“It is exactly as we remembered it. Our memories are so vivid and it’s nice to be back after all those years to reminisce,” says James of Cooling Castle Barn in Kent, as the highlights of their big day come flooding back on our exclusive photoshoot to celebrate the former Strictly Come Dancing couple’s anniversary on 12 October.
Their recollections are crystallised by the fact that Ola has slipped into her wedding dress – the first time she has tried it on for two decades – and it fits like a dream.
PERFECT FIT
“Twenty years later and I’m wearing my dress; that’s a nice thought. I surprised myself, if I’m honest. I never really imagined I ever would. I was 21 then, now I’m 41, and my boobs are definitely bigger since having Ella,” she says with a laugh.
If the anniversary had fallen a year earlier, Ola is convinced she would have had no hope of fitting into the strapless Monsoon gown. The couple’s remarkable weight loss, revealed in January, saw them lose over six stone between them, with Ola dropping four dress sizes, thanks to their healthy eating and fitness programme Dance Shred.
“Seeing Ola walking down those same steps towards me as she did for the ceremony, wearing the same dress, I’ll never forget,” says James, 45. “I remember that part of the day so well: I was standing at the altar with my best man, and I turned around and she looked so beautiful. I was so nervous, so excited…”
“… and we were both so young. It was only two weeks after my 21st birthday, and you were 25,” Ola tells her husband.
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