Johnnie Boden, the founder of the fashion brand Boden, has confessed that the widely reported mishap involving his daughter Anna's wedding cake was a staged event. The incident, which showed catering staff appearing to drop a three-tiered cake as it was presented to the bride and her husband Ollie Hext, was a pre-planned performance by an events company.
Boden admitted in a follow-up Instagram post that the "waiters were actually brilliant actors" and the entire scenario was "rehearsed to within an inch of its life." He added that "no one was hurt" and the family's dog, a Welsh terrier named Janet, only had a small taste of the cake. He noted that "everyone was fooled," though a few individuals claimed to have known it was a prank.
The event involved performers from Singers Secreto, a company that specializes in creating staged scenarios for entertainment at weddings. Hannah Clift, one of the performers, explained on Jeremy Vine's Radio 2 show that their act, known as 'The Cake Drop,' is designed to transition from emotional speeches to party time. Clift, an actor from Bristol, stated that the Bodens provided a "beautiful cake they were willing for us to drop."
Singers Secreto performers dress as staff or guests to execute pranks before bursting into song. The company offers a 30-minute interactive show with six songs starting at £495, with a premium package costing £795 or more depending on the location. Singers Secreto works with over 150 performers across the UK and Ireland, many of whom have experience in West End musicals and tours. The performers select songs from a playlist based on the wedding's atmosphere, including hits like "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" and "Sweet Caroline."
At Anna Boden's wedding, the setlist included "Give Me a Man After Midnight" and "Sweet Caroline." The reception was reportedly held at the Boden family's 500-acre country estate in Dorset. Anna Boden, the eldest of Johnnie Boden's three daughters, teaches science in west London. Her father, a 65-year-old former stockbroker who founded the clothing company in 1991, was seen at the reception in a pink-and-red candy-cane striped suit paired with Adidas trainers. The aprons worn by the 'caterers' and the fabric of the bridesmaids' dresses matched the striped material featured in a current company promotion.
The Boden brand, known for its stylish and accessible clothing, has a clientele that includes celebrities such as Michelle Obama, Holly Willoughby, Samantha Cameron, Helena Christensen, and Kate Middleton. The company opened its first U.S. store in Alpharetta, Georgia, last year.