X Factor star Ray Quinn made an emotional tribute to his late dad at his wedding this week.
The singer, 35, tied the knot with Emily Fletcher, 31, in a magical ceremony at Peckforton Castle in Cheshire.
Ray and Emily met in 2017 and the wedding was attended by 70 of their closest friends and family while music was provided by the Shane Nolan band, led by Shane Nolan, the son of Loose Women star Coleen Nolan and EastEnders actor Shane Richie, who is best known for his role as Alfie on the soap.
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The newlyweds paid a special tribute to Ray’s late father during the ceremony, also named Ray, who passed away from cancer in November 2020.
Ray’s dad had been married to his mum Valerie for 47 years before his death. Ray previously told OK! that his dad was told he could live for another six to eight months following the diagnosis, but he died around two months later.
“Emily supported me through a lot of that time and she showed me again on our wedding day how she goes above and beyond what anyone else would do,” he told OK! magazine.
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“She gave me a tiny little pin with my dad’s picture on it that I wore on the inside of my jacket.”
Dance teacher Emily also made sure that Ray’s dad was mentioned in the wedding breakfast and speeches.
“On the sweetheart table at the wedding breakfast she put a framed photo of him by us,” Ray shared. “I would never have thought of that, it was so special.”
Ray included a special mention of his dad in his wedding band as well.
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The ring also includes the birthstones of his and Emily’s children, including one-year-old Summer, 10-year-old Harry from Ray’s previous relationship and Lucian, Emily’s 11-year-old son from a previous relationship.
The wedding ring holds a very special place in Ray’s heart. “The gold in my ring is from my dad’s wedding band, it’s the same gold my dad wore every day for 47 years,” he said. “So with the ring, the pin and the photo, my dad was very much at my wedding, thanks to Emily.”
Emily gushed: “Our life is about sharing the little moments with the special people in our lives, my dad taught me that. When I was little he’d pick me up from school on a Friday and we’d go camping and climb up mountains.
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“Those times made me realise it’s not about money or material things, it’s about time. Being with people you love. That’s what our wedding was about. We’ve got all we could ever need and wish for, and that’s to be content and happy in our life, with each other and our children.”
Gregory Robinson