The X Factor star Ray Quinn and his stunning bride Emily Fletcher paid a very special tribute to Ray’s late father as they took their vows at their fairytale wedding.
The couple tied the knot at Cheshire’s incredible Peckforton Castle, and enjoyed a “magical fairytale” day surrounded by everything they hold dear.
For Dancing on Ice winner Ray, 35, it was especially important that he paid tribute to his much-missed late dad, also called Ray, who passed away from cancer three years ago.
“Emily supported me through a lot of that time and she showed me again on our wedding day how she goes above and beyond what anyone else would do,” Ray told us a few days after their beautiful ceremony, which was exclusively covered by OK!.
“She gave me a tiny little pin with my dad’s picture on it that I wore on the inside of my jacket.”
As well as making sure her groom felt his dad’s presence by the altar, dance teacher Emily, 31, also made sure his memory was included in the wedding breakfast and speeches.
“On the sweetheart table at the wedding breakfast she put a framed photo of him by us,” Ray shared. “I would never have thought of that, it was so special.”
Ray’s dad had been married to his mum Valerie for 47 years before he passed away in November 2020 following his diagnosis.
Ray previously shared with OK! that his dad, who he calls his “best friend”, was told he could live for another six to eight months following the diagnosis, but sadly died around two months later.
Keeping up with the wedding theme of personal and sentimental, Ray also included a special tribute to his dad in his wedding band.
As well as the birthstones of his and Emily’s three children - one-year-old Summer, Harry, 10, from Ray’s previous relationship, and Lucian, Emily’s 11-year-old son - set inside, and a small diamond representing Emily on the outside, it had another very special feature.
“The gold in my ring is from my dad’s wedding band, it’s the same gold my dad wore every day for 47 years,” he told us. “So with the ring, the pin and the photo, my dad was very much at my wedding, thanks to Emily.”
The couple’s wedding day was all about these small touches. Keeping it relatively small, the couple, who met in 2017, invited 70 of their closest friends and family to enjoy a champagne tower, delicious three-course meal, and music courtesy of the Shane Nolan Band - led by Shane Nolan, the son of Loose Women’s Coleen Nolan and EastEnders ’ actor Shane Richie.
“Our life is about sharing the little moments with the special people in our lives, my dad taught me that,” Emily said. “When I was little he’d pick me up from school on a Friday and we’d go camping and climb up mountains.
“Those times made me realise it’s not about money or material things, it’s about time. Being with people you love. That’s what our wedding was about. We’ve got all we could ever need and wish for, and that’s to be content and happy in our life, with each other and our children.”
* Video: Greg Burnett / @gbweddingfilms
