Kelly Bensimon Says She's Planning 2 Weddings with Fiancé Scott Litner: 'Why Have Just 1?' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Kelly Bensimon at BravoCon 2023.Photo:Chelsea Guglielmino/Bravo via GettyKelly Bensimonwill be sending out double the wedding invitations next year.TheReal Housewives of New York Cityalumna tells PEOPLE that she’s planning two weddings to fiancé Scott Litner, one smaller ceremony for those in her closest circle and then a big celebration where all family and friends can celebrate together.“Why have one when you can have two?” the real estate agent and model jokes Tuesday, while promoting her stint in Peacock’s upcomingReal Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacy.“So we’re working on setting dates for all of that.“At least one date has been set: June 22, 2024, where she and Litner will exchange “I dos” in the backyard of his family home.The second bash will be held in the Hamptons, though Bensimon still has to sort out her vision for that.“When this first started I was like, I’m going to be so relaxed about this. I’m going to be like, the coolest bride ever.' But then I started doing it,” she recalls. “At this point, I think I might just become a total brideszilla! I just think I could really wear those shoes well.“Scott Litner and Kelly Bensimon.Sonia Moskowitz/GettyBensimon has been married before, to famed fashion photographer Gilles Bensimon, from 1997 to 2006. The two share daughters Sea, 25, and Teddy, 23.Litner proposed the question to Bensimon after a year of dating while they were on vacation in Wisconsin over the Fourth of July weekend. She had just finished filmingRHUGT: RHONY Legacy, which marks her extended return to theReal Housewivesfranchise after her three-season run onRHONYended in 2011 with the completion of season 4.“Right before we went away, I was walking withLuann [de Lesseps]and I said, ‘I’m in a complicated situation,'” Bensimon recalls. “And we didn’t really have the chance to go through it while we were filming, but then I came back and boom — I’m engaged!“Kelly Bensimon.Jamie McCarthy/Getty; Roy Rochlin/GettyThe finance executive popped the question with a custom emerald-cut, five-carat diamond ring from NYC jewelerMaterial Good. The two happened to be at Lake Genova, which Bensimon tells PEOPLE is “one of my favorite places.““It was very sweet,” she says. “He’s so thoughtful.“That appears to be par for the course with Litner. “He’s just a really genuine, nice, kind person,” she gushes. “He has a beautiful family, and is great with my girls, and is just a very grounded. You know, I’m a very grounded girl — I just have ungrounded tendencies. But I typically have my feet on the ground, and he does too. So we just get along really, really well.““When I first met him, I didn’t even say anything. I was speechless — which is not like me, I always have something to say,” she adds. “But he blew me away. He’s just a really special human.“Kelly Bensimon at BravoCon 2023.Mindy Small/GettyFriend andRHUGT: RHONY Legacycostarde Lessepsapproves. “He’s very nice, very handsome, and most importantly, adores Kelly,” she tells PEOPLE as Bensimon adds that de Lesseps was one of the first people she called to tell about the engagement. “I think they make a lovely couple.“De Lesseps, 58 — who Bensimon insists will be invited to both weddings — also supports Bensimon’s decision to have more than one celebration for her nuptials.“Look, I had a three-day wedding — not that it turned out so great, but that’s another story,” she teases, referencingher 2017 Palm Beach wedding to ex-husband Tom D’Agostino Jr.“That was the best weekend ever. I mean, the marriage didn’t turn out so well, but what a party!“Fans can expect to see laughs like that between Bensimon and de Lesseps onRHUGT: Legacy.“We had so much fun,” Bensimon said. “I honestly didn’t even miss a beat. When I got off the plane, I was just loving life and having the best time, drinking as much rosé as possible because I was on vacation. And then it was like, ‘Oh my God, wait a minute — I’m supposed to be filming!'““I’m so happy I’m back and with such a great cast,” she adds, of costarsKelly Killoren Bensimon,Luann de Lesseps,Dorinda Medley,Sonja Morgan,Ramona SingerandKristen Taekman. “Everything happens for a reason.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The first three episodes ofThe Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacywill be available to stream on Dec. 14, with new episodes available thereafter on Thursdays.

Kelly Bensimon at BravoCon 2023.Photo:Chelsea Guglielmino/Bravo via Getty

Chelsea Guglielmino/Bravo via Getty

Kelly Bensimonwill be sending out double the wedding invitations next year.TheReal Housewives of New York Cityalumna tells PEOPLE that she’s planning two weddings to fiancé Scott Litner, one smaller ceremony for those in her closest circle and then a big celebration where all family and friends can celebrate together.“Why have one when you can have two?” the real estate agent and model jokes Tuesday, while promoting her stint in Peacock’s upcomingReal Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacy.“So we’re working on setting dates for all of that.“At least one date has been set: June 22, 2024, where she and Litner will exchange “I dos” in the backyard of his family home.The second bash will be held in the Hamptons, though Bensimon still has to sort out her vision for that.“When this first started I was like, I’m going to be so relaxed about this. I’m going to be like, the coolest bride ever.’ But then I started doing it,” she recalls. “At this point, I think I might just become a total brideszilla! I just think I could really wear those shoes well.“Scott Litner and Kelly Bensimon.Sonia Moskowitz/GettyBensimon has been married before, to famed fashion photographer Gilles Bensimon, from 1997 to 2006. The two share daughters Sea, 25, and Teddy, 23.Litner proposed the question to Bensimon after a year of dating while they were on vacation in Wisconsin over the Fourth of July weekend. She had just finished filmingRHUGT: RHONY Legacy, which marks her extended return to theReal Housewivesfranchise after her three-season run onRHONYended in 2011 with the completion of season 4.“Right before we went away, I was walking withLuann [de Lesseps]and I said, ‘I’m in a complicated situation,'” Bensimon recalls. “And we didn’t really have the chance to go through it while we were filming, but then I came back and boom — I’m engaged!“Kelly Bensimon.Jamie McCarthy/Getty; Roy Rochlin/GettyThe finance executive popped the question with a custom emerald-cut, five-carat diamond ring from NYC jewelerMaterial Good. The two happened to be at Lake Genova, which Bensimon tells PEOPLE is “one of my favorite places.““It was very sweet,” she says. “He’s so thoughtful.“That appears to be par for the course with Litner. “He’s just a really genuine, nice, kind person,” she gushes. “He has a beautiful family, and is great with my girls, and is just a very grounded. You know, I’m a very grounded girl — I just have ungrounded tendencies. But I typically have my feet on the ground, and he does too. So we just get along really, really well.““When I first met him, I didn’t even say anything. I was speechless — which is not like me, I always have something to say,” she adds. “But he blew me away. He’s just a really special human.“Kelly Bensimon at BravoCon 2023.Mindy Small/GettyFriend andRHUGT: RHONY Legacycostarde Lessepsapproves. “He’s very nice, very handsome, and most importantly, adores Kelly,” she tells PEOPLE as Bensimon adds that de Lesseps was one of the first people she called to tell about the engagement. “I think they make a lovely couple.“De Lesseps, 58 — who Bensimon insists will be invited to both weddings — also supports Bensimon’s decision to have more than one celebration for her nuptials.“Look, I had a three-day wedding — not that it turned out so great, but that’s another story,” she teases, referencingher 2017 Palm Beach wedding to ex-husband Tom D’Agostino Jr.“That was the best weekend ever. I mean, the marriage didn’t turn out so well, but what a party!“Fans can expect to see laughs like that between Bensimon and de Lesseps onRHUGT: Legacy.“We had so much fun,” Bensimon said. “I honestly didn’t even miss a beat. When I got off the plane, I was just loving life and having the best time, drinking as much rosé as possible because I was on vacation. And then it was like, ‘Oh my God, wait a minute — I’m supposed to be filming!'““I’m so happy I’m back and with such a great cast,” she adds, of costarsKelly Killoren Bensimon,Luann de Lesseps,Dorinda Medley,Sonja Morgan,Ramona SingerandKristen Taekman. “Everything happens for a reason.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The first three episodes ofThe Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacywill be available to stream on Dec. 14, with new episodes available thereafter on Thursdays.

Kelly Bensimonwill be sending out double the wedding invitations next year.

TheReal Housewives of New York Cityalumna tells PEOPLE that she’s planning two weddings to fiancé Scott Litner, one smaller ceremony for those in her closest circle and then a big celebration where all family and friends can celebrate together.

“Why have one when you can have two?” the real estate agent and model jokes Tuesday, while promoting her stint in Peacock’s upcomingReal Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacy.“So we’re working on setting dates for all of that.”

At least one date has been set: June 22, 2024, where she and Litner will exchange “I dos” in the backyard of his family home.

The second bash will be held in the Hamptons, though Bensimon still has to sort out her vision for that.

“When this first started I was like, I’m going to be so relaxed about this. I’m going to be like, the coolest bride ever.’ But then I started doing it,” she recalls. “At this point, I think I might just become a total brideszilla! I just think I could really wear those shoes well.”

Scott Litner and Kelly Bensimon.Sonia Moskowitz/Getty

Sonia Moskowitz/Getty

Bensimon has been married before, to famed fashion photographer Gilles Bensimon, from 1997 to 2006. The two share daughters Sea, 25, and Teddy, 23.

Litner proposed the question to Bensimon after a year of dating while they were on vacation in Wisconsin over the Fourth of July weekend. She had just finished filmingRHUGT: RHONY Legacy, which marks her extended return to theReal Housewivesfranchise after her three-season run onRHONYended in 2011 with the completion of season 4.

“Right before we went away, I was walking withLuann [de Lesseps]and I said, ‘I’m in a complicated situation,'” Bensimon recalls. “And we didn’t really have the chance to go through it while we were filming, but then I came back and boom — I’m engaged!”

Kelly Bensimon.Jamie McCarthy/Getty; Roy Rochlin/Getty

Jamie McCarthy/Getty; Roy Rochlin/Getty

The finance executive popped the question with a custom emerald-cut, five-carat diamond ring from NYC jewelerMaterial Good. The two happened to be at Lake Genova, which Bensimon tells PEOPLE is “one of my favorite places.”

“It was very sweet,” she says. “He’s so thoughtful.”

That appears to be par for the course with Litner. “He’s just a really genuine, nice, kind person,” she gushes. “He has a beautiful family, and is great with my girls, and is just a very grounded. You know, I’m a very grounded girl — I just have ungrounded tendencies. But I typically have my feet on the ground, and he does too. So we just get along really, really well.”

“When I first met him, I didn’t even say anything. I was speechless — which is not like me, I always have something to say,” she adds. “But he blew me away. He’s just a really special human.”

Kelly Bensimon at BravoCon 2023.Mindy Small/Getty

Mindy Small/Getty

Friend andRHUGT: RHONY Legacycostarde Lessepsapproves. “He’s very nice, very handsome, and most importantly, adores Kelly,” she tells PEOPLE as Bensimon adds that de Lesseps was one of the first people she called to tell about the engagement. “I think they make a lovely couple.”

De Lesseps, 58 — who Bensimon insists will be invited to both weddings — also supports Bensimon’s decision to have more than one celebration for her nuptials.

“Look, I had a three-day wedding — not that it turned out so great, but that’s another story,” she teases, referencingher 2017 Palm Beach wedding to ex-husband Tom D’Agostino Jr.“That was the best weekend ever. I mean, the marriage didn’t turn out so well, but what a party!”

Fans can expect to see laughs like that between Bensimon and de Lesseps onRHUGT: Legacy.

“We had so much fun,” Bensimon said. “I honestly didn’t even miss a beat. When I got off the plane, I was just loving life and having the best time, drinking as much rosé as possible because I was on vacation. And then it was like, ‘Oh my God, wait a minute — I’m supposed to be filming!'”

“I’m so happy I’m back and with such a great cast,” she adds, of costarsKelly Killoren Bensimon,Luann de Lesseps,Dorinda Medley,Sonja Morgan,Ramona SingerandKristen Taekman. “Everything happens for a reason.”

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

The first three episodes ofThe Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacywill be available to stream on Dec. 14, with new episodes available thereafter on Thursdays.

source: people.com