Hollyoaks' Jamie Lomas' wedding plans

EXCLUSIVE: Newly-engaged lovebirds Jamie Lomas and Jess Bell reveal why they're turning their backs on the idea of a traditional formal wedding and opting for a Vegas blowout

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Following the heart-warming news - revealed exclusively by OK! earlier today - that much loved soapstar Jamie Lomas and girlfriend of three years Jess Bell are set to tie the knot following an elaborate proposal in Mexico, the pair set their sights on wedding plans.

Both actor Jamie, 48 - best known as Hollyoaks bad boy Warren Fox - and dentist Jess, 34, insist they don’t want a traditional, formal ceremony, "with everyone sitting down eating the same meal".

Instead, the lovebirds - who first met through mutual friends on a night out in 2020 - reveal they have a preference for a more offbeat style of nuptials, hoping for a relaxed vibes.

Another element of their future wedding that they've already agreed on is the entertainment, with Jamie revealing that their attendees will witness a LOT of rhinestones...

"We’re thinking of a Vegas wedding performed in a chapel by an Elvis impersonator. I am a huge fan of The King," says Jess, adding that his music has been part of her life for many years.

"But there is no rush. We have the rest of our lives together after all!"

"Plus, we want to have zero stress," points out Jamie. "We’d like to book a restaurant, have a pool party, have the best of times for a few days and be surrounded by our favourite people.

"We’d love our friends to come and join us out there but there’s no pressure at all. We’ll probably have a party back here in the UK anyway."

Hollyoaks star and EastEnders alum Jamie, who is father to his 17-year-old son Billy and 12-year-old daughter Polly - whom he shares with ex-wife Kym Marsh - added that he knows "in his head" who he’d like as his best man "but isn’t saying yet".

Meanwhile, his fiancée has earmarked her sister Krysta and a couple of close friends to be her bridesmaids.

Jamie popped the question to Jess earlier this year as the couple shared a candlelit meal at a restaurant near the beach in Cancún, Mexico.

"I had been planning it for a while and I wanted it to be perfect," he admits to OK! . "We’d been in Lake Como a few weeks earlier but we both adore Mexico and I thought, ‘Where better than in our favourite restaurant in our favourite resort in our favourite country?’"

He reminisces: "I suggested we should tell the restaurant it was my birthday – that way they might come out with sparklers, champagne and stuff and make a fuss.

"It was the perfect distraction because that’s just what happened and it meant Jess didn’t have a clue what was going on,” he recalls with a mischievous grin.

"Of course, all the restaurant staff were in on the surprise. So they emerged with a cake, singing and clapping with Jess sitting there thinking it was all going well and all about me and my supposed birthday."

It was then that the music changed to play Bruno Mars' hit 'Marry You', and Jamie got on one knee, with Jess later telling us: "Before I knew it there was this ring there and everyone was clapping and cheering.

"It was amazing; so wonderful and so very emotional," she adds, glancing at the stunning platinum, one-carat-plus marquise diamond sparkler on the third finger of her left hand.

"I wasn’t expecting it at all. It was a total shock. We managed to get a video of the whole proposal, too. It’s lovely to re-watch and remember. It still makes me cry!"