Quick Read
- Holly Ramsay married Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty at Bath Abbey in a high-profile ceremony.
- Adam Peaty’s parents and much of his family were absent due to a painful family rift.
- Celebrity guests, including the Beckhams, attended, while Gordon Ramsay expressed pride in gaining a new son-in-law.
On a chilly Saturday afternoon at Bath Abbey, the bells rang out for the wedding of Holly Ramsay, daughter of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, and Adam Peaty, Britain’s Olympic swimming champion. The ceremony was a spectacle worthy of its star-studded guest list: David and Victoria Beckham attended with their children (Brooklyn was absent), and other high-profile faces like Dragons’ Den’s Sara Davies and chef Marcus Wareing joined the celebration. But beneath the glamour, the day was marked by a painful absence—Adam Peaty’s parents and much of his family, who stayed away from the event amid a public and deeply personal rift.
Gordon Ramsay, well-known for his fiery television persona on Hell’s Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares, took to Instagram to share his pride and emotion: “I’m truly so lucky being able to walk this beautiful bride down the aisle and gaining an incredible son-in-law.” Holly, 25, influencer and mental health advocate, was radiant as she walked beneath the Abbey’s gothic arches, accompanied by her sisters Tilly (an aspiring chef herself) and Megan (a police officer), serving as joint maids of honour. The Ramsay clan—close-knit and famously supportive—were all present, joining the festivities in Bath and a pre-wedding trip to Lapland.
Yet for Adam Peaty, 30, the day was bittersweet. His mother Caroline, father Mark, and most of his family watched the day unfold from their home in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. Caroline, who for years had ferried Adam to dawn training sessions and cheered him on through Olympic triumphs, spoke candidly to the Daily Mail about her heartbreak: “I don’t think they understand how much they have hurt me; it’s as if they have cut my heart out.” The family’s split was painfully public, coming to a head after Caroline was not invited to Holly’s glamorous hen-do, documented on Instagram with Victoria Beckham and Adam’s sister Bethany but pointedly missing Caroline herself.
The family tensions escalated in the weeks leading up to the wedding. Caroline’s protective sister, Louise Williams, voiced criticism of Holly on social media, and there were reportedly heated exchanges between Adam and his mother. Caroline had hoped to quietly attend the ceremony at Bath Abbey, even if only to sit at the back and watch her son marry, but ultimately stayed away, fearing her presence would spark more conflict. “Me going would just cause even more of a storm and I don’t want to ruin his wedding day,” she told Daily Mail.
The rift ran deeper than one missed party. Caroline described a slow, painful pulling away that began months earlier, citing the couple’s engagement party at Soho Farmhouse, where Adam’s wider family were not invited and the event was filmed for Gordon Ramsay’s upcoming Netflix show, Being Gordon Ramsay. Caroline requested that she and her family not appear in any footage, underscoring the divide between the Ramsays’ celebrity circle and the Peatys’ more private life. Even Adam’s brother Jamie’s children were left off the list for Christmas presents, while gifts went to Bethany’s children—a detail that stung Caroline and further complicated the family dynamic.
Despite the pain, Caroline was clear in her intentions: “I deserve to be there [at the wedding] as his mother, not because of what I’ve done for him—but to stand proud and see her son married.” She sent cards and gifts, hoping to wish the couple well and signal her desire for reconciliation, even as she acknowledged the distance. “There is nothing I won’t forgive,” she said, “and I want them to have the best day.” She also expressed hope that the ceremony might bring peace, though she would be following the event through news coverage and social media rather than in person—phones were reportedly banned from the Abbey for privacy.
Adam and Holly’s story began on the set of Strictly Come Dancing in 2021, when Adam competed alongside Holly’s sister Tilly. Their romance blossomed in 2023 and led to Adam proposing with a striking £23,000 yellow diamond ring in September. Holly, in addition to her social media work, is known for her “21 & Over” podcast, which focuses on mental health, self-doubt, and identity struggles—issues that seem particularly relevant amid the wedding’s emotional backdrop.
For the Ramsays, family unity was on display in the days leading up to the wedding, from joint travels to Bath to festive pre-wedding drinks. Gordon’s pride was palpable, and Holly’s siblings were actively involved in the celebrations. For Adam, however, the absence of his parents and their pain cast a shadow over the occasion. Caroline’s reflections on family—its importance, its fragility, and its ability to both nurture and wound—offer a poignant counterpoint to the day’s public joy.
The couple now begin their married life surrounded by celebrity, success, and a close-knit Ramsay family, but also with the challenge of healing old wounds and building bridges to the Peaty side. Family, as Caroline said, “is the foundation you can return to when things get rough.” Whether Adam and Holly will find that foundation together, amid the glare of public attention, remains to be seen.
This wedding, celebrated with grandeur and watched by millions, was more than a union of two well-known names—it was a reminder of how the private struggles behind public events can shape the lives of those at the center. The joy of the Ramsays, the heartbreak of the Peatys, and the hope for reconciliation echo the complexity of family ties in a world where fame brings both connection and complication. The real story is not just about who was present, but about who was missing—and why.
Sources: BBC News, Daily Mail, Hello Magazine.