Castle is romantic setting for McCartney wedding
Posted on 06/11/2002 5:46:21 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
Castle is romantic setting for McCartney wedding
06/11/2002
GLASLOUGH, Ireland - As Castle Leslie bustled with last minute preparations for the wedding of Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, family, friends and a select group of celebrities were making their way to the remote Irish estate Tuesday for the lavish ceremony.
Media interest reached a fever pitch as newspapers speculated about every detail, from the guest list to reports of a sumptuous Indian-themed vegetarian menu.
A brief appearance by the former Beatle and his fiancee outside the heavily guarded gates of the castle in County Monaghan briefly sated the appetites of hundreds of fans and a posse of international reporters, but confirmed few details of the secretive ceremony.
AP Sir Paul McCartney and his fiancee Heather Mills leave Castle Leslie on Monday. They will be married today. |
"As you know, there is going to be a wedding tomorrow, but it is a secret," McCartney joked Monday. "Ten people at the wedding you have heard of and the rest will be family and friends," he said.
McCartney's spokesman Geoff Baker was a little more forthcoming Tuesday, and confirmed Beatles producer George Martin and Ringo Starr would be among the 300 guests.
Television and newspaper reports said Bill Clinton, Eric Clapton, Sir Elton John and Pink Floyd frontman David Gilmour were also on the guest list.
Baker confirmed the menu would be strictly vegetarian.
"This is being held by one of the world's most famous vegetarians," he said of McCartney, whose late wife Linda was an animal rights crusader and launched her own brand of vegetarian health food.
"Heather is of that inclination too," he added.
Reports that the dress code was casual were true, he said. "I have not been told that I am supposed to wear a black tie so I gather it is informal," added Baker.
Castle Leslie, which is now a hotel, has been the center of frenzied media activity since reports of the wedding emerged last week.
The pair, who announced their engagement in July, were to be married by a local priest at 4 p.m. (10 a.m. Dallas time) at the Protestant Church of Ireland St. Salvator's chapel, within the estate.
The Sun tabloid reported Tuesday that covered walkways draped with silk link the church, castle and party tents, decorated with lilies, roses, tulips and roses from the Netherlands.
Television news showed footage shot from a helicopter of a yacht moored to a specially built pier beside the estate's lake, from which, according to reports, the newlyweds will watch an extravagant firework display.
The Daily Mail newspaper reported the couple would spend Tuesday night in the castle's Red Room, said to be haunted by former owner Sir Normal Leslie, who was killed on the battlefields of France in 1914.
Meanwhile, British newspapers competed to include a Beatles song title in their headlines.
"Money can't buy my love" read The Daily Telegraph's offering.
"All you need is love and a castle with 300 star guests," said The Guardian.
McCartney, 59, and his 34-year-old fiancee smiled bashfully for the applauding crowd Monday as they briefly spoke of their impending marriage.
McCartney said his brother Mike would be best man. Mills said she had helped make her own dress.
"I designed it, working with a couple of wonderful women," she said.
The rock star, whose mother was originally from Monaghan, added: "We are not going to worry about the rain, we are going to have a good time."
Three tents and a dance floor have been built along the side of the lake set in about 1,000 acres of grounds. There is a helicopter pad for guests who don't want to drive to the remote location near the Northern Ireland border.
McCartney and Mills a model who lost a leg in a 1993 motorcycle accident met at a charity function where she was raising money to oppose land mines.
Before her accident, Mills helped set up a refugee crisis center in the former Yugoslavia. Later, she established the Heather Mills Trust to raise money for young disabled victims of war and provide artificial limbs for land-mine victims.
The recipient of several humanitarian achievement awards, Mills advocates a land-mine ban and counsels amputees.
She was married briefly in 1989.
McCartney, who was knighted in 1997, has three grown children and a stepdaughter from his marriage to Linda, an acclaimed photographer who died from breast cancer in 1998.
Congratulation, Paul! I wish you and your new wife the very best!
Will John Cleese (using an outrrrrrrrageous French accent!) throw taunts at the guests from the battlements?
I phaerrrt in your general direction!!
It is so wierd that this guy's name would be mentioned, right after that 'ghost story' thread last nite . . . 8^O
Billy Boy wanted to be the first to kiss shag the bride.
I don't see any problem at all with entertainers whooping it up for donations for various causes. It's when they start lobbying Congress for money that I feel the Fist of Death starting to clench.
Ole, ole, ole
Cool name.
(to Bubba)
How dare you profane this place with your presence!
How dare you profane this place with your presence!
Not to mention that nasty looking sore on his lip!
According to a recent nespaper article in the UK, Paul's kids are not at all happy about this match. Stella in particular reportedly can't stand Heather Mills.
I hope they can overcome this problem and have a happy life together!
Herpes?
Will John Cleese (using an outrrrrrrrageous French accent!) throw taunts at the guests from the battlements?
No, he will swing in on a rope, slay half the guests, and then apologize profusely, "Sorry, sorry..."
That was the Swamp Castle?
Then where are the bride's huuuuuuuuuuuge...............tracts of land?!!!
I have to admit though, I'd love to have somebody scream at Sir Paul: "And no singing!!!"
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