Danielle Pinnock plays Alberta Haynes on the CBS show Ghosts. I love the show now but it took me a little while to warm up to the US version because I enjoyed the original BBC show so much. One of the hardest things to get used to was the changes in the characters they had to make to accommodate for the story being set in the US as opposed to the UK. Danielle’s Alberta is one of the big changes I liked, though. While Kitty on the BBC version was lovely, she was naïve and pitiable. Alberta is a savvy, talented, no-nonsense, man-eating lounge singer and Danielle is fun in the role.
In real life, Danielle is married to Jack Wallace. Ten years ago, Jack and Danielle’s wedding plans hit the curb when her mother Joan suffered a stroke the night before their April 8th wedding. Once they were assured that Joan was stable and recovering, they needed to decide what to do about their 400-person wedding that was happening in only a few hours. Jack told Danielle they should marry there in the ICU. So they dressed in their wedding clothes and said their vows in front of Joan, who was conscious, and then went to the church and did it all over again. Now, ten years later, Jack and Danielle had the wedding redo of their dreams, with Joan walking Danielle down the aisle to her late-father’s favorite songs.
Ghosts star Danielle Pinnock is saying “I do” all over again — but this time, her wedding isn’t in a hospital unit.
The actress and her husband, Jack Wallace, celebrated 10 years of marriage on April 8 with an intimate vow renewal ceremony at the The Oaks Lakeside in Encino, Calif.
The brunch-time affair was a happy “do-over” for the couple, whose first wedding in 2013 took place in a New Jersey intensive care unit after Pinnock’s mother Joan suffered a stroke the night before the nuptials.
“It was so emotional,” recalls Pinnock, 34.
On Saturday, as Joan walked Pinnock down the aisle to “Is This Love” by Bob Marley — one of her late father’s favorite musicians — the actress reflected on the special occasion.
“It feels like in these ten years, all of our dreams have come true,” Pinnock said. “My mom is alive and well.”
Ahead of their milestone 10-year anniversary, Pinnock and her husband knew they wanted to mark the special occasion.
“We’re trying to find ways, in this vow renewal, to do-over,” she said. “It won’t be as extravagant as the last one. But we wanted it to feel intimate. We wanted it to be not only the celebration of my mom’s life, but also of all the hardships that we’ve gone through in the past three years with the pandemic.”
She added: “And I’m like, ‘If we can get through this, we truly can get through anything.’ And so it has been my greatest honor, being married to my husband, to have his family. Our families, they love each other. This man is the bomb. He has been my greatest supporter.”
“We wanted this vowel renewal, to feel like us, and all of the places that we either lived or experienced or that we’re obsessed with,” she explains.
Pinnock’s Ghosts cast mates including Brandon Scott Jones, Rebecca Wisocky, Sheila Carrasco and Utkarsh Ambudkar attended the celebration.
Jamaican ackee and saltfish, plus eggs, bacon, sausage and vegan frittatas were served while Brown Estate, a Black owned winery in Napa, provided House of Brown wine for the event. Dessert and party favors were by Susie Cakes, Luella’s Popcorn and Alberts Petite Sweets.
“We’re excited,” Pinnock said before the big day. “This is the do-over that I think that we deserve. I love this man so much and I’m so excited to be celebrating with our friends and family. It’s going to be amazing.”
What a Hollywood ending to have Joan walk Danielle down the aisle a decade later. And Danielle got to have all her new friends celebrate with her and Jack. Plus, there must be no nerves when you do a vow renewal, right? So the entire day is just pure fun. I’m glad the weather held for them. Danielle looked beautiful. Her gown was La Curve by Beccar. Her hair and make-up were perfect. And that menu sounds amazing.
I know many people associate vow renewals with things like Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon or Seal and Heidi Klum hosting a wedding every year on their anniversary. However, in my former life as a wedding planner, the vow renewals or wedding do-overs I was a part of had a deeply personal stories to them like Danielle’s. I remember one where the bride’s family had no money for her wedding and when her father passed, he specifically left money for his daughter to have the wedding they couldn’t afford 25 years earlier. She kept apologizing for being silly to act like a “20-year-old bride” but I thought it was lovely. My folks really wanted to recognize their 60th anniversary so they went back to the chapel where they got married and had the Navy chaplain bless them. We have four family graduations this year, so my husband and I aren’t doing anything for our 20th anniversary. But we think we might take a weekend away for our 21st as an acknowledgement, maybe get a blessing from whatever the religion is where we end up. Or we might just bless it ourselves. I think celebrating a relationship is always fun. And I can think of so many things I’d like a do-over for in life. Why not take them when we can. Congratulations to Danielle and Jack! I’m so happy they got the wedding of their dreams.
Photos via Instagram
Sweet! Extra sweet with her mom walking her down the aisle. 💗😭💗
I have never seen the BBC version, but we love Ghosts!
It’s important just to celebrate life. It flies pass, so you should acknowledge those along for the ride. My parents had a cow renewal at 40 years and it was so sweet. When my dad passed a few years later, at least we knew we celebrated their life together.
My sister loves Ghosts. It’s a cute show and I do love Danielle’s character. Wishing them both many more years!
This story makes me so happy!!
Such a sweet and uplifting story. I’m so glad that her mom is ok and recovered. The power of love.
She is just so gorgeous. And such a talented actress/singer.
Love her. Love her character Alberta. Love the show.
My favorite ghost changes every week. They are all so well written. I’m leaning towards Isaac right now because he’s been extra snarky.
I’ve never seen the British version of Ghosts because I’m afraid that it will ruin the American version for me. Same with The Office.
Life and love needs to be celebrated right now and always.
I didn’t like the British version of Ghosts at all but LOVE the US version! Alberta is an amazing character.
I love her character, Alberta, on Ghosts! I recently tried the BBC version but couldn’t do it. I love my US ghosts more.
She’s adorable and the photos are gorgeous.
Also, Ghosts is hilarious.
This is very sweet, especially her mom walking her down the aisle.
I love both versions of Ghosts, after I too was hesitant on the US version. It’s set itself apart from the original enough now, and the changes to the characters to make them fit the US setting are well done. Danielle is definitely a standout amongst a really good cast.
Maybe I will try to watch Ghosts again. I couldn’t get past the laugh track when I tried to watch it the first time. It’s 2023. Why are we stilling using laugh tracks like it’s 1960 and TV is just copying plays
Ghosts–at least the U.S. version–has never had a laugh track.
Congrats on 20 years, Hecate!! I think your 21st anniversary plans sound lovely.
We’ll be married 18 years next week and it’s still the best decision I ever made. I loved reading this sweet story and wish Danielle, Jack, and their families continued health and happiness. So, so uplifting to know that her mom recovered and got to walk her down the aisle! It sounds like a beautiful, meaningful (and delicious) party!
Love ghosts! I enjoy all the characters and they juggle the cast well.
Danielle looked GORGEOUS! Just the right level of princessy. Hopefully there were no Danes at the wedding. 😉 (ghosts joke. I love Danes myself!)
Side note—her costar rose Mciver recently wed. She married the artist brother of rose Byrne, George. Now she’s technically rose Byrne as well. 😆
I’m not familiar with this show, and hadn’t previously heard of these people, but what a beautiful and compelling story! How lovely to see her mom looking so well 10 years after a stroke. I also love that Danielle’s IG bio says she’s Meghan to Jack’s Harry 🥰
This is such a sweet and happy story.
I really want to know if People actually printed “vowel renewal” LOL!
Congrats on your anniversary, Hecate!
I love Alberta on Ghosts. Love the show. It’s relaxing and uncomplicated entertainment. I just watched the episode where she sings a duet and it was so beautiful.
But I didn’t know anything about the actress before I read this. What a beautiful story and both she and her husband look so radiant and in love. I know I’m Ned Flanders-ing a bit here but this is just a gosh darn nice story. HONK for more nice things.
I kinda love this chick. Her Instagram is hilarious.