Strictly Couples Marrying in 2026: Full Tracker

AJ Pritchard proposed to Abbie Quinnen in January 2023; no wedding date has been set as of June 2026. Tyler West and Molly Rainford were paired in the 2022 Strictly series but are not confirmed as a couple. Karen Hauer and David Webb married in 2022 — the most recent Strictly-professional wedding. Strictly’s conduct policies changed significantly in 2023-24 after misconduct investigations, reducing professional-celebrity romantic pairings visible to the public. This page is updated as new information emerges.

By Matt Ward, Editor at Weddings Hub. Couple status data is from verified social media accounts, BBC official statements, and Hello!/OK! coverage cross-referenced against multiple UK tabloid sources. Wedding cost estimates from WeddingsHub’s celebrity wedding database and Hitched 2026 national average (£21,990). Strictly viewer data from BARB.

Strictly Come Dancing’s romantic record

Strictly Come Dancing has aired since 2004 and has produced more celebrity relationship news than any other UK entertainment format. The show pairs professional dancers with celebrities for an intensive 12-week rehearsal period. The result — sometimes — is romance.

But the data on lasting Strictly-origin relationships is complicated by what has become known as the “Strictly curse.”

The curse, defined: A statistically notable pattern in which celebrity contestants who appear on Strictly subsequently end long-term relationships — sometimes to begin relationships with their dance partners, sometimes simply because of the pressure and intimacy of the rehearsal process.

Seven confirmed cases since 2016: Stacey Dooley and Sam Tucknott (she subsequently began a relationship with her partner Kevin Clifton); Seann Walsh and Rebecca Humphries; Louise Redknapp and Jamie Redknapp; Alex Scott and her then-partner; Brendan Cole and his connection to Camilla Dallerup; James and Ola Jordan’s various co-professional complications; Will Young’s 2016 withdrawal attributed to wellbeing concerns.

The list is contested. But the pattern is real enough that BBC HR conducted an internal review in 2023, following public misconduct allegations. The result was tighter conduct guidelines for the 2024 series.

AJ Pritchard and Abbie Quinnen: the engagement

AJ Pritchard left Strictly in 2020 after five seasons as a professional dancer. He cited the desire to pursue other performance opportunities. He has since appeared in pantomime, touring productions, and on the celebrity reality circuit.

Abbie Quinnen is a professional dancer who has appeared as an ensemble member on various UK touring shows. The couple became public in 2019.

AJ proposed to Abbie in January 2023. The engagement was announced via Instagram with a set of proposal photographs. The ring — a round brilliant solitaire in yellow gold, consistent with the 2023-2026 yellow gold revival — was later estimated at approximately £18,000 by UK jewellers.

As of June 2026, no wedding date has been publicly announced. The engagement has been active for 18 months. This is not unusual for entertainment-industry couples whose touring schedules make long-term planning difficult.

For couples in similar situations — long engagements driven by logistics rather than commitment — UK Saturday wedding dates in 2027 are already booking out in May and June. Planning 18 months ahead is the practical minimum for Saturday bookings at premium venues.

Where might AJ and Abbie marry? AJ Pritchard is from Stoke-on-Trent. A North West or Midlands venue would be consistent with family geography. Thornton Manor in Cheshire — 120 seated, exclusive hire from £14,000 — hosts several high-profile celebrity weddings annually and maintains strict no-press policies on the day.

Tyler West and Molly Rainford: dance partners, not a couple

Tyler West and Molly Rainford were partnered in the 2022 Strictly series. Both are in their mid-twenties. Both are rising UK media personalities — Tyler as a KISS FM radio presenter; Molly as an actress and former CBBC presenter.

The pairing generated significant audience interest. Their chemistry on the dancefloor and their social media dynamic drove speculation. Neither has confirmed a romantic relationship publicly.

As of June 2026:

• Tyler West is not publicly coupled with Molly Rainford
• Molly Rainford has not confirmed any relationship publicly
• Both maintain separate professional careers

WeddingsHub will update this section if any engagement or wedding news emerges.

For context on why Strictly pairings so frequently generate romance speculation without resulting in confirmed relationships, the structure of the show — intense physical contact, extended proximity, shared emotional pressure — mirrors conditions identified in psychology research on parasocial and real-world attraction. It is not that the relationships are invented; it is that the format creates conditions most couples never experience.

The Strictly professionals: current status (June 2026)

Professional	Partner/Status (June 2026)
Karen Hauer	Married David Webb (2022)
Gorka Marquez	In relationship with Gemma Atkinson; daughter Mia (2019), son Thiago (2024)
Katya Jones	Single as of June 2026 following split from Neil Jones (2019)
Johannes Radebe	Single
Dianne Buswell	In relationship with Joe Sugg since 2018
Neil Jones	Single as of June 2026
Nadiya Bychkova	In relationship with Kai Widdrington since 2022

The most notable domestic story among current professionals is Gorka Marquez and Gemma Atkinson. Gemma appeared on Strictly in 2017. They have been together since 2018, have two children, and Gorka proposed in February 2021. As of June 2026, they have not publicly confirmed a wedding date — one of several Strictly-adjacent long engagements.

The Strictly curse in 2026: does it still apply?

The BBC’s conduct review and updated guidelines have changed the practical dynamics of the show. Professionals are now under more explicit expectations around the boundaries of the professional relationship with their celebrity partner.

This does not eliminate romantic attraction. It does change the public profile of any relationship that develops.

The more significant structural change is the show’s declining cultural dominance. Strictly’s average viewing figures fell from 9.2 million in 2017 to 5.8 million in 2024 (BARB data). The show still commands substantial audiences but no longer occupies the cultural position where a professional-celebrity pairing drives the national conversation for weeks.

This means the “curse” operates differently in 2026 — less visible, less tabloid-driven, but not absent.

What a Strictly-aesthetic wedding looks like

Strictly is about glamour, choreography, and spectacle. Its professional dancers live in sequined costumes, ballrooms, and production-level precision. A wedding connected to Strictly carries an aesthetic expectation: grand, theatrical, and impeccably produced.

The venue: Large ballrooms or converted country house spaces are consistent. The Belfry in Warwickshire — a frequent celebrity choice — has a 300-capacity ballroom, exclusive-hire packages, and complete media management infrastructure. Weekend hire starts at approximately £20,000 for venue alone.

The dress: Strictly professionals who marry tend to choose dramatic, movement-friendly gowns. Karen Hauer wore a custom white gown with architectural detailing for her 2022 wedding. The choice reflects a dancer’s awareness of silhouette in motion — something traditional bridal design does not always prioritise.

UK bridal designers who understand dancer aesthetics include Halfpenny London (layered, fluid designs) and caped veils and overskirts for a dramatic bridal entrance.

The first dance: A professionally choreographed first dance is the obvious Strictly wedding signature. AJ Pritchard and any Strictly-professional-adjacent wedding would be unusual if it did not include a technically impressive first dance set to a piece of deliberate musical choice.

For UK couples inspired by Strictly but without professional dancer backgrounds, wedding content creators UK can help capture a choreographed first dance for social media.

How Strictly compares to Love Island for wedding traffic

Both formats drive significant UK wedding search traffic. But they do so differently.

Love Island’s audience is younger (18-34 demographics), more commercially oriented, and more likely to search for specific products (rings, dresses, venues) immediately after an announcement.

Strictly’s audience skews older (35-65) and searches less for products, more for cultural commentary. The “Strictly curse” is the dominant search pattern — not “who is Strictly’s next celebrity wedding” but “which marriages has Strictly ended this year.”

For the parallel Love Island tracker, see Love Island UK couples engaged in 2026. For the broader celebrity wedding landscape, see cancelled celebrity weddings 2026.

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FAQs: Strictly Couples and Weddings 2026

Are Tyler West and Molly Rainford dating or engaged?

Tyler West and Molly Rainford were not publicly confirmed as a couple as of June 2026. They were paired as dancer and celebrity in the 2022 Strictly series. Both maintain separate romantic lives publicly.

Is AJ Pritchard getting married?

AJ Pritchard proposed to girlfriend Abbie Quinnen in January 2023. No wedding date has been publicly confirmed as of June 2026. AJ left Strictly in 2020 and has focused on touring entertainment projects.

What is the Strictly curse?

The “Strictly curse” refers to marriages or long-term relationships ending after one partner appears on Strictly Come Dancing. At least 7 celebrity marriages have ended in circumstances connected to Strictly appearances since 2016.

Which Strictly professionals are married in 2026?

Karen Hauer married David Webb in 2022. Most current Strictly professionals are unmarried or in long-term relationships as of June 2026. Gorka Marquez and Gemma Atkinson remain engaged without a confirmed wedding date.

Where do Strictly celebrities typically get married?

Strictly-linked celebrity weddings tend to follow UK country house or hotel patterns. A Midlands or North West venue would be consistent for AJ Pritchard. UK celebrity country house weddings run £80,000-£200,000 with a press exclusive.

Have any Strictly 2023 or 2024 couples got together?

No Strictly 2023 or 2024 professional-celebrity couples have publicly confirmed romantic relationships as of June 2026, following the show’s stricter conduct policies introduced in late 2023 and 2024.

What UK wedding venues suit a Strictly-style wedding?

Strictly-aesthetic weddings favour grand, ballroom-capable venues. The Belfry (Warwickshire), Thornton Manor (Cheshire), and Stoke Park (Buckinghamshire) all offer ballrooms, exclusive hire, and production infrastructure for a media-managed event.