Strictly Come Dancing star Katya Virshilas may have been dropped from the next series, but she has still had her happy ending by marrying Danish dance champion Klaus Kongsdal in a fairytale chateau in the Loire Valley. "It was magical," she told HELLO!.
The Lithuanian-born dancer is disappointed that she won't be rejoining the hit show, but she revealed to HELLO! that she has exciting future plans.
"I've always said that in my thirties I want to become a really good actress," said Katya, 28, who has appeared in films such as Take the Lead where she performed a mesmerizing tango scene with Antonio Banderas.
Judge Craig Revel Horwood told HELLO! that it was shocked that Katya wouldn't be returning. "I found out about it in the newspaper actually," he said. "I rang her because I was really concerned and she was lying on a beach. I wanted to tell her that we are all on her side and she's still part of the Strictly family. I wanted to reassure her that she will still be on the next tour."
Katya and Klaus were joined by other Strictly friends, including Holly Valance and her fiancé Nick Candy, Anita Dobson and Nancy Dell'Olio, who was late for the ceremony but made it in time for the reception. "I promised Katya I would be here, and I always try to keep my promises," said Nancy. "They are both lucky to have each other. True love is a very special gift."
Other guests included Brendon Cole and his pregnant wife Zoe, Kristina Rihanoff and her partner Joe Calzaghe, Ian Waite, former Strictly champion Matthew Cutler and Anton du Beke, who brought along his new girlfriend.
The humanist wedding ceremony was held in a candlelit cave in the grounds of the Chateau de Chissay. There were nods to Katya's Jewish routes with customs such as the groom stomping on glass.
There were also plenty of Danish wedding traditions, including one in which the groom has the ends of his socks cut off – a custom that is said to indicate that he can no longer run after other women. See the full exclusive story in
HELLO! Magazine, out now.