Julien Macdonald made Janette Manrara’s wedding dress.
The 46-year-old fashion designer was partnered with the professional dancer during his time on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ in 2013 so it’s hardly surprising that he offered to make her gorgeous gown when she tied the knot with her beau Aljaž Skorjanec in July.
Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, he said: "You know you just get to meet a lot of dancers. I became friends with Janette, my dance partner and Aljaz.
"I just made her wedding dress actually so I’ve kept in contact with them all … It took a long time. Janette wanted something very, very clean and chic.
"She has Audrey Hepburn as her icon. But she ended up with something with a lot of crystal and a lot of sparkle. Like all brides, she changed her mind. At the wedding I met all her family and Aljaz’s family as well and it was a really great day to give back to those guys who helped me learn to dance and go to the show. It was my way of saying thank you by making Janette her dream wedding dress. It was a great day."
And because the cast and crew became such a close family when he competed on the show, Julien was devastated when he heard that Sir Bruce Forsyth – who presented the programme until 2014 – had passed away last month aged 89.
He explained: "I think the judges make the show. I was sad to hear the news about Bruce – Bruce was on it when I was on it. I really like Claudia Winkleman; I think she’s really great and cool. I’m really good friends with Bruno Tonioli as well, Bruno’s a great guy on and off the screen. Even Craig Revel Horwood, you know they call him ‘Nasty Craig’. But when you see him off the TV, he’s a really fab, down-to-earth guy."
Julien Macdonald made Janette Manrara’s wedding dress
