VICTORIA MOSS’s fashion verdict: A toxic family drama, the Scottish Widows bride, and how Posh turned a wedding into her own catwalk
All eyes were on Holly Ramsay on Saturday; on the honey-coloured Bath stones, past a sea of onlookers, security guards and photographers.
The flowing, shiny, white, hooded cloak that wrapped her as she made her way to the historic abbey must have sounded like a great idea for a winter wedding, but sadly it looked more like a Scottish Widow than a luxurious veil.
With so much anticipation for this winter wedding, I’m definitely not the only one who was disappointed to not see the actual dress. And I wondered if ‘something blue’ was his mood towards his new (but uninvited) father-in-law.
The bride looked like she took style notes from former Bath resident Jane Austen and CS Lewis as she clasped her father’s arm and walked into the church. It drew a line between everyone’s favorite literary heroine, Lizzie Bennet, and the wizard of Narnia, depending on which side of the aisle your (senses and) sensibilities are on.
All in all, this was an event full of toxic drama. Triple Olympic champion Adam Peaty, 31, and Holly Ramsay, 25, were in the middle of a bitter row with Adam’s family, who were not invited to their wedding except for his sister Bethany, 32, who was a bridesmaid.
The fight started when some members of the Peaty family were not invited to his engagement party in December 2024. Adam’s mum then made the cut for Holly’s hen-do, where her mum Tana, Bethany and Victoria Beckham joined her at the Soho Farmhouse.
In the wake of this snub, stories of strife proliferated. As a result, Adam’s family – his mother, father and brothers – stayed 130 miles away at their home in Staffordshire while the wedding took place in front of 200 guests in Somerset.
On the day of the wedding, Adam’s mother Caroline told the Daily Mail she felt like Adam and Holly had ‘ripped out her heart’.
Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay were spotted leaving Bath Abbey after their lavish wedding, which had family drama simmering in the background.
The flowing, shiny, white, hooded cloak that wrapped her as she made her way to the historic abbey must have sounded like a great idea for a winter wedding, but sadly it looked more like a Scottish Widow than a luxurious veil.
Adam Peaty arrives at his wedding followed by the Beckhams at Bath Abbey
The Mail on Sunday later published a message from Adam’s Aunt Louise. In it he wrote: ‘I hope you never experience the deep pain you caused your mother and that despite everything, she still loves you. Shame on you both. Shame. This is your happiest day, and on every anniversary, remember that you hurt your mother so deeply that her soul screams.’
The wedding party had no doubt been instructed to step up the glam (or better yet, steer clear of family squabbles) by wearing black tie, which was the order of the day.
The groom and his five-year-old son George (from a previous relationship) wore matching tuxedos. The cute duo broke the tradition of wearing tuxedos only for evening events.
It’s a shame the hairdresser couldn’t find his way to the chef’s mop, despite Gordon Ramsay having curled his daughters Holly, Tilly and Megan’s hair with precision. The mat stood on end like a Vegas dealer’s thanks to the icy wind.
More than anything, the day was a poignant reminder that two high-profile families (the Ramsays and the Beckhams) aren’t that different from the rest of us when it comes to family disputes.
Sir David and Lady Beckham’s estranged son was also missing yesterday, despite the close bond he shared with Holly and their twin Jack while growing up.
Perhaps that’s why Lady Beckham is so focused on her role as fashion fairy godmother.
She dressed the bridesmaids (Megan, Tilly, and Bethany) in deep red silk-lined dresses of her signature. Elegant and festive, these shoes are adorned with strappy black Christian Louboutin heels and a bouquet of arum lilies.
The bride looked like she took style notes from former Bath resident Jane Austen and CS Lewis as she clasped her father’s arm and walked into the church.
Her bridesmaids, including sisters Tilly and Megan, dazzled in red dresses to match the Christmas theme
The bride’s mother, 51-year-old Tana, also stunned with her fashion mogul friend’s forest green dress.
When Victoria came to the wedding, she wore a navy blue long dress from her own collection.
Beckham men paired suits with stylish winter coats for lavish wedding
The bride’s mother, Tana, followed suit with a forest green (more festive color!) Beckham design, bravely opening her arms despite the chilly weather.
Beckham men paired their suits with stylish winter coats. (Why do women freeze in dresses while their colleagues have to get comfortable in wool? One might think it’s better for promoting dresses.)
Lady Beckham was big-toned and wore a bright teal dress; A dramatic front slit and a low-cut neckline, with hips cut to shape and further slim down the waist.
It was the long version of the dress she wore to dinner a few nights ago, as she revealed on her Instagram account.
Because it is a truth universally acknowledged that a much-discussed celebrity wedding is a sharp marketing opportunity for its valued guests.
