Who IS invited to Boris and Carrie Johnson's wedding party?

2022-07-28

Who IS invited to Boris and Carrie’s big day? Carrie’s close friends Nimco Ali and Lord Goldsmith are expected to be among 200 guests at lavish Cotswolds wedding party but Michael Gove is snubbed – with PM’s wife ‘very much’ in charge of guest list

The Johnsons are reportedly holding wedding party at Daylesford House and preparations are well underway
The Grade I listed building is owned by JCB chairman Lord Bamford, who has given more than £4m to Tories
The property is situated in 1,500 acres of manicured gardens including an 18th century orangery and pool
Mr and Mrs Johnson might have access to Daylesford Organic Farm and the luxury wedding planning staff

The grand celebration of the Prime Minister’s secret marriage to Carrie Johnson will be the most romantic yet for the thrice-wed Tory leader – but it appears that the majority of the hundreds of guests this weekend will be friends rather than politicians and aides.

The couple have chosen a spot close to a heart-shaped orchard at the Cotswolds country estate where they will hold their wedding party this weekend – and Carrie, 34, is said to be ‘very much’ in charge of the guest list being described as ‘not political’.

It is unclear if Mr Johnson’s four children from his second marriage to Marina Wheeler will attend with their relationship with their father still said to be ‘fractious’ given he left their mother for his now wife amid allegations of an alleged affair. But his father Stanley and his siblings including broadcaster Rachel Johnson are sure to be there.

Insiders have claimed that the coup that forced the PM to resign has had an impact on who is among the 150 to 200 guests – with Michael Gove, who was sacked for telling his old friend to go, said to be among those who have been culled.

There is also a doubt over Sajid Javid’s invite after he plunged the knife by resigning as Health Secretary earlier this month.

Mr Javid was part of Carrie’s inner-circle and a close friend having previously been her boss and was part of the select group of Tory MPs who attended her 30th birthday party where Mr Gove performed a rap that healed a rift with Boris when he sank his leadership campaign after their Brexit win in 2016.

Carrie’s best friend Nimco Ali, an activist who has campaigned to end female genital mutilation, is sure to have a key role in the day given she is so close to the couple and is even said to have formed part of their household bubble during the pandemic. Henry Newman, known as the leader of the ‘Carrie clique’ in Downing Street, is also likely to be there as will former Gove aide Josh Grimstone. But most advisors will not go.

Green Tory Lord Zak Goldsmith, a great defender of the couple and a Tory strategist on the environment – a passion for Mrs Johnson, is also going, according to The Daily Telegraph. ‘Turbocharged Remainer’ and Old Etonian Hugo Dixon, one of Boris’ oldest friends is also expected to be there.

Boris Johnson and Carrie Johnson in the garden of 10 Downing Street after their secret wedding last year

A lorry with generators stands next to a gigantic marquee and tents for caterers where hundreds of guests are expected to party with the Johnsons

Teams have been working this week to prepare for the event. Downing Street has said it will not comment

The tents are close to the Daylesford Estate’s heart-shaped orchard. It is not known if it will form part of the event

A white gazebo has been erected in front of Daylesford House in Gloucestershire (file picture), where its owner Lord Bamford is believed to be hosting Carrie and Boris Johnson’s delayed wedding party this coming weekend

Michael Gove is believed to be off the guest list. But Lord and Lady Bamford, Nimco Ali, Josh Grimstone, Lord Goldsmith and Hugo Dixon are expected to be there

A gigantic marquee has gone up close to the magnificent Georgian-built Daylesford House in the Cotswolds with a heart-shaped orchard also nearby on the 1,500-acre estate.

The Prime Minister and his wife are understood to be marking the occasion at the 18th-century home of billionaire JCB chairman Lord Bamford, one of the Tory party’s biggest supporters.

Boris and Carrie secretly married last year in front of just 30 guests because of the pandemic – but according to the Mirror they are now holding a far more extravagant event this weekend now restrictions have eased.

Lord Bamford, whose family has given more than £14million to the Conservatives as well as lending his business’ support to the PM during the Brexit campaign, is expected to be among the hundreds of guests. He is married to Lady Carole Bamford OBE, who set up the Daylesford Organic Farm, based in the private Gloucestershire village but with farm stores across London it has been branded ‘the poshest shop in Britain’.

The Johnsons are big fans of Daylesford products, reportedly spending £27,000 on its luxury organic food and drink during the pandemic, and are sure to use its produce for the wedding breakfast.

The couple have not confirmed the details of the wedding party. A Downing Street spokesman said: ‘We do not comment on speculation regarding private or family matters which do not involve any ministerial declarations or taxpayer funds.’

The PM and his wife had planned to toast their marriage at a party at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s grace-and-favour country home in the Chilterns. But they were forced to change their plans following Mr Johnson’s resignation and the billionaire Bamfords appear to have stepped in.

Daylesford House, which is just a mile from Lord and Lady Bamford’s organic farm of the same name, boasts 1,500 acres of manicured gardens including pristine lawns, an 18th-century orangery and a secret garden – complete with octagonal swimming pool, shell grotto and alfresco pizza oven.

Conservative party donor Lord Bamford (right with his wife Lady Bamford) stepped in to offer his private country pile to Mr and Mrs Johnson for their belated wedding celebration

Boris Johnson present a Sir Winston Churchill Leadership Award to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy today

The couple tied the knot in a secret ceremony at Westminster Cathedral in front of just a handful of guests in May 2021.

The 30 guests were invited at the last minute, with only a few church officials involved in the preparations for the service

Lord Bamford, 76, is one of Britain’s most successful industrialists and his fortune has been estimated at £4.6billion.

His wife, Lady Carole Bamford OBE, became famous for launching Daylesford Organic Farm, based in the private village but with farm shops across London.

Johnson (left) with Lord Bamford, chairman of JCB, at the new JCB Factory in Vadodara, Gujarat

Sources had claimed the event was going to be at Chequers (above), but No 10 sources confirmed it would be elsewhere

And few British families have bankrolled the Conservative Party more than the Billionaire Bamfords.

Lord and Lady Bamford have donated an estimated £10m to Tory Party and their MPs through their JCB empire since 2001, according to Electoral Commission records.

The yellow-digger tycoons, both 75, have a fortune of over £4.5bn and rank 38th in this year’s Sunday Times rich list.

Beyond cash handouts, the Tory’s have also benefited from repeated press conferences staged at JCB’s Staffordshire headquarters.

Boris Johnson made his headline-grabbing pro-Brexit stunt at the factory as part of his general election bid in 2019.

The global digger manufacturer paid him £10,000 just three days before he smashed through a brick wall in a JCB digger.

Beyond politics, the Bamfords hold sway with a long list of British elites, including their friends the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.

Lady Bamford sits on JCB’s board of directors and was appointed OBE in 2006 for her services to children and families.

She founded Daylesford Organic in 2002 which is now a chain with four London farm shops and a partnership with online supermarket Ocado. Dayleford supplies the finest sustainable produce to Britain’s elites. Celebrity clients include Jeremy Clarkson, Hugh Grant and Liz Hurley.

A former air hostess, Lady Carole Bamford OBE married Sir Anthony in 1974. Together they have four children and enjoy opulent homes all over the world, from central London, to southern France, and Barbados, as well as a sprawling 1500-acre estate in Daylesford, a village in the Cotswolds.

Aged just 30, Sir Anthony succeeded his father, Joseph Cyril Bamford, as chairman and managing director of JCB in 1975. He was knighted at the age of 45 in 1990 and handed a life peerage by then Prime Minister David Cameron in August 2013.

Boris and Carrie’s VERY posh wedding venue: Couple are set to celebrate on the 1,500-acre Daylesford estate of Tory donor Lord Bamford – complete with 18th-century orangery, a secret garden – and access to florists, guest houses and chefs

After their plan to host their wedding at Chequers was hurriedly scrapped in the wake of Boris Johnson’s resignation, the outgoing Prime Minister and his wife were forced to scramble for a backup venue.

Fortunately help was at hand in the form of Conservative party donor Lord Bamford, who has reportedly offered up his private Cotswolds estate for the occasion.

Boris, 58, and Carrie, 34, are preparing to toast their marriage this weekend in a marquee erected in the grounds of Grade I listed Daylesford House, near the village of Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire.

It is just 30 miles from Mr Johnson’s private country home in Thame, Oxfordshire.

The couple tied the knot in a secret ceremony at Westminster Abbey in May 2021, followed by a small reception in the garden at No. 10. Just a handful of guests was allowed due to Covid-19 restrictions that restricted weddings to just 30 people.

The couple had planned to toast their marriage at a party at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s grace-and-favour country home, this month but have been forced to change their plans following Mr Johnson’s resignation.

Daylesford House, which is just a mile from Lord and Lady Bamford’s organic farm of the same name, boasts 1,500 acres of manicured gardens including pristine lawns, an 18th-century orangery and a secret garden – complete with hexagonal swimming pool, shell grotto and alfresco pizza oven.

Downing Street said: ‘We do not comment on speculation regarding private or family matters which do not involve any ministerial declarations or taxpayer funds.’

There is no doubt their host has pulled out all the stops for the big day.

JCB chairman Lord Bamford has given about £14million to the Conservative party since 2001 and has been a supporter of Mr Johnson since the pair were involved together on the Vote Leave campaign in 2016.

Mr Johnson chose the JCB headquarters as the setting for his speech signalling his intention to run for Prime Minister. He visited the company’s Staffordshire factory during the 2019 campaign.

Private venue steeped in history

Country retreat: Grade I listed Daylesford House in Gloucestershire. Pictured: 1. The mansion built for the first Governor-General of India in the 1790s; 2. The south-facing lawn with box parterre; 3. Terrace looking out to the orangery; 4. The Grade II listed 18th century orangery; 5. A hexagonal pool in the Millennium Garden; 6. A grotto and pizza oven for dining al fresco

1. Grade I listed mansion: Daylesford House was built for the first Governor-General of India in the 1790s. Back then, its walled garden and glasshouses would grow mangoes and papayas to remind the master of the house of life in Bengal.

Pride and joy: Lady Bamford shared this photographs of her beautiful tulips in one of the walled gardens at Daylesford

Today, the estate generates organic food for the chain of farm shops and cafés created by Carole Bamford.

Since she moved here in 1974 with her husband, JCB heir Anthony Bamford, Lady Bamford has revived and expanded the exquisite garden. Although maintained as a private property, the Bamfords throw open their garden gates to the public once a year.

2: South-facing lawn: Steps lead up to the 50m x 20m balustraded South Terrace. At each corner of the lawn there is a box parterre. Like the house and the Orangery, the South Terrace looks down a shallow wooded valley with pools, walks, and planting.

3. Terrace: Looking out towards the Orangery is a second terrace which is being used as parking for suppliers ahead of the big day.

4. 18th century orangery: The impressive orangery was constructed in 1789–90 to designs by John Davenport.

The seven-bay building is constructed from ashlars, with tall pointed windows facing south over the park, a pediment above the central three bays, round wings at either end, and battlements with pinnacles.

5. & 6: Secret garden with grotto, pizza oven and hexagonal pool: The Millennium Garden behind the Orangery contains a shell grotto with a flight of steps leading down to a hexagonal pool surrounded by statuary and parterre beds. There is also reportedly a pizza oven, making it the ideal setting for al fresco dining.

Organic food from their favourite takeaway

Rustic chic: Just a stone’s throw from Daylesford House and Gardens is the Bamfords’ Daylesford estate which serves as a wedding venue. Pictured, a table set up in the grounds of Daylesford Organic Farm which could inspire Boris and Carrie

Yummy Mummy meal: Daylesford Organic Farm kept Carrie and Boris topped up with £27,000 of healthy takeaways during lockdown. Pictured, a selection of the Daylesford To Go range previously sold at the farm shop

Attention to detail: Lady Bamford shared this photograph of a simple yet elegant lunch in the gardens of Daylesford House. It is possible the hostess could lend her talents to Carrie Johnson and help pull together stylish tables for the big day

Little extras: Carrie could use Daylesford’s florist and stylists

Daylesford is a one-stop wedding shop, offering couples everything from spa facilities to a florist. Carrie might want to make use of her connections and call in some assistance via Lady Bamford.

The florists craft bridal bouquets using the freshest blooms, many of which are taken from the organic Cutting Garden.

Forget huge, elaborate trailing bouquets and ostentatious table centre pieces — when it comes to today’s modern eco-conscious bride, less is more. Carrie’s bouquet is likely to be a simple hand-tied affair featuring a small selection of seasonal flowers.

Daylesford also has an in-house stylist who can arrange everything from personalised dressing gowns to embroidered napkins, and recommendations for DJs, photographers and musicians.

Just a stone’s throw from Daylesford House and Gardens is the Bamfords’ Daylesford estate, home to the organic farm shop that kept Carrie and Boris topped up with £27,000 of healthy takeaways during lockdown.

It also serves as a wedding venue, with couples able to exchange vows in either the Chelsea Garden Room or the light-filled Glasshouse.

A reception of up to 200 guests can be held in one of Daylesford’s many indoor and outdoor spaces.

Brides and grooms can opt to erect luxury tents in the back garden, or have long, banquet-style dining tables set up in the converted Cotswolds stone farm buildings.

While Boris and Carrie will not be hosting their wedding on site, they could still draw inspiration from Daylesford Organic Farm’s signature rustic chic aesthetic.

They might opt for trestle tables covered with soft neutral linen fabrics and decorated with simple tonal floral displays.

The events team at Daylesford sometimes uses flower pots instead of vases – a quirky touch which might appeal to the Johnsons.

Of course, one of the big draws of hosting a wedding at Daylesford is access to the talented chefs and deliciously fresh organic ingredients that has made the name famous.

Guests can choose to have a relaxed feast of sharing platters, food from sizzling fire pits, or served out of a retro airstream trailer.

The adorable Bottoms Up bar makes the perfect refreshment stop in the garden.

Carrie is said to be a fan of Negroni cocktails – made of one part gin, one part vermouth rosso, and one part Campari, garnished with orange peel – so they could be on the cards for the drinks reception.

The Wild Rabbit pub also serves organic food from the farm, should couples want to host an intimate reception.

Given Carrie and Boris’ love of Daylesford food, it is almost certainly in the running as wedding caterer.

Give their guests a good night’s sleep

Escape to the country: There is every chance Boris and Carrie will have recommended their loved ones book out the holiday cottages dotted on the Daylesford estate. Pictured, one of the welcoming bedrooms inside Daylesford Cottages

After a countryside wedding, there is nothing worse than traipsing for miles to the nearest B&B or luxury hotel.

So there is every chance Boris and Carrie will have recommended their loved ones book out the holiday cottages dotted on the Daylesford estate.

There are five self-catering, pet-friendly cottages sleeping up to four people that come complete with log fires, thickly woven rugs and pure cotton sheets.

All cottages come with a complimentary welcome back of Daylesford bread, eggs, milk, butter & Léoube rosé, and access to the stunning countryside around the estate.

There are also 13 rooms in the estate’s The Wild Rabbit pub which would offer a cosy retreat at the end of a long day of partying.

The estate also has the benefit of the Bamford Wellness Spa – a must for a rejuvenating pre-wedding facial – and the award-winning Cookery School, which could be a fun activity for guests to try the day after the wedding.

A billionaire host

Close ties: Then Prime Minister Boris Johnson with JCB chairman Lord Bamford at the unveiling of a hydrogen powered JCB Loadall telescopic handler in central London in October 2021

Billionaires: Lord Bamford, 76, is one of Britain’s most successful industrialists and his fortune has been estimated at £4.6billion. He and his family have close ties to Mr Johnson dating back several years. Pictured, Lord and Lady Bamford

Mutual support: Lord Bamford has given about £14million to the Conservative party since 2001 and has been a supporter of Mr Johnson since the pair were involved together on the Vote Leave campaign in 2016. Pictured, Mr Johnson during a visit to a JCB factory in India in April this year

Lord Bamford, 76, is one of Britain’s most successful industrialists and his fortune has been estimated at £4.6billion. He and his family have close ties to Mr Johnson dating back several years.

Lord Bamford has given about £14million to the Conservative party since 2001 and has been a supporter of Mr Johnson since the pair were involved together on the Vote Leave campaign in 2016.

According to the Commons Register of Interests, Lord Bamford and his JCB firm bankrolled Mr Johnson to the tune of £160,000 in 2019.

While a backbench MP, Mr Johnson chose the JCB headquarters as the location for his ‘comeback’ speech in which he announced his intention to run for Prime Minister.

The future Prime Minister also visited the JCB factory in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire during the 2019 election campaign.

The PM famously used the trip to crash a digger, with ‘Get Brexit done’ emblazoned on it, through a fake wall marked ‘gridlock’ as he drummed up support for his EU exit plan.

He has also showed his support by making a number of public visits to JCB projects, including a visit to a JCB factory in India in April.

During the pandemic, the Johnsons dined in style thanks to a secret £12,500 gourmet food supply from Daylesford organic, which is owned by Lady Bamford.

Lady Bamford founded Daylesford over 40 years ago, when she began converting her family’s farmland to produce organic food to improve her children’s diets.

It is now dubbed the most sustainable – and poshest – farmshop in Britain and has become a lauded example of eco-farming across the globe, a subject close to the heart of passionate environmental campaigner Mrs Johnson.

Lady Bamford was awarded the OBE for ‘services to children and families’.

What WILL Carrie and Boris Johnson’s big day look like? How couple could opt for a sustainable wedding dress, a chic UK ‘minimoon’ and a Tory donor’s country pile for their venue – after being forced to scrap Chequers plans

No bride and groom wants to be left scrambling for a venue just weeks away from their big day.

But such is the dilemma facing Boris, 58, and Carrie Johnson, 34, as they prepare to celebrate their wedding with a Champagne-soaked soiree.

The couple had planned to toast their marriage at a party at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s grace-and-favour country home, later this month but have been forced to change their plans following Mr Johnson’s resignation.

A source said they would now be looking at other venues, insisting: ‘Nothing had been 100 per cent firmed up’. The PM’s spokesman later confirmed that there would be no party at Chequers, adding: ‘As you’ll know, taxpayers don’t cover prime ministers’ personal expenditure.’

Wedding woes: Carrie and Boris tied the knot in a secret ceremony at Westminster Abbey in May 2021, followed by a small reception in the garden at No. 10 (pictured). They had planned to celebrate their marriage at Chequers later this month but have been forced to change venue

Change in plans: The couple have been forced to change their plans following Boris Johnson’s resignation. Pictured, Mr Johnson with Carrie and children Wilfred and Romy after the speech

A change in venue means other details, such as the catering, flowers and entertainment might also have to change. The recent turmoil in Westminster means the guestlist might also need a rapid rewrite.

So, what can we expect from Mr and Mrs Johnson’s big day? Here, FEMAIL takes a look at everything from Carrie’s sustainable wedding dress to where they might go on honeymoon…

THE COMPLICATED GUEST LIST

Carrie’s BFF: Nimco Ali, a prominent anti-FGM campaigner who is godmother to Wilfred. The Somali-born campaigner is one of Miss Symonds’ closest friends

Gotten the call up? It was previously reported that Carrie had already chosen her bridesmaids. The first in line is said to be Emma Barr, pictured, a former government special adviser

Bridesman? Carrie might also choose to break from tradition and have her closest male friend, Henry Newman, as part of her bridal party. Pictured, Carrie and Henry with Dilyn

Their save-the-date cards went out last year, but given that a host of Boris’ Conservative MPs have called for his resignation in recent weeks, several invitees may soon find out their presence at the wedding bash is no longer desired.

‘The party is still going ahead, but the guestlist will be a headache,’ a Downing Street source said.

‘Boris and Carrie sent the ‘save the date’ cards last year but obviously recent developments mean a few of the people they sent them to would not now be as welcome as they once were.’

ROLES FOR WILFRED, ROMY AND DILYN THE DOG?

Boris and Carrie may well want their children and beloved dog Dilyn to be involved in the big day some way.

Wilfred, now two, could totter down the aisle as a pageboy, but seven-month-old daughter Romy would need to be carried by another member of the bridal party.

Whatever their roles, hands-on mother Carrie is almost certainly going to want to keep her little ones close on the big day.

The other boy in Boris and Carrie’s life, Dilyn, could also get the call up as a ringbearer.

However the rescue dog might need a little more training after reports he ‘humped Dominic Cummings’ leg’, is not properly house-trained and has destroyed expensive artefacts at Chequers.

Role for Dilyn? The other boy in Boris and Carrie’s life, Dilyn, could also get the call up

While Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid might no longer make the cut, Boris devotee Nadine Dorries is sure to attend, as is Carrie’s close friend Zac Goldsmith.

Definitely on the list will be Stanley Johnson — who, like Carrie, is an ardent conservationist, and has made positive noises about his daughter-in-law from the start.

Then there are Boris’ children Lara, Milo, Cassie and Theodore — from his 26-year marriage to barrister Marina Wheeler — who are understood to be back on good terms with their father following his divorce from their mother.

Carrie does not have a close relationship with her father Matthew, who was a co-founder of the Independent newspaper, but is very close to her mother Josephine McAfee, a former newspaper lawyer who reportedly provides childcare for Wilfred.

When news of the engagement first broke, it was reported that Carrie had started choosing her bridal party.

As one might not have been suitable for 2021’s intimate wedding, it is possible she might find a way to single out those closest to her this time around.

The first in line is said to be Emma Barr, a former government special adviser who was signed up as a producer for GB News. She worked as a Tory press officer under Carrie and has publicly accused her critics of ‘jealousy’, gushing: ‘She was a wonderful boss and has always gone out of her way to support me.’

Also likely to be in the running is Nimco Ali, a prominent anti-FGM campaigner who is godmother to Wilfred.

The Somali-born campaigner is one of Miss Symonds’ closest friends and was pictured with her on a trip to Venice in 2020.

Carrie might also choose to break from tradition and have her closest male friend, Henry Newman, as part of her bridal party.

The pair rose through the Conservative Party ranks and have formed a bond that goes beyond politics.

Mr Newman defended Miss Symonds when her relationship with Mr Johnson became public, tweeting: ‘Carrie Symonds coverage too often reflects a misogyny that attractive women can’t also be talented. I’ve known her for years. Proud to call her my friend.’

The pair frequently tweet each other about their shared love of ABBA, and danced along to the band’s records at Miss Symonds’ 30th birthday party in 2018.

SUSTAINABLE WEDDING DRESS

Sustainable style: Carrie might turn to her favourite online rental service, My Wardrobe HQ, which provided the wedding gown she wore for the official nuptials last year. The website stocks pieces by big name designers including Monique Lhuillier, pictured, and Savannah Miller, whose exquisite pieces are available to rent at a fraction of their original price

Eco chic: Stella McCartney would be a fitting choice for an eco-minded bride like Carrie

ORGANIC CATERING – WITH A NEGRONI TO WASH IT DOWN

Who better to cater the big day than Daylesford, the organic farm shop that kept Carrie and Boris topped up with £27,000 of healthy takeaways during lockdown?

Owner Lady Bamford is married to Lord Bamford.

Jade Beer, former editor of Brides magazine, previously told the Daily Mail: ‘The 2,500 acre Daylesford estate, — so loved by the Chipping Norton set — has recently acquired a licence to host weddings.

‘If Carrie went with this option, she would have its organic food, patisserie, wine, floristry, cutting gardens and Bamford spa and wellbeing facilities at her disposal. The latter would even be able to create a bespoke scent for Carrie’s wedding day.’

Carrie is also said to be a fan of Negroni cocktails – made of one part gin, one part vermouth rosso, and one part Campari, garnished with orange peel – so they could be on the cards for the drinks reception.

Forget a fussy meringue, planet-friendly boho-chic is the insider bet for this wedding gown.

She might turn to her favourite online rental service, My Wardrobe HQ, which provided the wedding gown she wore for the official nuptials last year.

The dress, by Greek designer Christos Costarellos, would have cost £2,830 if she bought it new. Instead Carrie borrowed it for just £45 a day.

The website stocks pieces by big name designers including Monique Lhuillier, Savannah Miller and Halfpenny London, whose exquisite pieces are available to rent at a fraction of their original price.

Or there is the option of choosing an eco-friendly label.

London designer Indiebride, which is known for its sustainable and organic fabrics, using British spun ahimsa silk — made using a ‘non violent’ process, in which the silk moths are not harmed. A dress would cost £1,700 to £1,900.

Rita Colson also uses only responsibly sourced fabrics with dresses costing around £1,500.

For a cheaper option, there’s Sister Organics, a Devon-based bridal company that specialises in dresses made from organic and sustainable fabrics.

Its 70 per cent ivory hemp silk wrap dress costs £350 — which would suit Boris’s budget.

Jessica Turner Designs is a London-based ethical company focusing on slow fashion. Jessica draws her inspiration from plant textures, colours and shapes. Prices start at £1,500.

Designer Stella McCartney, who created the Duchess of Sussex’s evening wedding dress, would also be a fitting choice for the bride.

VENUE WITH WOW FACTOR

A venue with ‘wow’ factor: Chequers might be off the cards but fortunately Mr and Mrs Johnson’s phonebooks are bursting with well-heeled contacts who might be willing to lend them use of a country pile or city mansion for the big day. Lord Bamford, the owner of the JCB construction equipment giant, whose firms have given an estimated £10 million to the Tories, owns Wootton Lodge, in Staffordshire, pictured

… Or something a little wilder? The other contender is Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve, in Kent, which is run by conservation charity the Aspinall Foundation, where Carrie Symonds works. The estate is home to rhinos, gorillas and zebras and boasts several potential venues

Chequers might be off the cards but fortunately Mr and Mrs Johnson’s phonebooks are bursting with well-heeled contacts who might be willing to lend them use of a country pile or city mansion for the big day.

Lord Bamford, the owner of the JCB construction equipment giant, whose firms have given an estimated £10 million to the Tories, owns several properties that would be fit for the Johnsons’ champagne-soaked soiree.

First there is Grade I-listed Daylesford House, in Gloucestershire, which boasts spectacular gardens. Or Carrie and Boris might opt for the imposing Wootton Lodge, in Staffordshire.

Another contender is Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve, in Kent, which is run by conservation charity the Aspinall Foundation, where Carrie Symonds works.

The estate boasts several potential venues, including The Bear Lodge, which can host an evening reception for up to 180 guests, and the Moroccan Courtyard, which is ideal for a more intimate drinks gathering for up to 40 guests.

Guests can also enjoy a private safari to see the giraffes, zebras, rhinos and gorillas that live on the reserve.

A DESIGNER GIFT LIST

Designer buys: The couple could cobble together a list of items from her favourite eco-designer, Lulu Lytle. Carrie brought all that and more to the Downing Street flat when she spent tens of thousands of pounds on wallpaper and other furnishings from the brand. Her vases and lamps sell for between £3,000 and £5,000.

Carrie branded their Downing Street apartment (decorated by Theresa May) as a ‘John Lewis nightmare’ — so the couple are not likely to turn to the British high street stalwart for their wedding list.

But one option for the wedding list could be theweddingshop.com where couples can register for anything from KitchenAid food mixers to The White Company bed linen but also, more important, there are options for guests to donate to an array of worthy causes.

They could cobble together a list of items from her favourite eco-designer, Lulu Lytle.

Carrie brought all that and more to the Downing Street flat when she spent tens of thousands of pounds on wallpaper and other furnishings from the brand. Her vases and lamps sell for between £3,000 and £5,000.

More likely, however, is that Carrie and Boris would ask guests to donate to one of the causes close to their hearts. She has worked for The Aspinall Foundation and marine life charity Oceana.

THE MINIMOON

A trendy staycation: So-called ‘minimoons’ – a mini break taken in the days after a wedding – are growing increasingly popular for brides and grooms who need to delay a longer honeymoon. For such a trip, Boris and Carrie might opt to return to hotel chain The Pig. Pictured: The Pig In The Wall in Southampton

Private getaway: The Prime Minister reportedly proposed while on holiday in Mustique shortly after his party won an impressive majority in the December 2019 General Election. So it is possible the couple will want to return to the luxury holiday destination for their honeymoon

AN ABBA TRIBUTE ACT?

Given the age gap, there may well be a generational split on the musical preferences.

But perhaps the happy couple will shun woke in favour of nostalgia and go for an Abba tribute band.

Tongues began wagging in earnest about their growing closeness when Boris attended Carrie’s Abba-themed 30th birthday house party when she was a Conservative spin doctor.

While the younger generation of cool Tories (including Carrie, stunning in an elegant party dress) danced the night away in the living room, older Cabinet ministers, including the then Environment Secretary Michael Gove and Home Secretary Sajid Javid, jiggled around the edges.

The Prime Minister reportedly proposed while on holiday in Mustique shortly after his party won a majority in the December 2019 General Election.

So it is possible the couple will want to return to the luxury holiday destination for their honeymoon.

The Caribbean paradise island is accustomed to welcoming everyone who is anyone, from rock stars to royalty, along with every aristo and captain of industry in between.

It is perfect for couple’s looking for a publicity-free getaway.

In the past, paparazzi snappers hunting celebrities have hired boats and positioned themselves off shore with long lenses.

But if they attempt to set foot on land, they know they will immediately be handed over to police because Mustique is a private island.

However, it is also possible the couple might forgo an international getaway in favour of a shorter staycation.

So-called ‘minimoons’ – a mini break taken in the days after a wedding – are growing increasingly popular for brides and grooms who need to delay a longer honeymoon.

For such a trip, Boris and Carrie might opt to return to hotel chain The Pig.

The couple spent Mother’s Day at £215-a-night The Pig In The South Downs, the latest outpost of the celeb-approved brand. There are several across the UK to choose from.

LESS-IS-MORE BOUQUETS

English rose: Carrie may choose a relaxed, hand-tied posy by Wild At Heart, pictured

Flora Starkey, who has provided flowers for Victoria Beckham, has a London studio and also a 30-acre farm on the Dorset/Devon border. The land features woodland and meadows where Flora cultivates flowers and plants for cutting.

For table decorations, you can’t beat wild flowers in simple mismatched (recycled) jamjars tied with twine and designed to look quirky and homemade — but actually cost a small fortune from a bespoke florist such as JamJar Flowers, a favourite of designer Stella McCartney.

Wild At Heart, based in London’s Notting Hill, are famous for their dramatic arrangements in bright colours. Flowers for a ‘simple country wedding’ can cost as much as £20,000 or up to £100,000 if Carrie wants a decorative floral arch.

After the wedding, to avoid waste, Carrie may choose to donate her blooms to Floral Angels. A charity, with the Duchess of Cornwall as patron, they redistribute flowers to care homes and hospices.

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