Ciara and Russell Wilson wedding: Happy couple arrive in UK for nuptials as Future legal battle rages on

Wedding bells will soon ring for Ciara and Russell Wilson as the happy couple have arrived in the UK for their nuptials. The soon-to-be husband and wife were seen in Liverpool where they hosted a rehearsal dinner with 100 of their friends and family in attendance. The ceremony will take place in the midst of Ciara's bitter legal battle with her former fiance Future.

According to E! News, Ciara, 30, and Wilson, 27, threw their rehearsal dinner at Stanley's Bar And Grill on Tuesday (5 July) with the likes of Kelly Rowland and La La Anthony joining them for the evening. R'n'b singer Ciara dressed up for the occasion wearing a bridal-style white gown while her Seattle Seahawks beau looked dapper in an all-black suit.

Sharing intimate details of the dinner, a source told the publication: "The rehearsal dinner was beautiful. Ciara and Russell couldn't keep their hands off of each other. The love was strong in the room. Russell and Ciara said a few words to their guests, thanking them for coming to Liverpool for this special occasion. Kelly Rowland and La La were helping Ciara get ready beforehand and haven't left her side."

The couple are reportedly staying at the Titanic Hotel and are expected to tie the knot over the weekend. Although a venue has not been revealed, TMZ claims it will take place at a location with a "castle-like backdrop". Rowland, Anthony and tennis champ Serena Williams are said to be among Ciara's bridesmaids and the trio helped the bride-to-be celebrate her last days as a single woman with a bachelorette party in Las Vegas in June.

Ciara and Wilson began dating in April 2015 and the NFL player proposed in March 2016. But the couple's happy day is being somewhat overshadowed by Ciara's former relationship with rapper Future. Yesterday (5 July), TMZ published legal documents filed by the Body Party singer against Future, 32, in a defamation lawsuit. Ciara allegedly states that Future has exhibited "frightening" and "socially irresponsible" behaviour towards Wilson and believes that the rapper could harm him after he posted football and gun emojis on Twitter.

Ciara also cites a lyric on Future's recent track Juice, which reads: "Tryna f**k my baby mama, dog what's up with you? You gon' make me get that heat, I'm pulling up on you." After details of their legal dispute were leaked to the media, Future tweeted: "Wish everyone could move on like me...that's my only wish," before bragging of his career achievements, adding: "Giorgio Armani got me out in Milan closing a new deal. Summer 16 tour sold out.. I'm on 2017. I upgraded to the cover of Rolling Stone."

Ciara and Future are locked in a custody battle over their two-year-old son Future Zahir Wilburn.