As Billie Faiers and Greg Shepherd share pictures of their extravagant wedding in a glossy magazine spread , a couple who spent their trip holidaying alongside the 100-strong entourage have revealed a very different side of events.
Speaking to the Mirror, the couple say their £12k trip to the Maldives – which took them more than two years to save for – was ruined by ‘drunken yobbo’ guests of the newlyweds.
Just days into the trip, the British holidaymakers – who wish to remain anonymous – came face to face with the Essex crowd on the idyllic island of Kuramathi.
The grandparents told the Mirror how certain members of the group flouted the rules of the five star beach resort by dining at luxury restaurants in their swimwear, leaving dirty nappies on the beach and getting drunk and rowdy nightly at the all inclusive bar.
(Image: Instagram)
(Image: Instagram)
Recalling their first encounter with the crowd, the grandmother told how she ran into reality stars Billie, her sister Sam, Ferne McCann and other members of the hen party at the beach bar.
“We heard them before we saw them,” she said.
“They were screaming and shouting. The noise was awful. We had been told to dress appropriately in the restaurants and bar areas but these girls were parading round in bikinis and g-strings.”
As more guests arrived the couple said their dream holiday quickly went from ‘bad to worse’.
(Image: billiefaiersofficial/Instagram)
Claiming the wedding party brought ‘Ibiza to the Maldives,’ they said: “One night we treated ourselves to a night at a champagne bar but all we could hear were men from Greg’s group screaming and shouting in the room below us.
“Members of staff would dread them coming in. When they left the whole island breathed a sigh of relief.”
The couple told how the enormous wedding party took over the resort, with some areas said to be cordoned off altogether for ITVBe filming.
“We had to book ourselves into the restaurants days in advance,” said the holidaymakers. “Because there was so many of them they had to be split into smaller groups to eat so there was never any escape.
(Image: Instagram)
(Image: Instagram)
“One night we went to an Indian restaurant and about 20 of them showed up and ordered 40 meals between them. Then they complained to staff that it didn’t taste like the food back at home.”
The couple also told how the wedding guests enjoyed making full use of the all inclusive bar.
“They didn’t have to pay for any of the drinks and cocktails and they abused it,” they added.
“We also saw them leave dirty nappies on the beach, discard their rubbish and have loud water fights. One morning we were looking at some sharks after breakfast and some of them started throwing stones at them,” they said.
(Image: Instagram)
The couple told the Mirror how they’d saved up extra cash to treat themselves to a luxury sandbank villa – only for it to become the setting of Greg and Billie’s beachside ceremony.
While the vows will be aired as part of their Mummy Diaries TV show, the couple got an inside look at the nuptials which they say got a little too close for comfort.
“On the day of the wedding we saw a drone flying close by us outside. My husband made a rude gesture at it and it went away,” explained the guest.
“We paid extra to have a place right on the sandbank which was shut off to anyone not in the party for five hours.”
They added: “I heard one of Greg’s relatives say he looked like a prince on his wedding day. He didn’t look like one to us when we saw him running across the sand to shout at a guest.”
(Image: ITV)
Billie’s new husband was reported to have called a separate holiday-maker a ‘c***’ after she took a picture of the bride.
Security was said to have been called after Greg allegedly turned on the woman and her partner, who had been refused entry to their villa because the wedding ceremony was being held right in front of it.
However, a rep for Billie denies the claims, insisting the c-word was never used and that the guest was verbally abusive to the wedding party.
“Billie and Greg got engaged and have holidayed in the Maldives for many years, they have the upmost respect for the islands and it’s people and that includes the other guests staying at the resort,” the spokesperson said.
(Image: ITV)
The couple, who spoke to the Mirror, said that after the wedding party left they begged hotel staff not to look down on English guests in the future.
They said: “The staff themselves have been great, they’d do whatever they can to accommodate you. We had to tell them that while we are English to not to tar us with the same brush.”
They added: “You shouldn’t come somewhere like this and ruin someone’s holiday. It’s like paradise. We’re so lucky to be here.
“The bottom line is you don’t expect to pay £12,000 on a holiday and people act like yobbos,” they added.
Mirror Online has contacted representatives of the couple for comment.
Following previous complaints, ITVBe cameras are said to have been restricted to filming in dedicated areas only.
But guests claim they were banned from the serenity pool and the next door sand bar for Billie’s hen party.
While the Island coffee shop garden, champagne loft and palm restaurant are also said to be off limits to those not included in the wedding party.
However, a spokesperson for travel agent KUONI said that all issues have been resolved.
“When the guests arrived, it’s fair to say there was a party atmosphere,” it said in a statement
“Our staff did have to speak to a handful of the wedding guests individually, but they were respectful and the situation was immediately resolved.
“Everyone has been having a great time and any concerned holidaymakers have been spoken to and the notes we’ve received are that they are all happy.
“We took immediate steps to make ensure guests were happy. Each received a letter ahead of the wedding and Billie’s film crew have stuck to restricted areas.
“We are used to managing special occasion travel. Our priority is to ensure that all guests are able to relax and have a happy holiday.”
