Binky Felstead is facing a growing backlash after new claims emerged that she asked an illustrator to provide free wedding invitations and stationery — only days after a baker publicly accused her team of requesting a complimentary birthday cake.
The Made in Chelsea star, 34, is said to have been involved in a request made ahead of her lavish 2022 wedding to husband Max Darnton in Corfu, Greece.
Illustrator Alice Peto has now come forward, sharing an email she received in 2021 from a member of Binky’s team. The message outlined a request for bespoke wedding designs — including invitations, menus, table names and place cards — but with one key condition: the work would be done free of charge in exchange for “exposure” on social media.
The email read: “Thank you so much for your interest in assisting with the illustration for Binky and Max’s wedding invites. The wedding is in Greece and we would be looking for three invitations plus menus, table names and place names. The couple would be looking for the design free of charge in exchange for exposure on their social media accounts.”
Alice, who has over 20 years’ experience and has worked with major names including Harrods and Selfridges, politely declined. She replied that she simply could not take on unpaid work despite appreciating the opportunity.
Her claims come hot on the heels of a viral post by London baker Reshmi Bennett, owner of Anges de Sucre, who accused Binky’s team of asking for a “gifted” birthday cake for her son Wilder in exchange for an Instagram post.
Reshmi shared screenshots of the exchange, revealing how she was offered “exposure” instead of payment. She later mocked the situation by creating a spoof fundraising page asking for £1.4 million — a tongue-in-cheek reference to Binky’s reported net worth and large social media following.
Friends of the reality star reportedly told the press: “She literally has no shame” when it comes to securing freebies.
A representative for Binky responded, insisting the cake request was a “standard contra enquiry” handled by her PA, and stressed that such collaborations are common within the industry and often mutually beneficial. They also added that Binky herself was not directly involved in the communications and is currently on holiday with her family.
Despite the explanation, the controversy has continued to snowball — with another bakery owner claiming she previously provided both a wedding and birthday cake for Binky in 2021 under similar “exposure” terms, only to be allegedly ghosted afterwards.
The baker said she had even covered her own travel costs and taken unpaid leave to complete the work, believing it would help grow her business. She later concluded: exposure doesn’t pay bills.
