Rugby ace Jordan Turner-Hall marries girlfriend in lavish three-day vineyard wedding

After meeting almost two decades ago, tying the knot was a long time coming for former rugby union player Jordan Turner-Halland his fiancée Sophie Burles. But when the pair finally said “I do” at picturesque Sussex vineyard Rathfinny Wine Estate, it felt like everything had fallen into place.

“It was such an amazing day. We just had a big party and celebrated our love,” says bride Sophie, 36, when we chat just days after their stunning nuptials. And she and Jordan, 37, admit they’re still “in a bubble” after their magical day.

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The celebrations kicked off on Friday 20 June with a barbecue at the venue for 40 of their nearest and dearest – and they didn’t do it half-heartedly. “Friday was a bit of a late one, so we were all slightly hungover,” former Harlequins centre Jordan admits. “But thankfully the wedding wasn’t until 3pm the next day, so we had time to have a good breakfast and get feeling good again.”

Delicate heads aside, the couple, who got engaged during a dreamy holiday in Santorini two years ago, looked picture perfect on their big day. Sophie – who admits she followed a gruelling pre-wedding diet – opted for a beautiful off-the-shoulder wedding gown by Essense of Australia, with a lengthy train flowing behind her.

“Everything I thought I wanted in a dress went out of the window when it came to shopping for it. None of what I wanted suited me,” she says of her bridal shopping experience. “It was my sister who said I should try on the one I eventually chose – and it was just perfect.”

It certainly ticked all the boxes for Jordan, who admits that despite his tough guy image he struggled to hold back his emotions when he saw Sophie walking down the aisle.

“I was blown away,” he says. “I didn’t think I’d get so emotional but when I saw Sophie coming down with the kids and bridesmaids, they all looked beautiful. It was overwhelming. I was immensely proud and happy. I’m not used to talking about me and our love so openly but yeah, it definitely hit me. It was beautiful.”

It’s no surprise Jordan had tears in his eyes during the ceremony, which also included the couple’s children Marnie, 11, Mason, nine, and six-year-old Cassius. Sophie, who met Jordan when she was just 19 years old, was proudly walked down the aisle by Mason as Romeo + Juliet movie hit I’m Kissing You , by singer Des’ree, played – a song that has always been special to the couple.

“Our daughter Marnie was a bridesmaid, then Mason walked me down the aisle while Cassius was the ringbearer,” Sophie says. “Mason almost chickened out. I was like, ‘Please don’t leave me on my own!’ But he did it and it was quite emotional. All the bridesmaids started crying just before we walked, so I had to try not to look at them or it would have set me off.”

She adds, “The kids were so excited. They were telling everybody at school about it. We wanted to get married a long time ago, but I’m glad I did it now, so the kids could be such a key part of it.”

Sealing their union with personalised vows, Jordan, it seems, had a tight turnaround writing his. Sophie says, “I’d written mine a long time ago, then two days before the wedding Jordan was like, ‘What are the vows?’ and he had to write his. But they were really nice in the end.”

Jordan tells us he was too focused on planning his groom’s speech for later in the day – and thankfully, all the effort was worth it. The speech, he says, had their 100 guests both laughing and crying as they toasted the couple with a glass of Sussex sparkling rosé, made on site at the venue’s vineyard.

“I did quite a lot of research into my speech and didn’t want to just list off thank yous to everyone,” he says. “So I said nice things and also tried to get the energy up in the room.”

All of the speeches were emotional, everyone loved them,” Sophie adds. Steering away from tradition, the couple opted for a sharing-style meal with grazing steak boards by catering company The Herb Kitchen for guests to tuck into. Then it was time for everyone to let their hair down.

“We’ve been to so many weddings where people were waiting around for things, and we wanted ours to be quick, so we could get to the fun part. We wanted everyone on the dance floor just enjoying a big party – and that’s exactly what we did,” Sophie says.

There were a few familiar faces enjoying their day of love, including presenter Zoe Hardman and her husband, former rugby player Paul Doran Jones, and a string of Jordan’s rugby pals including Danny Care, Nick Evans, Joe Marler and David Strettle.

Jordan and Sophie admit they deliberately seated the rugby players far from the top table, to keep noise levels at bay.

“There was a rugby table and I think they were having the best time ever,” says Sophie. “Jordan put them right at the very end so there wasn’t too much commotion.” “Yeah, there were a few drinking games going on over there,” he laughs.

The couple couldn’t be happier with how their special day went. Their only regret is that they’re not jetting off on honeymoon sooner. “The kids went straight back to school the Monday after and we were back to normal life,” says Sophie. “We would have liked to go on a honeymoon straight away but we’re planning a trip to Italy later this year.”

While they wish they could revisit their big day, the pair are glad to be stress-free after a frenetic period of wedding planning. “The month before the wedding it got stressful, especially the last two weeks. We had guests saying last minute that they couldn’t come or asking to bring other guests, which was hard. And all the small details, like sorting stationery, it was challenging,” admits Sophie.

Jordan adds, “There were quite a few pre-wedding arguments. But we agreed that when the day came, we’d let go of
all the stress and just enjoy it, which is what we did.”

The stress wouldn’t put them off doing it all again though. “I think one day we’d like to renew our vows in the same place, that would be really nice,” Sophie says. “Can we do it for half the price next time, though?” laughs Jordan, and his new wife nods reassuringly.

Looking to the future, the couple also say more children aren’t off the cards. “I love babies and I’m definitely broody,” Sophie admits with a giggle. “But it is hard work and Jordan’s away a lot, so it would probably send me over the edge having another one. We got a second dog at Christmas, so that’s suppressed the broodiness, for now. But watch this space.”

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