Aesha Scott Addresses Wedding Guest List Controversy
Aesha Scott, the beloved chief stew from the “Below Deck” franchise, has been facing questions from fans about her upcoming wedding guest list, particularly regarding Captain Jason Chambers’ absence from the invitation roster. During her appearance at BravoCon 2025 in Las Vegas, Aesha opened up about her March wedding plans with fiancé Scott Dobson, addressing the curiosity surrounding her guest selections with characteristic frankness.
“Everyone keeps asking. I’ve been doing this for seven years. I’ve got so many friends in Bravo,” Aesha explained to Us Weekly, acknowledging the impossible task of including everyone from her extensive professional network. “We get on really well but I can’t invite every single person I get on with.” This practical approach reflects the reality many couples face when planning weddings with limited capacity, even those who’ve built connections across multiple television seasons and yacht crews. During a July 2024 appearance on “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen,” Aesha had already revealed some of her guest list, mentioning Captain Sandy Yawn, Joe Bradley and Nathan Gallagher from “Below Deck Mediterranean,” as well as Tzarina Mace-Ralph from “Below Deck Down Under” season 2.
The conversation about Jason’s absence took an interesting turn when Aesha disclosed on a more recent episode of “Watch What Happens Live” that she had directly contacted him about not receiving an invitation. “I just called him one day, and I said, ‘Hey, just so you know, you’re not coming to the wedding,'” she revealed, addressing the situation with her trademark straightforwardness. More significantly, Aesha explained that her decision stemmed partly from the uncomfortable comparisons fans frequently made between her professional relationship with Jason and her romantic relationship with her fiancé. “I also don’t think it’s respectful because so many people would come up to me and be like, ‘Oh, we like Scott, but I really wish you were with Jason,'” she shared, highlighting how these comments affected her.
The guest list appears to be a thoughtfully curated collection of Aesha’s closest industry friends and their partners. She mentioned that Hannah Ferrier and her husband, Anastasia Surmava and her husband, Sandy and her wife Leah Rae Yawn, along with Nathan and Gael Cameron would be attending. Aesha also noted that several behind-the-scenes production team members had made the cut, suggesting her wedding will celebrate connections formed both on and off camera during her seven-year journey with the franchise. This balanced approach to her guest list reflects Aesha’s appreciation for the relationships she’s formed throughout her yachting career while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
Aesha’s “Below Deck” journey began in 2019 on season 4 of “Below Deck Mediterranean,” where she served as second stew under Hannah Ferrier. She later stepped into the chief stew role alongside Captain Jason Chambers for the first two seasons of “Below Deck Down Under” from 2022 to 2023, before returning to “Below Deck Med” as chief stew. Her evolution from second stew to chief stew parallels her personal growth, now culminating in her upcoming marriage. Aesha isn’t the only “Below Deck” personality celebrating love recently – Captain Sandy Yawn married Leah in May 2024, with several franchise stars including Aesha, Kate Chastain, and key production personnel in attendance.
As “Below Deck Mediterranean” continues to air on Bravo Mondays at 8 p.m. ET (with new episodes streaming the next day on Peacock), fans remain invested in Aesha’s journey both on and off screen. Her candid discussion about wedding planning demonstrates the unique challenges reality TV personalities face when their professional and personal lives intersect in the public eye. By setting boundaries around her special day and prioritizing relationships that matter most to her and her fiancé, Aesha continues to navigate fame with the authenticity and directness that have made her a fan favorite across multiple seasons and spinoffs of the yachting reality series.
