Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden has spoken about marrying her partner Ben Jones in a star-studded ceremony in South Wales.
Speaking about marrying fellow professional dancer Jones, Dowden told Hello! magazine: "It was a day I'd dreamt of since I was a little girl and, well, it was even more than that."
The occasion featured a performance by Dowden's former Strictly dance partner and member of boyband McFly, Tom Fletcher.
Jones added: "Amy looked beautiful… and having a member of McFly singing at our wedding was obviously a highlight."
Also in attendance were an array of Strictly stars including fellow professional Dianne Buswell, who served as Dowden’s bridesmaid.
Former Strictly dancers Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec, 2021 contestant Sara Davies, Strictly professional Katya Jones, judge Craig Revel Horwood and Dowden’s past celebrity partners: Fletcher, JJ Chalmers, Colin Jackson and Brian Conley were all also on the star-studded guest list.
Despite regularly performing in front of large audiences, Dowden revealed she was particularly nervous about walking down the aisle.
"I dance in front of millions but I was nervous to walk down the aisle."
She added: "I felt like a Disney princess."
Although she was nervous to walk down the aisle, Dowden revealed she and Jones felt no pressure when it came to performing their first dance.
"We’re used to dancing on stage but this felt easy," said Jones.
Dowden added: "We didn’t choreograph anything because we knew it would become work… Imagine a chef cooking on her wedding day!"
She also confirmed that although she will officially become Mrs Dowden-Jones, she plans to keep Dowden as her stage name on Strictly.
"I wanted to go with Dowden-Jones because if we’re lucky enough to have a family in the future, I’d love to have the same name as my children."
Dowden and Jones became engaged on New Year's Eve in 2017 after Jones proposed while the pair were performing the rumba to a crowd during an event at the dance academy they run together.
Source: Press Association
