JUST MARRIED
Seven weeks to the day after welcoming son Wolfie, Binky Felstead and her fiancé Max Fredrik Darnton turned their newborn love bubble into newlywed bliss – with
hello! exclusively revealing the couple have said “I do” in front of their family and close friends.
“It was the most perfect day,” Binky says, sharing photos and memories from the intimate civil ceremony at Chelsea Old Town Hall on Friday 23 July exclusively with us. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet that we’re husband and wife.
“I haven’t had a chance to write out my new name – Alexandra Elizabeth Felstead-Darnton.”
Telling hello! all the details ahead of a bigger wedding celebration in Corfu next summer, the couple are still full of emotion and happiness as they share how four-year-old India took on flowergirl duties, escorting her mum down the aisle.
“Binks looked incredible,” Max tells us. “India swung the door open just before she walked down the aisle so I got a sneak peek, but I pretended I didn’t.”
For the 32-year-old businessman, who proposed last September – a little more than a year after the couple’s
‘I haven’t had a chance to write out my new name — Alexandra Elizabeth Felstead-Darnton’
paths first crossed at Soho Farmhouse – getting married is much more than becoming Binky’s husband: he is now, officially, India’s stepfather.
“It’s amazing,” he says. “To be honest, it felt official when Wolfie was born because of him and India being siblings. But getting married has cemented it.”
“Max messaged me the night before the wedding, saying: ‘I can’t wait to become India’s stepdad tomorrow,’ and I was like: ‘What about me?’” says former Made in Chelsea star Binky, laughing. “Then he said: ‘Yes, obviously I can’t wait to marry my best friend.’”
GLORIOUS GOWNS
Max had stayed with his best friends and dad the night before their big day, which he started with a run around Hyde Park followed by an invigorating ice bath to set himself up.
Meanwhile, Binky, 31, was getting ready at the family’s home in south-west London, joined by her mum Jane, sister Anna-Louise, sister-inlaw Lizzie, nieces Octavia and Mhari and, of course, India.
Her Halfpenny London wedding ensemble consisted of a softly draping slip dress under a floral appliqué bolero, with a ruffled headband from her friend’s bridal boutique GiGi & Olive and Sophia Webster heels.
Adding the finishing touch was a choker necklace featuring a sapphire – Max’s birthstone – from jeweller Philippa Herbert, who also designed the wedding bands.
“I went for understated, but elegant,” Binky says. “I didn’t know what size I was going to be as I had given birth seven weeks ago, so I couldn’t plan anything or do dress fittings until three weeks ago. It was a quick decision.”
India was also in bridal white, with a simple Benedita dress and a white bow and flowers in her hair, a pair of Liberty-print plimsolls from Trotters adding a pop of fun colour.
And while he slept through most of the day, blissfully unaware of the excitement around him, Wolfie also had a wedding outfit – a blue and white one-piece from La Coqueta.
Once ready, the wedding party headed off to Chelsea Old Town Hall, the venue for both Binky and Max’s parents’ own weddings, where the bride’s brother Oliver was waiting to walk her down the aisle.
“India walked in front of me,” adds
‘India was very excited and kept cheering in the middle of the service’
Binky. “She was really good. She was very excited and kept cheering in the middle of the service.”
“She was like a hooligan in the front row,” Max adds, laughing. “The service was emotional, but the children made it almost comical. It took a bit of the heat off.”
Indeed, at one point, India dropped the precious wedding rings, before safely delivering them to the bride and groom.
Max designed the bands with jeweller Philippa at the same time as they created Binky’s engagement ring together. The rings carry special meanings.
“Binky has two diamond bands, one with a blue sapphire in it for when Wolfie was born and the other has a small pink sapphire, which is symbolic of me becoming India’s stepdad,” he says.
Max’s own gold band is engraved with his and Binky’s initials and the wedding date.
TIME TO CELEBRATE
Rings and vows exchanged, the newlyweds emerged from their midday ceremony to a shower of confetti and a jubilant punch of the air from Max.
Looking chic in sunglasses to shade them from the early afternoon sunshine, the newlyweds hopped aboard a classic red London double-decker bestrewn with ribbons and champagne.
To start the celebrations, the
wedding party went first to a local restaurant for drinks and photos before heading to Binky and Max’s home to get the party truly started.
“We had music on, we danced and sang in the garden and we had India’s favourite dance teacher come and entertain the kids. It couldn’t have gone any better,” Binky tells us.
Among the guests were Binky’s former Made in Chelsea co-star Ollie Locke and his husband Gareth, for whom she served as a bridesmaid at their wedding at the Natural History Museum last November, and who are sharing their journey towards becoming parents with hello!.
‘Max messaged me the night before saying: ‘I can’t wait to become India’s stepdad tomorrow”’
LET THE FEASTING BEGIN
The wedding breakfast featured lobsters and steaks cooked on the barbecue by Get Room Service Catering, followed by a three-tiered wedding cake from Funfetti London, all served with Binky’s favourite champagne and Picante cocktails – Soho House’s signature mix; a margarita with added spice.
“When Max and I first met at the bar at Soho Farmhouse I was ordering Picantes, so that’s what we served,” Binky explains.
While the couple are saving traditional wedding customs such as best men, speeches and the first dance for next summer’s celebrations, Max tells us: “At 11.30pm, Binks started screaming: ‘First dance!’ and dragged me onto our decking to some random Eighties song. I don’t know if we’ll count that!”
Looking back on their first few weeks as a family of four, Binky says: “It’s been brilliant. India absolutely adores Wolfie. He laughs and smiles for her more than anyone.
“I was nervous, but I think four years is a lovely age gap because India’s not jealous, she’s very maternal with him. Obviously, we have our moments where we’re so tired coping with two, but so far, so good.”
“That’s because Binks has been amazing, juggling having two kids and working non-stop,” says her proud husband.
“I’m still learning, but it’s amazing
‘At 11.30pm, Binks started screaming: “First dance!” and dragged me onto our decking’
having Binks at the helm. She is so natural and maternal.”
Becoming a father is “honestly the best thing”, he continues. “I can’t stop staring at Wolfie and having him has made me and India even closer, because we go out and do bits and bobs on our own, like trips to the park or cinema.”
HELPING HANDS
They’ve been helped to navigate the newborn stages by Bloss, Binky’s own parenthood platform that she launched with her friend Steph Desmond. “I’ve been going to it for advice on things like sleep coaching and physios,” she says. “It’s perfect timing.”
Bloss may be of more help in the future as the couple are hoping to expand their family – “Max wants another two, I’m happy with one more,” Binky says, smiling.
But for now, as the confetti settles from their civil ceremony, the happy couple are staving off any post-wedding blues by looking ahead to next summer’s celebrations in Corfu.
“We’re inviting around 120 guests, maybe more. It will be family, extended family and close friends,” Max says.
“We’ve hired a big boat to sail around the coves, go snorkelling and have a barbecue on the beach. We’ve rented a cliffside venue for the day of the wedding, then we’ve hired a private beach restaurant for the day after, for Bloody Marys and story sharing.”
“Looking forward to that is keeping us happy,” Binky adds. “I’ve got a whole year to get ready for the next wedding!”
H‘We danced and sang in the garden. It couldn’t have gone any better’