X Factor star Ray Quinn wed Emily Fletcher in a stunning ‘fairy tale’ ceremony.
The couple tied the knot on Monday at Peckforton Castle in Cheshire, which was the venue of choice for Jamie and Rebekah Vardy, Phil Bardsley and Real Housewives star wife Tanya and Grammy winning artist Ciara and her NFL star husband Russell Wilson.
Speaking about their big day, Emily describes the ceremony as a ‘magical fairy tale’, while Ray told OK! magazine, ‘It was the moment I’d been waiting for.’
Recalling the moment Emily walked down the aisle, he continued: ‘I caught sight of her and she looked absolutely amazing, I just burst into tears.
Ray continued, ‘All the emotion from the day, the night before and even the year we’d been planning the wedding, just hit me. I knew how Emily would’ve been feeling walking with her dad, it was overwhelming.’
Cute couple: X Factor star Ray Quinn wed Emily Fletcher in a stunning ‘fairy tale’ ceremony at at Peckforton Castle in Cheshire on Monday (pictured at their rehearsal dinner)
Cute: Speaking about their big day, Emily describes the ceremony as a ‘magical fairy tale’, while Ray said, ‘It was the moment I’d been waiting for’
Emily added: ‘I saw Ray and I didn’t take my eyes off him the whole way down the aisle. I couldn’t believe I was about to marry the man of my dreams.’
Ray finished in second place behind Leona Lewis on the third series of The X Factor in 2006.
But swing singer Ray quit his life of fame to become a labourer when the coronavirus pandemic hit in March 2020.
And he now looks unrecognisable having grown out his hair and inked his arms with tattoo sleeves.
Last month, he enjoyed a stag do in Ireland, sharing snaps of his wild weekend away.
He captioned the post: ‘Stag do. What a boss time it was.. with all the boys in Dublin, pint of Guinness and a UFC belt to boot.. loved every minute.. still feeling it but memories to last a lifetime.. nice one boys.’
Ray made British music history after competing on The X Factor by becoming the youngest male artist to reach the top spot of the UK album chart without releasing a single.
He went on to have a successful jazz career and also appeared in many musical productions and plays throughout the UK.
The performer went on to take part in Dancing On Ice in 2009 and the All Stars edition in 2014, winning both series.
He later took on the role of right-wing extremist Jonny Baxter in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks for one year between 2018 and 2019.
Striking: The couple tied the knot on Monday at Peckforton Castle in Cheshire, which was the venue of choice for Hollywood stars and sporting legends
Throwback: Former Manchester United player Phil Bardsley and Real Housewives Of Cheshire star Tanya tied the knot at the castle in 2014
On a new path: Ray looks unrecognisable after quitting his life of fame to become a labourer when the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020 (left, on his stag do in September; right on The X Factor in 2006)
Family: Ray and new bride Emily welcomed their first child together, a baby girl called Summer, last year
In his personal life, Ray married Emma Stephens in 2012 but they later divorced in 2015. They share son Harry together.
Ray and new bride Emily welcomed their first child together, a baby girl called Summer, last year.
Ray and Emily, who is a professional dancer, became engaged at the end of 2019 and have been busy planning their upcoming wedding.
Before the pandemic, the star was in the cast of a play at Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre but, when he learned he would not receive government support when the production was cancelled, he took on a job as a Hermes delivery driver.
However, he now works as a carpet fitter in the family business with brothers Darren and Robin after losing his father to cancer in November last year.
He previously told OK! magazine: ‘My dad was a carpet fitter all his life. He taught my brothers how to do it.
‘When I first started, I actually went to work in my dad’s old uniform. He’d always said you can work your way out of anything; to keep your head up high – and that’s what I’ve done.’
The Sun also reported that Ray had ‘taken up a job as a Hermes delivery driver earning £11.40 per hour’ after he ‘feared getting bored’ during lockdown.
The former TV personality is believed to have started the job at the start of lockdown and delivers across the North West.
He is ‘really popular’ with fans and was described by a friend as a ‘hard-grafting lad’ who ‘naturally loves being on the move’, according to the publication.
The source said: ‘He feared getting bored so applied for a job with Hermes and has been dropping off packages ever since.
‘It’s kept him busy and he’s really popular — especially with fans who want a selfie.’
Born to perform: Ray took on the role of right-wing extremist Jonny Baxter in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks for one year between 2018 and 2019
