Rachel's Wedding

I'll wear a gorgeous dress for my lavish wedding... But we won't hire a big castle like Macca


Pop star Rachel Stevens is madly in love and has been daydreaming about her fairytale wedding ever since her fiance, Holby City star Jeremy Edwards, proposed on Valentine's Day. She knows exactly what she wants to make the day complete - a gorgeous dress and a classy setting - but she's determined not to go for anything TOO showbiz and flashy.

"I just want a really beautiful, elegant day with all my family and close friends there," says the 24-year-old S Club star. "I don't want a massive occasion. I don't need to hold it at a castle like Paul McCartney and Heather Mills.

"We wouldn't have a Jewish wedding because I'm not religious, but equally I'm not keen on a church do either. The best compromise would be a civil ceremony in the garden of a country hotel. I like the idea of getting married in the same place as you hold the reception."

"I do want the full works though. It will have to be a summer wedding so I can get married under an arch of flowers, and then have a champagne reception in the garden. And I'd have to wear a gorgeous dress - definitely not a meringue style, but nothing too slinky or sexy either."

The couple haven't set a date for the big day yet because Rachel is just too busy. "We're not rushing into anything. I'm so busy right now with work, and so is Jez, and when you start the ball rolling to plan a wedding, it takes up such a lot of your time - which neither of us have right now."

Meantime the woman voted Britain's sexiest female by the readers of both FHM and Smash Hits magazines is not taking any chances over keeping her man... Picture the scene that will greet him when he flies out to Spain this weekend to snatch a few days with Rachel. Their hotel overlooking the Med has been booked. The suite is decked out with flickering candles, rose petals are floating in the bath and romantic music is playing softly in the background.

"We're both very romantic," says Rachel, who is in Spain filming a new Sunny Delight advert with the other S Clubbers. "Jez sends me bouquets of flowers when I go away on tour, or calls me every day to say, 'I love you'. I can't wait for him to arrive so I can whisk him away to the hotel and we can be alone. "We have to work hard at our relationship because we spend so much time apart."

Rachel has been filming the latest S Club series in Barcelona since the beginning of May. Despite flying home regularly - and Jeremy making the trip out to see her when he can - she admits the separation has been tough. Her only consolation is her mobile phone. "It's so nice to be able to call Jez up late at night wherever we are in the world, and say goodnight. It's costing me a fortune, mind you. Oh God, I can't tell you how much, it's too embarrassing. All right, it was £800 for the last two months. It sounds a lot but it's worth every penny."

But Jez should watch out - he has royal rivals in Princes William and Harry, who are both said to be smitten with Rachel. "I know - it's so funny," giggles Rachel. "I'm very flattered. I met them both at the after-show party at Buckingham Palace after the Jubilee concert, and they were lovely. "William in particular is very handsome - nice eyes - but I have no plans to trade Jez in, not even for a royal prince." Rachel met Jeremy, 27, on a blind date organised by friends after splitting with her then-boyfriend of three years, Daniel Cohen. And it wasn't long before Jeremy proposed on bended knee.

"He's great," she says. "We can talk about absolutely anything. Whenever I'm down, I know I can call him and he'll make me feel better. He's only a few years older than me but he's quite wise. He knows what to say to calm me down when I'm getting stressed or lonely on tour."

A self-confessed homebody, Rachel bought her Hampstead flat just 100 yards from mum and dad's place. When she is home in London, she and Jez spend what little free time they have hanging out in nearby Primrose Hill pubs or seeing friends.

Her idea of a perfect night out is a curry at her favourite Indian - "I love chicken tikka masala" - or a healthy fish meal at a French restaurant, a nice glass of wine and a long gossip. More often than not, she and Jeremy curl up on the sofa at either her flat or his pad in Belsize Park and watch a video. Last year's surprise international film hit Amelie is a current favourite.

"I love my flat - it's my haven," says Rachel. "It's quite small and cosy. It's only got two bedrooms, although I've also got two balconies which are great for sitting out on and watching the world go by. I'm hardly ever there though, so I haven't finished doing it up yet. In fact I'm dying to go home so I can see my new dining room chairs which have just arrived. "It's so sad - I used to love going clothes shopping but now I find myself heading to the furniture shops first!"

NOT that she'll get much chance to enjoy her flat. Despite the recent departure of Paul Cattermole, the group are going from strength to strength. Renamed S Club from S Club 7, they have just signed a new £5million deal with their record company Polydor. Together with lucrative advertising deals - such as a recent £2million summer promotional deal with soft drinks giant Sunny Delight - Rachel and the rest of the group should soon be millionaires.

It's a good thing too, since Rachel admits she's a clothesaholic. "Since we've been in Spain, I've gone Zara mad. I reckon I've bought their entire summer collection, and Mango too. "My only justification is that they're even cheaper than in England. "I like expensive stuff too. My best buy has to be a gorgeous coat from Chloe - £500 which is a small fortune. But it's lovely - an Audrey-Hepburn style which is so feminine." Rachel is happy to enjoy the rewards of her success because she insists that it has been earned with a lot of hard work and dedication.

Once filming of the 13-part series - provisionally titled Viva S Club - finishes at the end of July, the group return to the UK for post-production work. Then she jets off to Los Angeles to begin work on the new multi-million pound S Club movie - about a Dr Evil-style scientist who clones the S Clubbers. Once filming finishes on that, it is back to the UK to finish their fourth album before preparing for their tour next spring.

It's a lifestyle which, Rachel says, plays havoc with her face and figure, let alone her love-life, though as we speak she's showing off her enviable figure in slim-fitting jeans and a hot pink sleeveless top. "It's hard because we're on the go all the time. It's rare that we get to sit down and eat a proper, healthy home-cooked meal.

"Instead, I end up eating rubbish. Luckily, I've not got too many weaknesses when it comes to food, although I like the odd bar of Galaxy chocolate. "When we're rehearsing for a tour or video it isn't so bad because we're dancing a lot and that keeps us all fit. But before we came out here, I started using a trainer three times a week. She's brilliant because she motivates me - otherwise I wouldn't bother to do it. So now I go running, and I've bought some weights to help tone my upper arms."

But despite her looks - you can read her secrets above - successful career and romantic love life, Rachel admits there are low points. She was left fuming after pictures were published showing her and Jeremy having a very public spat in a London street in March.

"I couldn't believe there was so much interest in one silly little row. Everybody has arguments, for God's sake," says Rachel, wrinkling her tanned brow, and sounding for the first time slightly snappish. We had a silly row like every couple does. I can't even remember what it was about. Then we opened up the papers the next day to find a photographer had snapped us mid-argument."

"It was upsetting at the time. But now I think it's funny. I've decided I can't take that kind of thing seriously. It's strange to me that people are so interested in our private lives but I've learnt I have to accept it's part of the job of being part of S Club. The important thing is that Jez and I know that we have a great relationship which is going to last and last."

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