“Regardless of having a ring, I knew we were in it for the long haul”: Karen Byrne and Jake Carter on their engagement

We’re based in one of the dog-friendly lodges at The Johnstown Estate for a gorgeous shoot with two of our favourites to celebrate their recent engagement.

Jake Carter and Karen Byrne join us, with their fur-baby, a gorgeous Cavapoo named Lenny, who’s also no stranger to these pages, having previously featured with the pair. “He’s the star of every show, and he’ll be the star of the wedding, too, whenever that happens,” laughs Jake, as Lenny makes his way round for rubs from the team. “If he’ll take the focus off me, he can do whatever he likes,” says Karen.

“That’s probably the part I’m most nervous about, y’know? I’m very shy! The thoughts of everyone looking at me for the day, I don’t know what I’ll do!”

The happy couple, who’ve been together for seven years now, met on the set of Dancing with the Stars, and very fittingly, Jake decided it was there, where he’d pop the question earlier this year. Waiting until nearly everyone left the set, he walked their adored dog out onto the dance floor, and got down on one knee before asking Karen to marry him.

“I wanted it to be special, and that place is special for us. I’m glad I took part in that show, and most importantly, I’m glad I met Karen.”

While the pair are currently focused on buying a house together and wedding plans are on pause, they hope to tie the knot within the next two years. Until then, they’ve plenty else to focus on. Jake has been working tirelessly in the studio on new music while planning a string of shows, all the while, working as a tour manager for his brother Nathan. Meanwhile Karen’s been deep in the dance world at their shared stage school, and planning their dance retreat which will be taking place in Marbella this September. It’s all go for the couple, but they wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I think we thrive in the busy, chaotic moments. Genuinely, we work best when there’s 50 things happening at once,” says Jake, as he gets dressed for the shoot.

After snapping some gorgeous shots on the grounds of the estate, while Jake and Karen mercilessly slag and poke fun at each other over poses, we sit down for a proper catch-up with the love birds…

First thing’s first – congrats on the engagement!
Karen: Thank you! I still feel like it’s not real, it’s mad!
Jake: Because we’ve been together for so long, it’s just like, well now Karen has a ring on her hand. It doesn’t feel any different, but I think that’s because we haven’t started planning the wedding yet. I feel like as soon as we start doing that, it’ll be different.
K: When you’re in such a happy relationship, that’s all that matters. Regardless of having a ring, I knew we were in it for the long haul anyway! A ring is lovely to have, and it feels very secure and concrete when it’s on your finger, but other than that, we’re just happier!
J: I think she gives out more!
K: Well, there’s no getting rid of me now! [laughs]

You’ve been together for seven years so Karen, were you surprised when Jake popped the question or did you have an inkling it might happen?
K: Before Jake, I said I’d never get married – I guess I hadn’t met the right person. It wasn’t something we spoke about too much, we’ve been focused on getting our act together to get a house. Getting engaged wasn’t even in my mind. Then when it did happen, and how it happened, I think that was the biggest shock, the fact people on Dancing with the Stars were in on it and I had no clue! I always thought I was good at those sort of things, if something was going on I’d generally know, but I was in complete and utter shock.

But a good surprise?
K: Yes, but I was mortified, too! [laughs] I’m so shy! I used to always joke with Jake about how if he was to get down on one knee in a restaurant, I’d die. I hate that sort of attention. But the way he planned it was very good. Everyone had gone home from set and it was literally just two people he had told in production and the camera man. They’re close friends of ours now at this point. Some people came up to me afterwards saying, ‘oh I missed it live on the show!’ but it wasn’t live, I would have died!

Jake, what was it that made you decide to do it there? Was it simply a nod to where you first met?
J: Yeah, I always liked the idea of doing it on the dance floor because without DWTS we wouldn’t have met or be together now. When I did decide to do it, I gave Adam (one of the producers) a call to see if it was possible, and he was as happy as any of us. He was one of the people who initially paired us together all those years ago, so it was funny how it worked out. It was a full circle moment.

Are you going to start planning soon or would you prefer a long engagement to soak it all up?
K: Oh no, I’d hate a long engagement. I’d imagine we’d be looking at about a year and a half to two years max. How far in advance do you have to book the hair, makeup and venue? I’m oblivious! But we’re not in a big mad panic. It won’t be six years away though – I’ll be old and wrinkly by then! [laughs]

Do you think it’ll be a big occasion or would you prefer small and intimate?
J: I think it’ll have to be big!
K: We’re so different! Jake wants to go big, but I’d love nothing more than just me, him and Lenny! But that’s never going to happen, is it?

Karen, are you going to choreograph the first dance?
K: No chance! Jake would love a full on routine though.
J: I’m bringing back my white Cuban heels!
K: No, no, no. I couldn’t. We’ll be rocking from side to side.
J: I’m going to start the Macarena.
K: I just want it to be fun, I don’t want it to be too soppy.

Given your career Jake, will music play a big part in the day?
J: Yeah, I’d love to have a lot of live music at the wedding and the reception as well. It’ll have to be a really good band, whoever it is. The pressure will be on because there’ll already be so many musicians in the room.

And you’re busy yourself now with the new music. You’re back in the studio…
J: I’m actually heading there right now! I go through phases of writing loads and then not doing it for six months. There’s always a fear when I go back in, I worry about whether or not I can do it. I’d always be writing stuff in my notes app on the phone or humming melodies in my voice memos. There’s one single, Old Friends, out now, and another coming out in September.

It’s all go!
J: It is all go. The last six months have been so busy, but in a good way. We’ve new music out, I’m writing, planning our next tour for the end of the year then I’m tour managing with Nathan in the middle of it all, but it’s great. I thrive when I’m busy and work best under pressure.

How are you finding working on both sides of the stage now, as a performer but also a tour manager?
J: I really enjoy it! I’ve been around the music industry since I was about ten years old, so without sounding clichéd, it’s like a second home at this stage. I’m well used to it. When Nathan was looking for a new tour manager, we decided that since I kind of do it anyway and I’m there most of the time, plus I know all of the band, it made sense. I’m quite an organised person, I like sticking to a schedule so it’s all going good so far. He hasn’t sacked me… yet! [laughs]

Do you enjoy working together, or do you bicker like most siblings?
J: We get on really well! We never really argue. We obviously have differing opinions on certain things but I don’t think myself and Nathan have ever had a falling out.
K: Nathan is too laid back!
J: Nathan doesn’t like confrontation at all, so I’m the one who’ll bring that to the table.

You’re all involved in the podcast, The Carter Couch. That seems like the best craic, with endless slagging. You couldn’t be sensitive!
J: Ah, it’s great craic! I love the podcast. It took ages to persuade Karen and Nathan to do it, but now they both love it.
K: We don’t get to sit down and see each other very often but because we have that in the schedule, every week we get to enjoy a catchup. It’s the exact same as what our conversations would be like if we were up in Enniskillen having a chat in the kitchen. I get on so well with Nathan too, so it made sense.

It would make a great tv show! Would you ever do it?
J: We were actually asked a couple of years ago if we’d be interested in doing something like that, but it never happened. I’d love a fly-on-the-wall type show for all that stuff. Karen and Nathan are great people! With Nathan, people don’t realise what he’s actually like, they just see him on stage but he has such a different persona in real life.
K: Jake actually goes mad because sometimes he’s left out, me and Nathan spend the whole time slagging! It makes my day.
J: I think we could definitely do

Catching up with the Carters!
K: Ehm, slash Byrne!
J: Sure we could be married by then!

Karen, you filmed a tv show recently! What was that about?
K: Oh yeah, that was High Road, Low Road. It’s not coming out until January, but it was brilliant! Whenever I do something on my own, I’m always so nervous, I never know how it’ll go. Sometimes it’s good to step out of your comfort zone though! I’m terrible for saying no but now I want to do more, I had such a good time.

You’re no stranger to being in front of the camera after the last few years on DWTS, did that make it easier?
K: It’s not the camera that makes me nervous, it’s more like, do people actually want to watch me?

On the topic of DWTS, how did you find the change this year going from a dancer to a judge?
K: It was a natural progression. I’ve done the show for eight years, and won with both Jake and Jason so I didn’t want to go back into another season, worrying about what the chances would be of winning another season. Working with Jason was the best experience I could have had, and I knew I’d never have that again. I wanted a new challenge and to step out of my comfort zone. I floated the idea, but when it came to surface and they told me it was happening, I was like oh right, there’s no turning back now! I was very nervous. Looking back on it now, I’m proud. I know all the dancers, the celebs and how hard it is. I understand what everyone goes through, so I wanted to cheer them on and support the best way I knew how.

Did it make you more aware of the comments as someone who’s been on the other side of the table, did it impact how you were as a judge?
K: Absolutely! But also, from when I was a dancer, nothing the judges ever say is malicious and nobody is trying to upset anyone. I would always remind the celebrities that these comments are coming from a good place.

Are you going to be back as a judge for the next season?
K: I hope so! Imagine if they got rid of me after the first one, that’d be awkward!

You still get to dabble in the dance world between the stage school and your dance retreat in Marbella.
K: It actually never stops. The retreat is on at the end of September. It’ll be our third one, and it’s great to see the same faces return again from the first one. It’s just about building a community and enjoying a dance, it’s not competitive, it’s open to all different levels and it’s just a bit of fun. It’s a nice holiday to go on and a chance to meet people, too.

With the stage school, does it fill you both with pride seeing these little creatives coming up in the world, the next era or performers?
K: It made complete sense for us. Obviously Jake does singing and then Panto too. We’re going into our third year of the school. To see the kids having something to do, seeing them build friendships, a space where they can feel safe, it’s brilliant. The kids come in from school, they’re basically doing their homework in the reception and then they come into the class. That’s what I’ve always wanted to build, a safe space for kids.

Would you two consider yourselves workaholics, you never stop?!
K: Yeah! I think Jake is more than me. It doesn’t feel like work though, he’s singing and I’m dancing. We’re both very lucky in what we do.
J: Both of our dads are builders, we’ve seen how hard they’ve had to work. I did a couple of weeks on a building site and said never again! What I do, it can be tiring at times when you don’t stop, but it’s not the same. We’re very lucky.

You still put so much into it, and it’s nice that it’s going towards something as special as building an environment for kids or your own future.
K: That’s it, absolutely. But I’d never complain about being tired when we’re doing what we do.
J: You always complain! [laughs]
K: That’s just to you!

Is there a little break coming, will you get a chance to switch off and take a minute to enjoy your engagement?
J: We’re going to Liverpool for a week, we get the boat and bring Lenny. That’s a little break! It’s all go. The stage school will be back open towards the end of August and then we’ve the dance retreat and before we know it, DWTS will be back!