Chloe Madeley: “Dad will come wedding dress shopping with me”
Bride-to-be Chloe opens up about her plans for her big day, having a ‘zen-do’ rather than a hen-do and her relationship with rugby player James Haskell
She is renowned for being an S exercise fanatic and often displays her unbelievably ripped body on social media, but Chloe Madeley says she will be toning down her relentless gym routine for her wedding day next year.
The fitness star says, “I have an idea of how I want my body shape to be on my wedding day, so I’ll change my diet and training over four or five months leading up to the big day. I want to be longer, leaner and less athletic.”
The 31 year old says she will be sharing her journey with her 180,000 social media followers. “It will be really interesting to document it,” she says. “My followers will find it fascinating – probably no one else will care! It will be very hard to do, though; I have spent the last six-anda-half years building the body I have now. But I’m excited.”
CLOUD NINE
Chloe is hoping to marry her England rugby star fiancé James Haskell, 32, next summer – if they can find a date that suits all their family and friends. He proposed in March, after four years of dating, during a romantic trip to Paris.
Chloe, the daughter of presenting duo Judy Finnigan and Richard Madeley, can’t hide her excitement. She says, “I’ve been on cloud nine ever since it happened! It is the biggest compliment I have ever received in my life and the best thing that’s ever happened to me. A proposal is just the loveliest way of telling someone that you love them.”
Admitting she’s ahead with wedding plans, she says, “We know the location – it will be in Europe and it will be in the summer. It’s going to be beautiful with lots and lots of alcohol and food! But it’s hard when you’re dating an athlete – we have to think of all the rugby players James will want to invite and they all play for different teams and have different schedules. Also, it’s the Rugby World Cup next year, so no dates are a guarantee. It’s a waiting game! We might end up having to get married in 2020. I was talking to Christine Lampard [married to ex-footballer Frank Lampard] about it the other day and we were comparing notes, she said, ‘I feel for you!’”
It was revealed recently that James was shelling out a staggering £100,000 for pop star Craig David to perform at their nuptials, and Chloe admits they have been very organised with wedding planning.
NAKED STRIPPER
She reveals, “We have pretty much sorted everything; we have 140 people on the guest list and I have four bridesmaids.”
Ahead of her wedding, earlier this month Chloe enjoyed a “zen do” – a new concept that replaces the traditional wild night out in favour of some rest and relaxation – at a villa in a quiet village in Ibiza.
She says, “It was bliss. I took some of my bridemaids and we read by the pool, ate great food and had a glass or two of rosé. I’m not a bore, but binge-drinking doesn’t fit with my lifestyle any more, so chilling with the girls worked perfectly. No one wants to see a naked stripper dancing in front of them any more!”
And Chloe says that both her parents are excitedly helping her plan her nuptials.
She says, “They both adore James. When I brought an England rugby player home,
my mum thought she’d hit the jackpot. My parents are already getting massively involved. They are so excited.”
Chloe has always been very close to her dad and she says that he won’t be left out of the wedding dress shopping, either.
“James knows Dad will always be the number-one man in my life no matter what,” says Chloe. “He even took him for drinks before he proposed. And Dad’s coming dress shopping with me and Mum. I want him to be part of it all, 100 per cent.”
When it comes to her relationship with James, Chloe says she couldn’t be happier.
She says, “We’re mad about each other and are incredibly affectionate. We get closer the longer we’re together. It’s lovely and it’s rare. I’m aware how lucky we are. For the first time in my life, I can say that I’m in a great relationship. Life can be rocky – everyone has ups and downs – and he is always there. I can always depend on him. He’s my rock.” ● Chloe booked her zen-do via Booking.com, which has a huge range of villas, apartments, hotels, yurts and treehotels to rent for hen dos.