Why Artem Chigvintsev had “cold feet” before his wedding

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Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Bella

Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Bella tied the knot on Friday, August 26, 2022 in Paris. Things weren’t going well for the couple, who met on Dancing With the Stars, as Chigvintsev revealed he had cold feet before the wedding.

During the episode of “Nikki Bella Says I Do” on Thursday, February 9, 2023, Bella and Chigvintsev fell out in the week leading up to their wedding.

“Artem and I had a pretty bad argument last night and he and Matteo are leaving for Turkey in a few hours,” Bella said during the episode. “Artem and I have decided that Matteo will go to Turkey with Artem and our nanny Mirium. I’ll be staying in Paris with Brie and we’re just going to plan this wedding.”

She added: “They will be in Turkey for four days, which worries me a lot. If I asked about it or said things about it, Artem would take it because I didn’t want him to go, I don’t want him to see his parents, and I don’t want any of that. It definitely created a lot of tension and tension that’s still there.

For his part, Chigvintsev added: “It doesn’t feel the best that Nicole and I have had a fight. My frustration came from, ‘Ask me to say, ‘No, we’re not going. We’ll just be in Paris?” I get the feeling that she’s doubting my ability to be with Matteo and be his father. I can handle the situation.”

Chigvintsev later said he was “nervous” about going through with the wedding because he wasn’t sure things would change for him in the future. However, he ultimately said he was excited to marry his fiancé. The mention of “cold feet” came later in the episode when Bella’s twin sister, Brie, told Nikki that Chigvintsev hated the way their arguments ended.

“He expressed what almost gives him cold feet about getting married,” Brie told Nikki. “Those are important things you need to talk to him about.”

Chigvintsev took Matteo to Turkey to meet his grandparents

As they were planning their wedding, Chigvintsev and Bella talked about bringing Chigvintsev’s parents to the wedding and meeting Matteo. Chigventsev’s parents are from Russia and could not attend the wedding, which took place in Paris.

Ultimately, Chigvintsev’s son was able to meet his parents, Chigvintsev revealed on Instagram.

“Seeing my parents and Matteo together for the very first time was a very special moment,” he wrote.

The couple chose to have their wedding in Paris hoping Chigvintsev’s parents could attend as they would not have been able to travel to the US. However, he subsequently revealed that coming to Paris was a “no go” for his parents as it would take “at least 19 days” and the “chances” of getting a visa were “slim”. Then he said that he would take Matteo to Turkey to meet his parents.

Bella wore the dress she bought to take John Cena to the wedding

Bella chose a dress she bought when she was engaged to John Cena for her wedding to Chigvintsev, she revealed ahead of the Nikki Bella Says I Do! premiere.

In conversation with us weekly, Bella, 39, spoke about the decision to wear the dress she had previously bought.

“I had the moment with this dress…when I saw it,” Bella told the outlet. “It was all something I dreamed of.”

She told Us Weekly that she felt empowered in the dress, even though she bought it when she was planning to marry Cena.

“I’ve been going back and forth with that decision,” she shared. “For me it [reflects] How do I stand as a strong woman, I was just like waiting, why shouldn’t I wear what I love? Because of my past? It just didn’t make sense to me.”

She also said Chigvintsev had no problem with the dress.

“He just sees it as a material thing,” she said. “He probably wanted me to save some money but then didn’t realize I bought some other clothes afterwards.”

Dancing With the Stars is slated to return to Disney+ in fall 2023.