Jake Carter and Karen Byrne party until the early hours in engagement celebration
Jake with Karen, their dog Lenny and his sister Kiara, mum and dad, Noreen and Ian, and brother Nathan
They got engaged in March, but on Friday night Jake Carter and Karen Byrne finally got to celebrate the happy event with family and friends in their local pub.
Sharing personal photos with the Sunday World from their special occasion at The Foxhunter in Lucan, Co Dublin, Jake said that the celebrations included karaoke singing into the early hours of Saturday morning.
His brother, Nathan, was there with his entire band – all of whom got up to sing.
Dancing with the Stars judge Brian Redmond and TV and social media personality James Patrice were among the guests, as was DWTS executive Adam McGarry who paired Jake and Karen on the show back in 2018.
Karen with guests
Also there was Paralympian Jason Smyth, who won the glitterball with Karen on last year's show.
Jake said his 85-year-old nan, Anne McCoy, took on the role of host and ensured that everyone was having a good time.
Jake and Karen hug their pooch Lenny
News in 90 Seconds - Sunday July 13
'Grandad (John McCoy, aged 91) 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,' he revealed.
His parents, Ian and Noreen, and sister, Kiara, did make it to Friday night's bash, and Karen's parents, Grainne and David, and her sisters Lynn, Ash and Michelle, also joined the happy couple.
The engagement cake
'Karen is the youngest of four and I'm the youngest of three, so we're the two favourites to be honest,' he laughed.
Jake and Karen, who met on Dancing with the Stars which they won in 2018, chose The Foxhunter because it's their favourite watering hole and they can bring their beloved dog Lenny with them.
'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,' Jake said.
Jake with his nan Anne
'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. We had John Doherty, a singer from Donegal that I've recently started writing with, providing the entertainment.
'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.'
In March of this year Jake surprised Karen by proposing to her on the Dancing with the Stars dancefloor, with their pooch Lenny included in the magic moment.
Jake said Friday night was their first opportunity to celebrate their engagement due to both having hectic work schedules.
Jake with Karen, their dog Lenny and his sister Kiara, mum and dad, Noreen and Ian, and brother Nathan
'I have been flat out between gigging and tour managing with Nathan, and Karen has been so busy after Dancing with the Stars.
'She was filming a new TV show that's coming out later in the year, so she was away for a few weeks.
'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.'
Jake added that no wedding date has been set. 'We're house hunting at the moment and hoping to sort that first, and maybe look at the wedding then,' he said.
'Although, I'm sure now that the engagement party is over Karen will start putting the pressure on and there will be wedding planning in the background.'
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