We’ve waited seven years for these two to get married, so you can’t blame us for jumping to conclusions when Stacey Solomon shared a picture last week looking undeniably bridal. Dressed all in white, while her long-term love Joe Swash wore a tux, Stacey – who was actually just dressed up to go to the BAFTAs – got her followers all excited for a nanosecond that the couple’s garden wedding had already happened.
But heat’s insider tells us the TV star enjoyed teasing everyone with the post, and saw it as a way to take off some pressure ahead of her real big day this summer.
“Stacey shocked everyone – including her friends and family – with her bridal look,” says an insider close to the 32 year old, who was attending the BAFTA TV Awards at the Royal Festival Hall as her show Sort Your Life Out was nominated.
“She knew she was being a bit of a tease and would get people talking, but she wanted to have a little fun with Joe by dressing up in their wedding finery. She’s feeling very bride-like at the moment, and came across so many gorgeous white outfits while looking for her wedding dress. She fell in love with this one and wanted to wear it on her special night. She honestly didn’t think people would freak out as much as they did.”
Fans were agog when the I’m A Celeb winner – who is mum to Leighton and Zachary from previous relationships, and Rex and Rose with Joe – shared the photos of her and her 40-year-old fiancé posing in their garden. Endless comments on the post read, “WEDDING vibes”, “I thought it was wedding photos”, and, “At first glance, I thought you’d had a secret wedding!”
Still more added, “Genuinely thought you’d got married!!! You look stunning. Have the best time”, while one reminded us why it’s important to check the details, writing, “I thought they’d got married until I read the caption”.
Stacey, who started dating the former EastEnders actor back in 2015, wrote, “Here we go… off to the Baftas with my best friend. Couldn’tdo any of it without you. Never felt so nervous & proud”.
She added to her followers, “Thank you all for your constant kindness and support. To the moon and back. Lots of love from your Bafta nominated neat freak”.
Friends say the star was also trying to take some pressure off the wedding, taking place in July.
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“As well as enjoying dressing up, Stacey also wanted to have a little trial run ahead of the big day,” says the source.
“She’s been putting herself under so much pressure to make it perfect, and she felt that doing this would make her feel more relaxed about the actual wedding. She got to dress up in white and pose for some romantic photos in the garden – just like she will on the day itself. And it really helped. She’s been freaking out so much about everything – the catering, having a large gathering, and people who haven’t been invited feeling left out. It’s been driving her crazy, so she wanted to do something that would just cheer her up and make her smile.
“It’s helped make her excited about the wedding again, rather than scared. She’s been bowled over by all the positive comments. Now, she can’t wait for her big day.”
After the Baftas – where Stacey sadly lost out on the award – the star got herself a burger, sharing a photo on Instagram and telling fans she still “felt like a winner”. And if this was a wedding rehearsal, it’s clear her special day is going to be epic.
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