like, ‘What made you think I wouldn’t go in the sock drawer?’ He goes, ‘Well, you never go in my sock drawer.’ I’m like, ‘Well anything could have happened to it!’ " she recalled, adding of the pear-shaped diamond sparkler: "It’s beautiful."

Related: Mel B Is Getting Married at St. Paul's Cathedral Where Princess Diana and Prince Charles Also Said 'I Do'

As for how the 2022 proposal unfolded, Mel B said McPhee took her to her favorite hotel, Cliveden House in Berkshire, England, and she insisted on bringing her dogs along. "I was like, ‘I’m not going anywhere unless we bring the dogs.’ So I’ve got my two Rottweilers, my little Cookie, and the whole room’s decked out with flowers," she recalled on Today with Hoda & Jenna.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

The singer said it took her few minutes to realize what was actually happening. "Me being me, I’m like, ‘Oh this is — God, they’ve really made an effort with this hotel room, haven’t they?’ And then it started to sink in. And then he just got down on one knee, and I was like, ‘Oh my God!' " she explained.

"He did a whole spiel to me about me being his best friend," she continued. "I didn’t really listen to most of it because I was like, ‘He’s got down on one knee. Oh my God, oh my God! Where are the dogs, where are the dogs?’ And it was just beautiful."

Related: Mel B Says Victoria Beckham Designed Her Wedding Dress: 'It's Such a Beautiful Honor'

During a previous appearance on Today with Jenna & Hoda in January, the America's Got Talent: Fantasy League judge shared an update on her wedding plans, revealing that her former bandmate Victoria Beckham is designing one of her bridal gowns.

"Victoria actually designed my dress and my mom’s dress. It’s such a beautiful honor to get," she said at the time, noting that she plans to wear more than one dress on her big day.

"I don't think it would be fair to just have one. Just have as many as you want — at least three, right?" she continued. "I'm going to really go for it."

Related: A Look Back at Spice Girls' Wedding Photos

The couple's ceremony will be held at St. Paul's Cathedral in London — the historic church where Princess Diana and then-Prince Charles married in 1981. Mel B said during the January TV appearance that her royal connections helped her and McPhee land the venue.

"Cause I have an MBE [Member of the Order of the British Empire]," she explained. "So I got an MBE for all my charity work that I’ve been doing and creating awareness for all that kind of stuff."

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.