All eyes were on Carrie Johnson as she arrived at her wedding reception in an Italian silk dress she hired for just £25.
The conservationist, 34, celebrated her wedding to Boris Johnson, 58, for the second time yesterday after marrying for the first time in a secret ceremony with just 30 guests during the Covid pandemic.
Guests arriving at the wedding reception at the Grade II listed Daylesford House in Gloucestershire, owned by JCB Chairman Lord Bamford, on Saturday were greeted with Carrie’s favorite cocktail.
Boris Johnson and Carrie Johnson in the garden of 10 Downing Street after their secret wedding last year in a church in Westminster
The couple celebrated their wedding in the grounds of Daylesford House in Gloucestershire, The Cotswolds
Aerial photos showed how the marquee was set up on the site of the listed building
Hay bales and barrels could be seen outside the tent, which are believed to have served as tables and chairs for patrons to eat their street food
Daylesford House is owned by billionaire Lord Bamford, one of the Conservative Party’s most prolific donors
Upon arrival, each guest received a concoction of gin, Vermouth Rosso and Campari, topped off with orange zest, reports The Sun.
Guests, which included Boris’ sister, journalist Rachel Johnson and former Neighbors star Holly Valance, enjoyed a lavish but private party at the estate.
It is believed that Carrie had spent time carefully planning the wedding party with Lady Bamford to celebrate their nuptials, 14 months after the couple were originally married in a church in Westminster.
In the run-up to the wedding, organizers had been seen putting up bales of hay in front of the huge marquee where the party was taking place to prevent onlookers from peeking inside.
To promote sustainable fashion, the 34-year-old bride wore a silk Ruby dress by Savannah Miller, which normally retails for £3,500 – but Carrie rented it for just £25 from London website Wardrobe HQ.
A source told The Sun the bride stole the show when she came in to greet guests.
A huge orchard in the shape of a love heart has been depicted in the grounds surrounding Daylesford House
They said: “Boris couldn’t take his eyes off her and neither could a lot of the people there.”
They added that she looked “sensational” and that the whole event was “sleek and classy”.
Thrifty Carrie also hired a dress for her first wedding ceremony to Mr Johnson, 58 – a bell-sleeved, embellished tulle number by Greek designer Christos Costarellos which would cost £2,830 new but was rented for £45.
Aerial photos of the property show the huge marquee being set up ahead of the party, including hay bales set up outside and giant barrels that looked like they’d double as tables – suggesting the couple opted for a rustic theme for their lavish party had decided.
Instead of a sit-down dinner, the party is said to have had a more relaxed atmosphere with a food truck offering delicious meals for guests who wanted a bite.
Caterers from eco-friendly BBQ restaurant Smoke and Braai were spotted in the grounds of Daylesford House ahead of the fanfare on Friday – in keeping with Carrie’s sustainable theme.
The floor-length halter dress, called Ruby, by designer Savannah Miller has an original price of £3,500 but is available for a daily price of £25 on London website Wardrobe HQ, which Ms Johnson, 34, has been using for more than three years
Rachel Johnson, Boris’ sister, was spotted arriving at the party in Gloucestershire
Stanley Johnson, Boris’ father, was also seen arriving at Daylesford House in Gloucestershire for the couple’s first wedding anniversary
Jacob Rees-Mogg, a key member of his cabinet, was also spotted at Boris’ anniversary celebrations on Saturday
Nadine Dorries, who consistently defended Mr Johnson as he clung to power, will attend the event on Saturday night
Actress Holly Valance and her property tycoon husband Nick Candy arrive at Daylesford House in Gloucestershire
Johnson (left) with JCB Chief Executive Lord Bamford at the new JCB factory in Vadodara, Gujarat
The tents are located near the heart shaped orchard of the Daylesford Estate. It is not known if it will be part of the event
The menu reportedly included pineapple with lime and mint, skinned fries, cherry wood smoked pork with honey and mustard salad, and Aberdeen Angus ox cheeks.
It is believed that the guests ate on bales of hay that had been set up outside the marquee in a more informal atmosphere.
Guests included close friends and family – with a couple of Tory MPs thrown in from the groom’s side.
While Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss were most likely out of the picture due to their bid to be the next prime minister, staunch friends Nadine Dorries and Jacob Rees-Mogg were spotted arriving.
The Prime Minister’s father, Stanley Johnson, 81, was also pictured driving into the estate.
Actress and former Neighbors star Holly Valance also attended the party with her husband Nick Candy, a British property developer.
Web previously reported that the coup that forced the Prime Minister to resign affected who is among the 150 to 200 guests – with Michael Gove, who was sacked for telling his old friend to go, being among those belonged, which were singled out.
Green Tory Lord Zac Goldsmith, a big defender for the couple and a Tory strategist for the environment – a passion of Mrs Johnson – was also due to attend, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Lord Bamford, 76, is a billionaire who is one of the Conservative Party’s most prolific donors.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “We do not comment on speculation about private or family matters which does not involve ministerial statements or taxpayers’ money.”
The Prime Minister and his wife had planned to toast their wedding at a party at Checkers, the Prime Minister’s country home in the Chilterns. But they were forced to change their plans following Mr Johnson’s resignation.
Daylesford House, just a mile from Lord and Lady Bamford’s eponymous organic farm, has 1,500 acres of manicured gardens with pristine lawns, an 18th-century orangery and a secret garden – complete with an octagonal swimming pool, Shell grotto and open-air pizza oven.