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Home , Dougie Poynter, Escala (group), Harry Judd, Matt Willis, McFly, Tom Fletcher

Music, the food of love: Izzy and Harry are joined by their musical friends – Izzy’s former bandmates Chantal Abel, Victoria Lyon and Tasya Hodges, and Harry’s fellow McFly members , and . It was important to the happy couple to include them in their big day, a 60 thought that was appreciated by Tom, who told HELLO!: “We have never met another band who are genuine friends like us”

HELLO1259p060-075.indd 60 05/01/13 02:35 MCFLY DRUMMER AND BALLROOM KING AND IZZY JOHNSTON WALTZ UP THE AISLE BEFORE

DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY AT THEIR 61 ‘STRICTLY’ WONDERFUL WEDDING

HELLO1259p060-075.indd 61 05/01/13 02:35 Harry gets in line with his 11 ushers. “I just thought I’d ask everyone,” he says. On leaving the church, 62 some of the guests were taken to the reception aboard a 1965 Routemaster bus (right)

HELLO1259p060-075.indd 62 05/01/13 02:36 ‘When I got to the entrance of the church with my dad, I couldn’t wait’

ne year after lifting Come Dancing Oglitterball trophy, McFly drummer Harry Judd had an even bigger reason to celebrate: his marriage to violinist Izzy Johnston in a magical, festive church ceremony in Hertfordshire. “It was just perfection,” says Harry of their Christmas wedding, which also included performances by both McFly and Izzy’s classical musician brothers, as well as a spectacular first dance, complete with lifts and spins. “Genuinely the best day ever,” he adds. “Izzy looked absolutely beautiful.” The couple were joined by celebrity friends, including actress sisters Kara and Hannah Tointon, former footballer and Strictly contestant Robbie Savage and former Busted band member and his TV presenter wife Emma. Harry’s McFly bandmates – Tom Fletcher, Danny Jones and Dougie Poynter – were among his 11 ushers. While the congregation waited in the warmth of St Nicholas Church, Harpenden, they were entertained by carols sung by the eight-piece choir Voces Cantabiles, as well as the huge cheers from the crowd outside. These went into overdrive when Izzy, a former member of electronic Escala, arrived. “When I got to the entrance with my dad, we could feel the atmosphere in church,” says Izzy, who looked stunning in a bespoke floor-length gown, featuring layers of imperial silk taffeta, satin-faced silk georgette and French chantilly lace, by Tantrums & Tiaras in Putney, London. “So I couldn’t wait. I just took a deep breath and tried to take photo images in my mind.”

IN THE PINK With a beaming smile, the radiant and composed bride walked up the aisle on the arm of her father David to Ennio Morricone’s Gabriel’s Oboe, played by her cellist brother Guy and violinist brother Magnus, greeting friends as she did so. “It was funny – it was almost like she was reassuring everyone,” says Harry, who met Izzy seven years ago, when she was playing in the string section on McFly’s Wonderland tour. “That was a special moment, seeing her like that. It’s a true sign of Izzy – she’s so selfless and caring.” “I felt so elated,” adds Izzy, who was accompanied

by bridesmaids and her maid-of-honour ▲ – Escala’s Chantal Abel – in elegant pale

Izzy had “You had me at hello sweetheart” stitched inside Harry’s waistcoat (left), which was made by Tantrums & Tiaras, Putney, which also designed the wedding gown and bridesmaids’ dresses (right). Maid-of-honour Chantal Abel (above, with Izzy) was “amazing” 63 says Izzy. “All day long she was like, ‘What can I do?’”

HELLO1259p060-075.indd 63 05/01/13 02:38 Izzy “loved every second” of the service, which was the first element of the day that she and Harry planned. “It was really important that it had meaning,” she says. “Everything was there for a reason.” Before the bride arrives, Harry is kept calm by his bandmates Tom and Dougie (below), but emotions take over as Izzy is walked up the aisle by her father David (above). “I couldn’t really look at Izzy,” says Harry. “I was getting welled-up”

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HELLO1259p060-075.indd 64 05/01/13 02:40 Decorated with Christmas trees and seasonal foliage, Izzy’s family church of St Nicholas in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, is the perfect setting for Harry and Izzy’s wedding ceremony. “I’ve never been to a Christmas wedding before,” said TV presenter . “It really feels magical”

HELLO1259p060-075.indd 65 05/01/13 02:41 Xxx y y y y

‘We always knew they were going to get married’ Escala cellist Tasya Hodges

Harry and Izzy join in the singing (above left) and kneel at the altar (left). Their rings (below) came from their friend Ashley Wood. Harry was also wearing fingerprint cufflinks – a gift from his bride – that featured Izzy’s own prints, which she’d had taken especially at a police station. The bride was surprisingly relaxed on the day: “I knew that everyone would do an amazing job, so I was able to just enjoy getting married”

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HELLO1259p060-075.indd 66 05/01/13 02:42 Izzy’s brother Rupert, mother Gill and father David, Harry’s parents Emma and Christopher, and the Rev. Dennis Stamps join Harry and Izzy to sign the register (above). Among those performing at the ceremony were Harry’s bandmates Tom, Danny and Dougie (below left, accompanied by Voces Cantabiles), and Izzy’s horn-player brother Rupert, whose performance of Somewhere in My Memory (below right) left many of the congregation in tears

pink dresses made from silk georgette look at Izzy when she stood next to (Izzy is a nickname created by one of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. The over a layer of coral crepe-backed me,” he says. “I was getting very her brothers). couple’s friend Oliver Nias read a satin. “I had this overwhelming welled-up.” Harry’s mother Emma gave a poem entitled Love, which he had feeling of happiness. All morning I’d reading from the First Epistle to the written especially for them. had this warm feeling. I felt so calm FULL OF MEANING Corinthians, containing the phrase, Harry’s bandmates Tom, Dougie and peaceful.” The Rev. Dennis Stamps conducted “Love is patient, love is kind”, and and Danny played a moving acoustic

Her serenity was at slight odds to the ceremony, referring to the bride Izzy’s mother Gill read an extract version of Don’t Worry Baby by ▲ Harry’s emotions. “I couldn’t really by her given name, Brittany Eloise from Louis De Bernières’s novel The Beach Boys, accompanied

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HELLO1259p060-075.indd 67 05/01/13 02:43 ‘It was just perfection – the best day ever. Izzy looked absolutely beautiful’

The newlyweds snuggle up during a private moment after leaving the church (above), and again outside their reception venue (below), of which they had exclusive use. It meant the couple could pepper the lawn with large white candles (right), adding a magical touch to their winter wonderland wedding

by a string quartet, piano and the by his model girlfriend Georgia jeweller friend Ashley Wood – before choir. The song was chosen because Horsley. Danny admitted that they being pronounced man and wife to Harry had played it through his were all also feeling the emotion of huge applause. portable speakers when he proposed the day, saying: “Me and Tom shed a The musical couple had chosen to Izzy on a beach in St Lucia in May. little tear. Izzy looked amazing.” more tracks to be played while they Dougie was joined at the wedding The bride and groom exchanged signed the register and one of the by his artist girlfriend Lara Carew- rings – hers a platinum band, his a most moving moments of the day Jones, while Danny was accompanied palladium band, both by their came when Izzy’s horn-player brother

Rupert played Somewhere in My Memory, from the soundtrack to the film Home Alone, accompanied by the choir, string quartet and piano. He later formed part of the horn fanfare that played as the newlyweds left the church. Rupert suffered a serious brain injury in a car accident in 1997 and now requires round-the-clock care, but remarkably his prodigious musical ability was not affected. Rupert gave a bow after his performance, leaving many in the congregation, who had rewarded him with a standing ovation, with tears in their eyes. “That set me off,” said Danny. “What a star.” Explains Izzy: “Both Harry and I are very, very close to our families. My family has experienced real tragedy and therefore the wedding was a day we could all be happy and celebrate.”

ROCK ’N’ ROLLS 68 The new Mr and Mrs Judd headed to the reception, at St Michael’s Manor in nearby St Albans, in a

HELLO1259p060-075.indd 68 05/01/13 02:44 Other, non-official, invitees to the wedding were a large number of local schoolchildren (below), who were vocal Baron Rolls-Royce, while in their delight of the celebrity marriage. “It was very lovely of everyone to turn up,” says Izzy. “Everyone inside many of the guests followed on the church knew when I’d turned up because of the screams” behind aboard a 1965 London Routemaster bus. The wedding party had sole use of the period property, parts of which date back nearly 500 years, so were able to speckle the lawn with an abundance of candles. “I’ve never been to a Christmas wedding before,” Emma Willis told hello!. “It really feels magical and makes me feel that Matt and I should get married again.” Added Robbie, who was accompanied to the wedding by his wife Sarah: “It’s been amazing just to see so many talented people in one place, with Izzy’s family playing,” he said, before joking: “I thought McFly were actually better without Harry.” Escala player Chantal, who describes Izzy as “the sister I never had”, admitted that she had “cried from start to finish – it was so moving”. 69 Fellow Escala musicians ▲ Tasya Hodges and Victoria

HELLO1259p060-075.indd 69 05/01/13 02:45 Above: Izzy with McFly’s Dougie, Danny, Harry and Tom. Below: the bride and groom pose with maid-of-honour Chantal Abel (beside Izzy) and (from left) bridesmaids Izzy’s cousin Polly Wiltshire, future sister-in-law Marije Lyon, with whom Izzy found fame Ploemacher, cousin Harriet Davey and childhood friends, twins Jessica Townsend and Harriet Stokes on Britain’s in 2008, were also among the guests. “We always knew they were going to get married,” said cellist Tasya of ‘I had this overwhelming feeling of happiness. All morning the happy couple. For McFly star Tom and his wife I’d had this warm feeling. I felt so calm and peaceful’ Izzy Giovanna, the wedding brought back memories of their own nuptials earlier this year. “Today was beautiful,” he said.

A BRIDE’S TOUCH Super-organised Izzy had thought of every last detail to make the day unique. There were framed photos of the couple and their family dotted around the manor, a spectacular display of silver branches on which guests could hang messages for the couple, and a thumbprint tree, on which guests could add fingerprints as “leaves” as a souvenir. The florists, By Appointment Only Design, had also added their own Christmas touches, including fake snow on the tables and glitterballs on the Christmas tree. Guests dined on parsnip and manuka honey soup, braised rump of lamb with a light Madeira sauce, savoy cabbage and fondant potato, and a rich sticky toffee pudding with a Baileys and toffee emulsion. Choosing the cake had been Harry’s “favourite part” of the wedding planning. The four-tier creation by Choccywoccydoodah, which rested on Harry’s gold sparkly drum base, was enrobed in 70 white Belgian chocolate and topped with a glitterball ▲ and featured images of a

HELLO1259p060-075.indd 70 05/01/13 02:48 71

HELLO1259p060-075.indd 71 05/01/13 02:49 Harry and Izzy enjoy the company of actress friends Hannah and (left) and pose with McFly members and their other halves (above, from left): Danny and girlfriend Georgia Horsley, Dougie and girlfriend Lara Carew-Jones and Tom and his wife Giovanna

violin bow, drumsticks, Izzy’s former Strictly dancer and childhood teddy bear and the choreographer , plus an couple’s cats. extra two hours of practice by “Because we met on the themselves. Wonderland tour, we had the lyrics “The night before the wedding from the McFly song Lies – ‘Back in I didn’t sleep because I was going Wonderland like it was yesterday’ – through the steps in my head,” on the bottom,’” explains Izzy. laughs Izzy. As they cut the cake, the newlyweds were serenaded by STRICTLY BUSINESS Broadside Barbershop Quartet As a surprise, Harry had arranged singing Louis Armstrong’s What for Strictly announcer Alan Dedicoat a Wonderful World. Izzy had met the to record a message before they local group the night before in began. The familiar theme tune a pub and had invited them to was played before Alan’s voice the wedding. announced: “Live from St Michael’s Izzy was behind the naming of Manor, performing an American the tables, too. Each was titled after Smooth, Izzy Judd and her dance a character in Winnie-the-Pooh, one partner, Harry Judd.” of Izzy’s childhood favourites. “We The couple then began an have always written Winnie-the-Pooh elegant routine to Michael Bublé’s quotes in cards to one another,” she version of Can’t Help Falling in Love, tells hello!. receiving huge cheers when Harry Harry also quoted Winnie-the-Pooh lifted Izzy up and twirled her round. author AA Milne in his wedding “I loved it,” says Izzy, who studied speech. “If you live to 100, I hope at the Royal Ballet Summer School I live to be 100 minus one day so I as a child. “It was amazing, spinning never have to live without you,” he around and seeing all your friends, told Izzy, adding: “I love you so but I was so dizzy.” much and can’t wait to spend the “Everyone absolutely loved rest of my life with you.” it,” says Harry. “People said they 72 The couple had put a lot of were crying.” preparation into their first dance, Izzy had her hair tied back ▲ spending nine hours working with into a ponytail and added a

HELLO1259p060-075.indd 72 05/01/13 02:50 ‘It’s been amazing just to see so many talented people in one place, with Izzy’s family playing. I thought McFly were actually better without Harry!’ Robbie Savage

The newlyweds are joined by football pundit Robbie Savage and his wife Sarah and TV presenter Emma Wiilis and her husband Matt (above, from left). Robbie and Harry competed on the 2011 series of . “Harry is more competitive than you will ever know,” says Robbie

HELLO1259p060-075.indd 73 05/01/13 02:51 The happy couple cut their chocolatey cake (above), which is topped with a glitterball in a nod to Harry’s Strictly victory. His speech, which ran to three pages of A4 (below left), “went really well”. After the food came the music, including a set by McFly (below right), with Harry on drums (below opposite)

necklace especially for their dance. grandmother Cilla Swan had worn “That, to me, was one of the to a State Opening of Parliament. highlights,” says Harry. “She looked Her “something new” was a pearl different, but just as beautiful. The bracelet given to her by her brother thought that had gone into it…” Magnus; her “something blue” was a The headband Izzy wore to the garter; and for her “something old”, ceremony, also by Tantrums & Izzy had had the last line of a prayer Tiaras, featured an item of vintage that her late grandmother used to jewellery – Izzy’s “something sing to her sewn inside her dress. borrowed” – that Harry’s She had also secretly arranged for

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HELLO1259p060-075.indd 74 05/01/13 02:52 ‘It was amazing to wake up the next morning and be Mrs Judd’

the phrase “You had me at hello sweetheart” to be sewn into Harry’s silk waistcoat.

FRIENDS AND FAMILY Their dance routine was followed by a set from session band The Kitts, with many of the couple’s guests joining them on the dancefloor. McFly then took to the stage to perform four songs, including track Twist and Shout. It had been important for Harry to involve his bandmates in the day. Their parents and siblings were invited and he’d mentioned the boys in his speech, joking that he would have gone solo if he was as talented as Tom or Danny. He then quipped: “But not Dougie.” They were well-received sentiments, with Tom telling hello!: “We have never met another band who are genuine friends like us.” The partying continued with a silent disco, where the guests wore individual headphones. “It was absolutely hilarious,” says Izzy. “We were doing a conga around the hotel at 2.30am.” They partied until 3.30am and had more parties two days later, when Harry celebrated his 27th birthday. They had a family Christmas two days after that, before heading off on a mini-moon in the Cotswolds. “It was amazing to wake up the next morning and be Mrs Judd,” says Izzy. Adds Harry: “We’ve had a day that we will treasure for the rest of our lives.” H Guests were treated to a very special first dance when fomer Strictly winner Harry and INTERVIEW: DAWN EMERY his bride performed a choreographed routine PHOTOS: SVEN ARNSTEIN to Michael Bublé’s Can’t Help Falling in Love ADDITIONAL PHOTOS: ANGELA NEIL (above). “The night before I didn’t sleep AND ROY J BARON because I was going through the steps in my IZZY’S HAIR: MELISSA BROWN head,” says Izzy. “But it was so weird – I didn’t IZZY’S MAKE-UP: CLAIRE DE GRAFT feel nervous. I loved it.” The couple finish their number – and seal their love – with a kiss (right)

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