After more than three years together, Dani Dyer and Jarrod Bowen were due to tie the knot in an extravagant ceremony at the weekend.The former Love Island star and West Ham player, both 28, were set to marry in front of their nearest and dearest in a no-expense-spared affair.And sources close to the newlyweds filled Closer in on all the details of the happy couple’s plans for their big day.
Dani and Jarrod
Dani and Jarrod ©Getty
Our source says, ‘Dani had a wedding planner to help but wanted to be as involved as possible, as she was keen for it to be personal to her and Jarrod and all their family and friends. She was determined not to be a bridezilla, but she jokes that she can now see why some brides lose it.‘Jarrod more or less left everything to Dani and her mum – he just wanted everyone to have fun. No expense was being spared and their friends and family have said it’s the biggest cockney knees up ever – with the biggest budget!’Dani’s happy ending comes after a lot of heartache. After winning Love Island with Jack Fincham, 34, in 2018, the pair went on to split six months after leaving the iconic villa.She then moved on with former trader Sammy Kimmence, 29, and welcomed son Santiago with him in January 2021. However, they split six months after his birth when Sammy was jailed for three years after scamming two elderly men out of almost £34,000.Dani then met Jarrod later that year after becoming neighbours – but later admitted she didn’t know who he was at the time. Their relationship only strengthened thanks to her dad Danny Dyer’s love of Jarrod’s football team, with the Rivals actor previously joking he loves his new son-in-law more than his daughter. The couple welcomed twin daughters Summer and Star in May 2023 before Jarrod popped the question during an Ibiza holiday in July 2024.
Jarrod and Dani
Jarrod and Dani ©Getty
Dani opened up about the proposal in November, telling Closer, ‘It was so special. I was a bit like, “No, I don’t think he will [propose], because I would know.” I’m a little bit of a control freak, if I’m being perfectly honest. When we got off the boat and he did it, it was so weird, because it was like my heart was beating completely out of my chest.‘He didn’t realise that he had to put the ring on me. He was like, “Oh, do you?” I said, “Did you not watch any TikToks or anything like that?” And he was like, “Nah”, so that’s why I put it on. I was like, “We’ll be here all day otherwise!”’Our source says, ‘Dani’s been through a lot in her love life and at one point she couldn’t imagine getting her happy ending. That’s why she’s been a bit tearful about being able to make sure she’d feel like a princess for the day.‘Santi, Summer and Star had huge roles to play, as Dani wanted to make sure the day was about the kids, too. There was entertainment for them before everyone else hit the dance floor for one big party.’Dani had previously discussed the roles her children would play in her big day, telling Closer, ‘The twins will be the flower girls. I want Santi to be ring bearer. It’ll be so special seeing the twins walk down the aisle. I can’t wait to see Santi in his little suit.’
Jarrod and Dani
Jarrod and Dani ©Getty
And, of course, a party of this stature had to have a star-studded guest list.‘There were quite a few famous faces on the guest list, including some footballers and WAGs, actors and pop stars. Dani just wanted to make it memorable for everyone,’ our insider added.However, the run-up to their big day was slightly dampened when it was announced that Jarrod hadn’t made the England squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers under new manager Thomas Tuchel, despite being on the national team for their last tournament.‘He’s been putting on a brave face, but Dani knows how devastated Jarrod was. He personally has had a great season and doesn’t know what else he can do to impress the new boss. Playing for England means everything to him,’ the source says‘Dani has had to pick him up and they were both determined to have the best wedding day and forget everything.’And Dani’s worries definitely melted away on her hen do, on which she paid tribute to Jarrod by boarding the plane to Ibiza in a West Ham kit, emblazoned with his number 20.
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A source says, ‘Dani’s hen do was quite wild. She joked that she’s more or less stuck in the house for the past four years being a mum and she really wanted to let her hair down. Jarrod was all for it. He wanted her to have fun.’