From the east end to saying ‘i do’ in Ibiza ‘The whole day was amazing – we felt so much love’ ‘eastenders’ star Lacey Turner and her childhood sweetheart Matt Kay tell OK!’S Annabel Zammit about their idyllic wedding, starting a family and bucking tradition by waking up together on the morning of their wedding

ith the sun shining high in the with us to be part of the day, so we came up cousin, and Mimie, her stepsister, were next sky and with breathtaking with the idea of hanging pictures of them on and sprinkled petals as they walked. views of the Mediterranean sea, the tree in the ceremony area. It was lovely. Kobi’s mum, Matt’s sister Amber Kay, W120 guests gathered on Some of our family got quite emotional and who acted as bridesmaid to Lacey, followed Saturday September 2 at an exclusive it gave them comfort seeing the pictures.’ holding her one-year-old daughter Ivy. hideaway in the north of Ibiza to witness the At just after 6pm, the sound of Jamie During the ceremony, it was adorable Ivy marriage of EastEnders actress Lacey Turner Lawson’s Wasn’t Expecting That played as who would give little cheers, as if on cue, and her childhood sweetheart Matt Kay. barber shop owner Matt, 29, who looked much to the laughter of the congregation. Guests including Lacey’s co-stars James dapper in a pair of beige chinos, a white shirt Following them, Lacey’s grandmother Bye, Jake Wood, Aaron Sidwell, Laurie Brett, and a pair of black braces, walked down Nanny Chick entered holding the hands of Scott Maslen and former co-star Dame the aisle holding hands with his parents the bride’s cousin Billy and her stepbrother Barbara Windsor entered the grounds of the Beverley and Ian Kay. Next down the aisle Sammy. Next, Lacey’s younger sisters and gorgeous villa, nestled in 30 acres of pine was Matt’s older brother and best man Jess bridesmaids Daisy, 27, wearing a strapless forest, via a long, winding, palm tree-lined Kay, alongside his fiancée Hannah and their ivory satin dress, and Lily, 15, wearing a long- drive. Once at the clearing at the end of the nephew Kobi. Flower girls Lola, Lacey’s sleeved ivory tulle gown, appeared. pathway, guests were wowed by As each group walked down the magical views of pretty Cala the aisle, guests clapped and Right: Introducing Xuclà Bay and the north coast of cheered. But the air fell silent the new Mr and Mrs the White Isle. at 6.20pm as the soulful sound Kay. Below right: On their decision to get married of Minnie Ripperton’s Lovin’ You The beautiful venue in Ibiza, Lacey, 29, who first joined played out. Then, a beaming the BBC One soap as Stacey and barefoot Lacey appeared Slater when she was 16 years looking beautiful in champagne- old, told us: ‘I fell in love with coloured gown with a layered Ibiza years ago, it’s just so chilled. tulle skirt and appliqué flowers, You can wear what you want thin spaghetti straps and a and that’s how we wanted our plunging neckline. Her backless wedding to be, really chilled out gown showed off the elephant – I’m not wearing any shoes!’ tattoo she had inked on her back Just before 6pm, the wedding earlier this year. party made their way to the Lacey wore her hair in a ceremony area. This secluded relaxed, loose plait decorated garden, surrounded by hills and with various jewels and trinkets. pine forest on one side and the The actress walked down the ocean on the other, was accessed aisle with her parents, Beverly through the courtyard of the two Harvey and Les Turner. In her traditional houses. These houses hand she held a beautiful made up the six-bedroom villa the unstructured bouquet with couple and their family stayed at blooms including roses, in the lead up to their big day and eucalyptus and dahlias. it also happens to be a favourite of Fatboy Slim when he stays on the island. On each side of the aisle were two large ceramic pots filled with pampas grass and bright yellow and pink flowers including roses, hy

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around to share the day. u and Matt married at Lacey later OK!: ‘We wanted l an exclusive villa

our relatives who are no longer ana overlooking Ibiza’s Cala Xuclà Bay 48 WWW.OK.CO.UK 49 Above: Lacey gets carried away by husband Matt and her co-stars Jake Wood, James Bye, Scott Maslen and Aaron Sidwell, who played his final scenes as Steven Beale last week, after viewers saw him die on screen after the fire in Beales. Below left: Guests enjoyed a warm welcome to the wedding. Below right: A tree featured framed photographs of family members no longer around to share the couple’s big day

Chatting about their decision to have their all circumstances, happy and sad, easy or While the newlyweds were having their immediate family walk down the aisle too, difficult, sunshine or rain. I am the luckiest man photographs taken, guests congregated in the Lacey, who lives in Hertfordshire with Matt, told alive and couldn’t imagine spending my life villa’s fountain area, which had views of the OK!: ‘We wanted everyone to appreciate our with anyone else.’ sea, where cava, beer and sangria were served. family as much as us. It was their day as much Lacey followed with the words: ‘Matt, I join They snacked on beef sliders, king prawns with as ours so we thought, why not?’ my life to yours, not merely as your partner but lemongrass, roast chicken in baby gem lettuce When the actress arrived at Matt’s side under as your friend, your lover and your confidant. and pulled pork and coleslaw. a beautiful floral arch, the couple looked lovingly Let me be the shoulder you lean on, the rock on At around 8pm, the wedding party made at each other as celebrant Ramzan Ali, known as which you rest, the companion of your life. With their way to the reception area on the other side Sunny, began the ceremony. He said: ‘It was at you I will walk my path from this day forward.’ of the grounds, through a secret wooden gate the tender age of 15 when Lacey and Matt first After their vows, the couple exchanged their with a brightly-coloured floral archway. Guests met at their friend Paul’s house.’ rings and were pronounced husband and wife. were taken aback as they entered and saw the Sunny continued: ‘We all know Matt is a In a nod to Matt’s Jewish heritage, the ceremony beautifully decorated garden, which led onto an man of few words, but he won over Lacey with ended with a bang as the groom smashed a infinity pool twinkling with floating tea lights and his witty banter and great sense of humour. napkin-wrapped glass under his feet. outstanding views of the bay beyond. Laughter would play a key role in Colourful flower garlands hung their relationship and saw their in the trees, large sofas and pouffes friendship blossom into romance.’ in various colours were dotted around, After a few more words as were Moroccan rugs and a mix of about the couple’s relationship, low wooden tables and high tables it was time for the couple read their with bar stools. In keeping with the vows to each other. Matt’s began: couple’s relaxed vibe, there was no ‘Lacey, I promise to love you under formal setting. There was also a children’s play area with tepees and toys and a sweet table made from wooden crates and decorated with pink and yellow blooms. At one end of the garden was a large palm tree-lined stage and an outdoor bar underneath a tree which had tea lights hanging from its branches. On stage were the Patrick Alan Band, whose members included former reality show singers including The X Factor’s Jennifer Phillips, Britain’s Matt and Lacey with Got Talent’s Matthew Allen, The Voice’s EastEnders favourite Dame J Marie Cooper and Harry Fisher. Barbara Windsor 50 WWW.OK.CO.UK 51 Below: Lacey wore her Lacey with her hair in a long, loose sisters, Lily and plait. Right: Giving her Daisy, who acted as bridesmaids their gifts her bridesmaids

Along with the evening’s DJ, Dean Carr, they ensured the party got going and stayed that way all night! OK! caught up with James Bye, who plays Lacey’s on-screen husband Martin Fowler. James attended the wedding with his wife Victoria and the couple made it a ten-day holiday, bringing along Victoria’s parents who were looking after their sons Edward, three, and Louis, one, for the day. ‘Lacey and I get on so well. We’re a married couple on the show and sometimes we behave like an old married couple and even bicker like one,’ James laughed, adding: ‘It’s amazing to be here today after hearing about all the planning for so long. What an amazing place for a wedding and Lacey looks so happy.’ Dame Barbara Windsor, who attended with her husband and Lacey’s agent Scott Mitchell, told OK!: ‘I’ve never been to Ibiza before but I said to Lacey that I would come anywhere for her. She’s a brilliant girl. She’s a wonderful Above: Lacey with her actress and I was mum Beverly. Below: always so impressed The barefoot bride with how effortlessly she became Stacey. She’s just unique and different from other actresses. She’s a true star and Lacey’s dad Les lays eyes deserves all the on his beautiful daughter awards she’s in her wedding dress for received.’ the first time Speaking about EastEnders, where she played Peggy Mitchell until the character’s death in 2016, Dame Barbara added: ‘I do miss the camaraderie that we had on EastEnders – it was a great place to work. I still watch it! It’s lovely to see some of the cast here today having a good time.’ When the party was well under way, Lacey’s dad Les took to the mic for his father-of-the-bride speech. After talking – and getting choked up – about his pride for his daughter, Les referenced Lacey’s character Stacey’s chequered love life. Joking about Stacey’s various marriages and affairs, Les said: ‘The good news, Matt, is that with all this practice you have an experienced ready-made wife. Even though she’s under 30, she’s enjoyed five different surnames and three marriages!’ Following Les’s speech and as the sun began to set over the beautiful coastline, it was time for the first dance. Matt took Lacey’s hand as the couple danced to James Arthur’s Say You Won’t Let Go, before their family and friends joined them on the dancefloor. 52 WWW.OK.CO.UK 53 Above: Matt with Lacey’s stepfather Heath, her cousin Billy, his dad Ian, his brother Jess, Lacey’s uncle Lee, Lacey’s stepbrother Sammy, her dad Les and Lacey’s sister Daisy’s fiancé Christian. Below left: Best man Jess walks down the aisle with his fiancée Hannah and their nephew Kobi

Next the food was served. The ‘He knew he wanted to marry her couple opted for no formal seating from the moment he met her, but plan and a cocktail party vibe being the Zen master he is, he left with tapas-style dishes served, poor Lacey in suspense waiting including slow-roasted Ibicenco for him to get on one knee for leg of lamb, fillet of beef, ponzu- over a decade!’ Adding of his new marinated cod and twice-cooked sister-in-law, Jess said: ‘Lacey butternut squash with creamed you’re an incredible actress, and leeks, served alongside various you’ve won countless awards delicious summer salads. Chatting for your craft and deservedly so, about their decision to forgo a and sometimes very occasionally traditional sit-down meal, Lacey when you take your work home told us: ‘We wanted the food to just with you, it’s hard to see where flow all night and for people to not Lacey ends and Stacey begins! need cutlery. I just wanted it to feel I’m so proud of all your successes like one big massive garden party and how talented you are.’ rather than a formal wedding.’ After another dancing interlude, The second speech fell to at 10pm, an ecstatic Matt took Matt’s best man, his older brother to the mic for his speech. After Above: Matt walks down the aisle Jess. After telling stories of charging a glass to their relatives with his parents Beverley and Ian. growing up with Matt and their who couldn’t be there, he thanked Above far left: Bridesmaid Amber sister Amber and generally ribbing his new in-laws, his own family Kay and her daughter Ivy his younger brother, Jess joked: and the bridal party, before WWW.OK.CO.UK 55 Above: Lacey walked down the aisle with her parents Beverly and Les. Left: Nanny Chick with Billy and Sammy. Far left: Flower girls Mimie and Lola. Top left: Bridesmaids Lily and Daisy

turning to his beautiful new wife: ‘If I me as your husband, I’ll love you forever could single out one reason why I love and ever, babe.’ you, you make me happier than I ever In a nod to Matt’s Jewish roots, the dreamed I could be.’ He added: ‘Lacey, sound of Israeli music played out and I remember the first time I ever met the couple took part in the Jewish you, sitting there in your Kappa tracksuit celebratory dance, the Hora, in which bottoms, with your cockney accent, a they were lifted up on stools – although proper Borehamwood girl. The first one I Lacey had a look of fear in her eyes! had ever encountered. I was love struck.’ EastEnders star Scott Maslen, who Matt continued: ‘Now, I’m afraid I plays Jack Branning, attended with can’t say the feeling was mutual, I was his wife Estelle and told OK!: ‘Lacey is a little lairy know-it-all, and she wasn’t perfect. She’s so down to earth and impressed. But all it took was a few hasn’t changed over the years. She’s texts to woo her and stuck with her proper friends and is a the fact that she liked good friend to me.’ The couple were married in clean trainers and Next, plates of churros, lemon front of friends and family by a an amazing sense cheesecake and fruit skewers were celebrant known as Sunny of humour worked served to guests. The dancing and massively well in singing – including a turn on the mic by my favour and she fell Matt, his brother Jess and Lacey’s sister head over heels for Lily – continued into the early hours me in a couple and bacon butties were served to the of days!’ partygoers, the last of whom left at Matt concluded around 3am, including Lacey’s nan! his speech by saying The happy couple and a few guests to Lacey: ‘To this who were staying at the villa stayed up day you still give me until the sun began to rise at 5am. ‘Our butterflies every time wedding day was so much better than I see you. I’m so proud we ever thought it could possibly be – it of everything you was perfect,’ Lacey told us. do and the strong- Following their special day, OK! minded woman you caught up with the newlyweds at their are today. It’s been an Ibiza hideaway to talk about their incredible journey so incredible celebration, which included far and this is only the not one but two stage dives, their start of it. So thank happiness at being the new Mr and Mrs you Lacey for having Kay and their family plans… WWW.OK.CO.UK 57