DANCING With The Stars judge Karen Byrne and her music star fiancé marked their engagement in style with a boozy pub bash.
The celebrity dancer, 33, and her Liverpudlian boyfriend, Jake Carter, 26, got engaged back in March in a tear-jerking viral moment.
The lovebirds met over eight years ago when Jake was partnered up with Karen on DWTS – leading to a whirlwind on-screen romance.
Now, the happy pair have celebrated their engagement in an all-night shindig at their local pub.
The couple chose The Foxhunter in Lucan – which is close to where Karen grew up – as their location for the event. The boozer also allowed them to bring along their beloved pup, Lenny.
Jake told the Sunday World: “It’s a great little spot. I go there to watch the matches because they let dogs in, so me and Lenny are there all the time.”
The pair partied with their nearest and dearest into the early hours of Saturday morning with the fun flowing all night.
DWTS judge Brian Redmond attended the event alongside TV personality James Patrice.
DWTS executive Adam McGarr, who paired Jake and Karen on the show back in 2018, was also spotted at the celebrations.
Paralympian Jason Smyth, who lifted the glitterball trophy with Karen on last year’s show, looked happy as ever as he showed his support for Karen on the night too.
Jake, who is renowned as the brother of country-music star, Nathan Carter, was lucky to have his sibling on hand to perform for guests.
The Wagon Wheel singer had the entire pub up on their feet as his whole band played through the night.
Jake gushed: “We had the party in their function room and kept it small enough, it was close family and friends. And it was lovely, a really nice night.
“Then afterwards there was a bit of karaoke when everyone and anyone got up and sang a song…. the whole band, Karen, Nathan… and some were better than others.”
Jake said his 85-year-old nan, Anne McCoy, took on the role of host and ensured that everyone was having a good time.
WEDDING PLANS
However, the musician revealed: “Grandad didn’t make it over, but we are going to do another little get-together in Liverpool for some of my family that didn’t get a chance to come over.”
His parents, Ian and Noreen, and sister, Kiara, did make it to Friday night’s bash, while Karen’s parents, Grainne and David, and her sisters Lynn, Ash, and Michelle, also joined the happy couple.
The star explained how Friday night was their first opportunity to celebrate their engagement as they both had a heavy work schedule.
He remarked: “I have been flat out between gigging and tour managing with Nathan, and Karen has been so busy after Dancing with the Stars.”
And when it comes to planning the big day, Carter laughed: “This was the only date we got where everybody was off, so God knows how long it’s going to take before we do the wedding.”
