With just two weeks to go before her dream wedding to Joe Swash, Stacey Solomon has been posting pics of cascading roses, romantic white candles, and home-made décor as she transforms the couple’s family home into a picture-perfect location for their nuptials.
"Stacey’s going to have a real princess dress for her fairy-tale wedding"
And pal Linda Robson – who credited Stacey for rushing her to rehab and keeping her calm after she suffered a breakdown during a work trip to Ibiza in 2018 – says she can’t wait to celebrate the special day with her.
Linda, 64 – who is mum to Lauren, 39, Louis, 30, and Roberta, 26 – exclusively tells Closer, “I’m really excited. My kids grew up with Joe Swash so it’s nice to know both the bride and groom so well. “I can imagine Stacey’s going to have a real princess dress for her fairy-tale wedding.”
"I don’t think any of us are [big drinkers] now!”
And while Joe’s stag do saw friends and family celebrate with a booze-fuelled weekend in Ibiza, teetotal Linda says Stacey’s is likely to be a much more subdued affair, as none of her co-stars are drinking.
Linda laughs, “We have the hen party first, which should be fun. Denise [Welch] used to be the biggest drinker [but has now been sober for 10 years], and then at one time it was me, and now Carol McGiffin has slowed down a lot, too. I don’t think any of us are [big drinkers] now!”
“Stacey is a mess and knows her worries are getting out of control"
Now sources say that behind the scenes, Stacey, 32, who has previously admitted she feels “on edge” if she fails to complete her to-do list, is feeling stressed over everything that could possibly go wrong on her Big Day.
A pal says, “Stacey is a mess and knows her worries are getting out of control. She’s been feeling stressed out most days and coming up with disaster scenarios – though her pals keep trying to reassure her.
"It’s all piling up on top of her"
“She’s been worried about guests showing up uninvited, not having enough security, and that she might be too wobbly to walk down the aisle if she’s nervous.
“Stacey’s also worried about drunken antics, with someone even potentially getting thrown into the pool, or their relatives getting offended over where they’re being seated. It’s all piling up on top of her.”
And while Pickle Cottage, the Essex home they purchased last year for £1.2million, will provide the perfect backdrop to share such a special day with their loved ones, any parent will know that the best-laid plans should be taken with a pinch of salt when it comes to children.
"She doesn’t want her daughter to be uncomfortable during the service"
Stacey and Joe, 40, share five children between them – Rex, three, and nine-month- old Rose together, and then Harry, 15, Zachary, 14, and Leighton, 10, from previous relationships. And the source reveals how the presenter is starting to panic that the day could prove too much for flower girl Rose, who is set to be carried down the aisle while she scatters home-picked petals for her mum.
The insider adds, “Poor Rose has been struggling with her first teeth and has been crying lots. It’s making Stacey consider a rethink as she doesn’t want her daughter to be uncomfortable during the service.
“Her pals have said it’s not too late to change her mind and make some late adjustments, like asking a family member to care for Rose instead, but Stacey has said if she starts making small changes now, she’ll end up changing the whole thing.”
Joe has stepped in to support Stacey
Now pals say former EastEnders star Joe has stepped in to support Stacey. The source says, “Joe has had to have some serious words with Stacey. He’s told her that this is going to be a day they’ll never forget no matter what, and that they need to concentrate on creating happy memories.
“He’s trying to encourage her to embrace the chaos and just surrender to it all, even if it doesn’t go to plan. He knows that she’s a perfectionist, but he would rather everyone just have a good time.
“Stacey herself has admitted that she’s her own worst enemy, and is trying her best to make a promise to herself that she won’t let her nerves get the better of her.”