For Johnnie Boden, the vibrant creator of the esteemed British fashion brand adored by figures such as the Princess of Wales and Michelle Obama, last weekend was a joyous occasion marked by his daughter’s wedding. However, in sharing images of the event, two photos in particular captured moments that might be the stuff of nightmares for any bride-to-be.
Using the clothing company’s official Instagram account, Johnnie proudly posted 12 snapshots from his daughter Anna’s wedding to the dashing financier, Ollie Hext. Amid the charming scenes, a couple of images seemed to encapsulate a wedding caterer’s predicament.
Among the collection of photos from the festive day was one that portrayed the groom jubilantly pumping his fist after exchanging vows. Yet, the focal point for many was a picture showing the couple’s exquisitely flower-adorned cake taking a dramatic fall, destined to become what many might call a literal dog’s dinner.
In this particular image, both Ollie and Anna, at the age of 31, are depicted standing in a doorway, gazing in shock from the top of rustic stone steps. The cause of their alarm lies below, where two catering staff members appear to lose their grip on the elaborate three-tier wedding cake, helplessly watching as it crashes to the ground.
Oh crumbs! Judging by images shared after their weekend wedding, Anna Boden and her new husband Ollie Hext encountered what looked like a wedding cake catastrophe.
The aftermath: A photo of the three-tiered cake lying on the grass was also posted, with the family’s terrier apparently enjoying the catering mishap
A follow-up shot confirms the cake’s fate, showing it spectacularly deconstructed on the grass, with the family’s cute terrier already enjoying the icing. An empty bottle of champagne lies discarded close by.
While it’s not clear whether a replacement cake was found, the wedding day disaster certainly doesn’t appear to have ruined the wedding of Anna, who teaches science in a west London school, and her wealth manager beau.
The wedding reception is believed to have taken place at the Boden family’s 500-acre country estate in Dorset, where the couple have resided for much of the time since buying it in 2005. Mr Hext’s family also hail from the southwest.
Former Etonian, Boden, 65, captioned the photographs with an emotive post about the marriage of the eldest of his three daughters.
He wrote: ‘My daughter Anna’s wedding to her new husband Ollie was a wonderful celebration… Lots of joyful tears were shed, not least by me.’
The groom punching the air after the couple said ‘I do’
The Boden entrepreneur, who founded the brand in 1991, changed out of his morning suit in favour of a colourful pink-and-red candy-cane striped suit, paired with Adidas trainers
The bride wore an elegant fitted satin bridal gown with sheer puffed sleeves, with her hair teased back from her face and held in place by a tiara and flowing veil.
Her father, meanwhile, swapped the morning suit he wore to walk his daughter down the aisle for an ensemble that reflected the characterful entrepreneur’s more playful side.
The 65-year-old is seen sporting a candy-cane striped suit in on-trend pink and red in one of the photos, paired with Adidas trainers.
The caterers who let the wedding cake slip from their grasp were also wearing aprons cut in the same fabric – as were the couple’s young bridesmaids.
Bags in the same striped material are currently being promoted by the company in a different Instagram post.
The Daily Mail has contacted Boden for comment.
The British company started life as a mail-order start-up, but has since become a global brand and made a fortune for the man who started it.
Boden founded the clothing company in 1991, after ditching his career as a stockbroker in favour of the world of fashion.
In the decades since, the company has become a go-to for busy middle-income women, with plenty of famous faces big fans of Boden’s ability to put stylish, well-made, no-fuss styling front and centre of its collections.
Last year, the company opened its first physical store on US shores, in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Michelle Obama, Holly Willoughby, Samantha Cameron and Helena Christensen have all been spotted wearing garments by Boden in recent years, with Kate Middleton also a certified admirer of the brand’s clothes.