The countdown to her wedding has officially started as Stacey Solomon prepares to tie the knot with fiancé Joe Swash next month.
Along with excitedly sharing the details – which include a strapless lace gown, jars filled with white candles and a barn-style reception at their home, Pickle Cottage – on Instagram, insiders say Stacey, 32, and Joe, 40, are most looking forward to sharing the special day with their loved ones.
Their sons – Harry, 15, Zachary, 14, Leighton, 10, and three-year-old Rex – will walk Stacey down the aisle with her dad, and their eight-month-old daughter, Rose, will help scatter flower petals hand-picked from their garden.
But while Stacey can’t wait for their intimate ceremony, the wedding has brought up turbulent emotions for her around their blended family, as she wants everyone to feel equally included and hopes there will be no difficulties.
While she shares Rex and Rose with Joe, Stacey co-parents Zachary, who she gave birth to at 17, with childhood sweetheart Dean Cox, while Leighton’s dad is her ex-fiancé, Aaron Barham, who the X Factor star split from in 2014.
And Joe is dad to Harry – also known as Hal – who he shares with his ex-fiancée, Emma Sophocleos, but the former couple haven’t always seen eye-to-eye, and their custody arrangement is the result of a lengthy court battle.
A source says, “Stacey can’t wait to marry Joe, but she’s also suffered anxieties about the kids. She loves her blended family, but it comes with struggles and she finds it hard at times. She’s hoping that things go from strength to strength once she marries Joe and becomes an official stepmum to his son – especially after all he’s been through.”
In 2020, Joe described his court fees as the “best money” he has ever spent, but admitted, “It’s been a strange one for Hal, he’s had to do a lot of adapting. I do feel quite sorry for Hal for what he’s had to go through.”
It’s something Stacey can easily relate to as she has also revealed that while she has retained a good relationship with her eldest sons’ dads, she’s often brought to tears when they are away from home – and harboured secret heartache over them having different fathers.
“I did feel guilty about having babies with different dads. I didn’t want my kids to have a negative or confused upbringing,” she previously told Closer. “I used to really beat myself up about not being able to offer them a ‘normal’ and ‘perfect’ family all under one roof.
“[But] families come in all shapes and sizes and what’s important is that the love is there, no matter where it comes from.”
And as Harry reaches his teens, Stacey is keen to always make her stepson feels included.
The source says, “Stacey tries to go above and beyond when it comes to Hal. But then also she doesn’t want to smother him. At times she feels she’s constantly getting it wrong.
“Stacey knows that Joe feels bad about his relationship with Hal’s mother, so she tries to make up for that.
“At the end of the day, she wants Hal to feel special and welcomed at Pickle Cottage.”
And while Stacey continues to navigate parenting a blended family of teenagers, a toddler and a baby, the source reveals she’s been seeking advice ahead of the wedding.
The source says, “She’s been reading a lot of parenting books on blended families and how to do the right thing. Joe has told Stacey to just relax and go about her normal routine with all the kids, but she would hate it if she found out years later that Hal didn’t have a good experience growing up under her roof.”
Stacey has said in the past, “No break-up is nice and there are reasons why you broke up with that person, but I think trying to remain as positive, uplifting and happy about that person is the best thing we could’ve done for the kids.”
The source adds, “For the most part, all the kids are getting on famously and Joe keeps assuring Stacey she’s doing an incredible job. He’s thrilled that after fighting hard in court, Hal is part of his family and now they can all focus on creating happy memories together.”