Louise Redknapp's lavish wedding to Jamie - no WAGs rule, huge yacht and VIP guest list

Posted Saturday, November 05, 2022 by Dailystar.co.uk

Louise Redknapp and footballer Jamie's two-decade long marriage seemed like a fairytale, but the showbiz couple surprised everyone as they went their separate ways in 2017

Louise Redknapp and her ex Jamie got married in 1998 but rarely shared details of their marriage, until now.

Footballer Jamie Redknapp proposed to Louise in Bermuda in 1998 and they were married on a luxury yacht.

When Louise Nurding was first introduced to Jamie Redknapp by their pop singer friend Robbie Williams, she was initially hesitant.

Concerned about dating a footballer, the Eternal singer insisted they should just be friends.

Louise said: "He was a young, good-looking footballer. I wasn’t stupid and that’s most probably why I didn’t go out with him for so long."

Louise Redknapp's lavish wedding to Jamie - no WAGs rule, huge yacht and VIP guest list
(Image: PA)

But Jamie's patience prevailed and three years later he proposed whilst on holiday in Bermuda and they married a few days later on June 29, 1998.

They chose to exchange their vows on the white Lady Erica yacht as the sun set.

Louise arrived at Hamilton Harbour in a horse-drawn carriage with her mum Lynne, and wore a simple white chiffon dress.

She waved to friends and guests including their parents, grandparents and Jamie's brother Mark, also a former footballer.

The party of 30 drank champagne and were entertained by a local steel band as they waited to board the 80-foot luxury yacht owned by millionaire Nigel Prescott.

Louise Redknapp's lavish wedding to Jamie - no WAGs rule, huge yacht and VIP guest list
(Image: Daily Record)

Jamie's Liverpool teammate Phil Babb was best man, and according to the Daily Record, before the service groom Jamie said: "I am feeling a bit nervous."

Luckily, Jamie's famous dad Harry was on hand to support him and said: "We love this place and wouldn't dream of having the wedding anywhere else."

The couple were married by a court official then sailed through Harrington Sound and docked in Castle Harbour for their reception at the Marriott Castle Hotel.

However, no other WAG’s were seen at the celebration, as Louise had not been seen partying with them before.

Louise had also previously explained that Jamie didn't want her to make friends with other women married to footballers.

Jamie thought his wife joining the WAG gang would start a 'circus' around his career.

Louise told the Guardian: “I think Jamie, being that slightly bit more old school, didn’t want any of that.

"His sport is what comes first, no circus around it. So I just kept to myself."

Meanwhile, Louise and Jamie later had sons Charley, 16, and Beau, 11 but divorced after 19 years in December 2017.

Years as a stay-at-home mum had left her feeling frustrated and her confidence non-existent.

As Jamie's career as a TV pundit went from strength to strength, the former pop star realised that she needed to focus on her own dreams too, as she had quit music to raise their children.

Louise’s time on Strictly Come Dancing in December 2016 became the catalyst for change, and by next Christmas, Louise, 45, and Jamie were going through a painful divorce.

While Louise was excited about relaunching her career, she was also frightened about life without her 19-year marriage.

Getting honest with You Magazine in 2019, she said: "I’m scared about the future. Jamie and I have got to a really positive place with each other. But I don’t know what life is going to be like."

"I’m nervous about work and career and all those things, because I’m not young. And people are judgmental."

But Louise found success with stints in West End shows Cabaret and 9 to 5, as well as her comeback album, Heavy Love.

London-born Louise shared her deep regret, admitting she wishes she'd felt more able to share her desires to be back on the stage.

Describing her marriage to Jamie as "traditional", she explained how she kept her confidence issues hidden, wary that people "would think I was nuts."

"I wish I’d been able to just speak up. For a long time it was easy to blame him," she said.