The $25 Million Mystery: Why Erika Girardi’s Wedding Photos To Tom Girardi Are Still Missing

For over two decades, the marriage of Erika Girardi (Erika Jayne) and the powerful attorney Tom Girardi was a fixture of Los Angeles high society and, later, a central plot point on *The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (RHOBH)*. Yet, as of today, December 10, 2025, one of the most intriguing mysteries surrounding the couple remains: the near-total absence of public photographs from their 1999 wedding. This lack of documentation speaks volumes about the intensely private nature of their initial relationship—a stark contrast to the highly public, multi-million-dollar legal and financial scandal that ultimately led to their divorce. The few details that have emerged about their wedding day paint a picture far removed from the lavish, televised events typical of reality TV stars. The story of their union is a classic Hollywood tale turned cautionary one, beginning with a chance meeting and ending in the collapse of a legal empire, a high-profile divorce, and the ongoing fallout of embezzlement allegations that continue to make headlines in 2024 and 2025.

Erika Girardi & Tom Girardi: A Marriage Profile and Timeline

The relationship between Erika Chahoy and Thomas Vincent Girardi was defined by a significant age gap, immense wealth, and a dramatic shift from quiet privacy to intense public scrutiny.

• Erika Girardi (Erika Jayne)
  • Full Name: Erika Chahoy (later Girardi, professionally Erika Jayne)
  • Born: July 10, 1971, in Atlanta, Georgia
  • Career: Singer, television personality, actress. Known for the dance-pop persona "Erika Jayne" and her role on *RHOBH*.
  • First Marriage: Thomas Zizzo (1991–1996), with whom she has a son, Tommy Zizzo.
• Thomas Vincent Girardi
  • Full Name: Thomas Vincent Girardi
  • Born: June 3, 1939
  • Career: Prominent, now-disbarred attorney. Co-founder of the influential Los Angeles law firm, Girardi & Keese. Famous for "David v. Goliath" litigation, including the *Erin Brockovich* case.
  • Marriages: Tom Girardi was married twice before Erika.
• Relationship Timeline
  • Meeting: Mid-1990s at Chasen's, a famed West Hollywood restaurant, where Erika was a cocktail waitress and Tom was a regular patron.
  • Wedding Date: January 1999 (some reports state 2000).
  • Venue: Chasen's restaurant, West Hollywood, California.
  • Divorce Filing: November 3, 2020, after 21 years of marriage.
  • Legal Status (2024/2025): Tom Girardi was disbarred in 2022 and is currently facing multiple lawsuits and criminal charges related to the alleged embezzlement of millions of dollars from clients, including victims of the Lion Air Flight 610 crash. Erika has also faced numerous lawsuits related to the funds.

The Elusive Wedding Photos: Why They Don’t Exist Publicly

The biggest question for fans and legal observers alike is, "Where are the Erika Girardi wedding photos?" The answer lies in the deeply private and unglamorous nature of the ceremony, which was deliberately kept out of the public eye. The wedding was not the lavish, million-dollar spectacle one might expect from a power couple with a 32-year age gap. It was, by all accounts, a quiet, impromptu affair held at the very location where they first met: Chasen's.

An Intimate, Quick Ceremony at a Restaurant

Erika has described the event as a simple, low-key ceremony. Instead of a grand ballroom, the couple chose the restaurant where Erika worked. It was reportedly a small gathering with very few guests. This was a deliberate choice by Tom Girardi, a man who, despite his professional fame, valued his privacy, especially regarding his personal life. The lack of a prenuptial agreement is another detail that reinforces the impulsive and intimate nature of the original decision to marry. Erika and Tom were married quickly, and the financial protections common in high-net-worth marriages were simply never put in place. This detail would later become a critical factor in the massive financial and legal disputes during their divorce proceedings.

The Mystery of the Wedding Dress

Just as the photos are missing, details about the "Erika Girardi wedding dress" are non-existent. Given the impromptu setting at Chasen's, it is highly likely that Erika did not wear a traditional, designer wedding gown. She has hinted that the entire event was so casual that a grand dress would have been inappropriate. This contrasts sharply with the flamboyant, high-fashion, and highly public persona of "Erika Jayne," who emerged years later on *RHOBH*. The pre-Erika Jayne version of Erika Girardi was a woman focused on raising her son and working, not on a public, televised wedding. The only photos of the couple from that era are rare, carefully curated images, further fueling the speculation that Erika is "very careful with the pre-Erika Jayne images she shares."

The Aftermath: The Scandal That Overshadowed the Marriage

The scarcity of "Erika Girardi wedding photos" is now a minor footnote compared to the catastrophic end of the marriage. The divorce filing in November 2020 coincided almost immediately with a torrent of lawsuits and federal investigations into Tom Girardi and his law firm, Girardi & Keese. The allegations against Tom Girardi—that he embezzled settlement money intended for his clients—have dominated headlines for years. This shocking legal scandal revealed a financial empire built on what federal prosecutors allege was a massive scheme. The money, reportedly used to fund the couple’s lavish lifestyle, has been traced back to victims, including the families of those killed in the Lion Air Flight 610 tragedy.

Legal Woes and the RHOBH Fallout (2024/2025 Updates)

The ongoing saga has been a central narrative on *The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills*, forcing Erika to confront the "Pretty Mess" persona she created. In 2024 and 2025, the legal battles continue. Tom Girardi is facing charges, and Erika has continuously defended her position, stating she had no knowledge of her husband’s alleged criminal activities. The public has been relentless in its curiosity, viewing the missing wedding photos as another layer of secrecy in a marriage that was far more complex and legally entangled than anyone, including Erika's *RHOBH* castmates, initially realized. The contrast between the private, simple wedding and the public, multi-million-dollar downfall serves as a tragic bookend to their 21-year union.

The Enduring Legacy of Secrecy

The lack of "Erika Girardi wedding photos" is not an accident; it was a choice that symbolized the initial privacy of their life together. However, that privacy was ultimately shattered by the public nature of the legal accusations. The simple wedding at Chasen's has been replaced in the public memory by the image of a disbarred attorney and a reality star embroiled in a financial scandal of historic proportions. The missing photos remain a powerful symbol of the secret life that preceded the "Erika Jayne" era—a life that ultimately led to the collapse of the Girardi empire.