 |
The stunning
couture dress,
made by Balenciaga, as modelled
on the
catwalk |
A flowing column of delicate chiffon and lace, this is the ultra-feminine
full-length wedding dress chosen by Nicole Kidman for her marriage to Keith
Urban on Sunday.
The stunning couture dress, made by Balenciaga, was ordered late last year
when Urban proposed, and has been custom made to her specifications.
Her version, which will be in cream and feature a slip to make it more
modest, is an almost surprisingly girlish choice for the actress, who has just
celebrated her 39th birthday, but undeniably very much in keeping with the
fairytale day that she is planning.
The bride and groom have gone to huge lengths to try and keep every detail of
their wedding secret.
But even they could not hide the erection of a 30sq metre marquee on the
grounds outside the Cardinal Cerretti Memorial Chapel in they Sydney beachside
suburb of Manly.
The pair will have a Catholic ceremony after Miss Kidman, 39, had her ten
year union to Cruise annulled and, in keeping with the faith, they have vowed
not to spend the night together until they are man and wife.
The happy couple have been determined to keep their ceremony as low-key as
possible.
Despite 38-year-old Urban's estimated ￡5million fortune, his family flew to
Sydney on a budget airline.
Miss Kidman's hen night on Wednesday consisted of a girly night in at her
sister Antonia's nondescript suburban house with a group of girlfriends where
they ate a Chinese takeaway.
Music at the 35 minute ceremony will be kept simple with a string quartet,
albeit from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, while the religious readings have
been organised by Miss Kidman's mother Janelle.
Guests have even been told not to hand the couple any lavish presents -
saying they would prefer that money should be donated to charity.
And the day after the wedding Miss Kidman's family will host a traditional
Australian barbie for the couple's closest friends.
But with a guest list which includes Miss Kidman's actor friends King Kong
star Naomi Watts, Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Renee Zellweger and her
ex-husband Kenny Chesney, who is a friend of Urban, as well as media mogul
Rupert Murdoch, it was never going to be an entirely simple affair.
The flower bill for hundreds of white orchids is set to top ￡50,000 while the
cake, from the Sweet Art cake shop will cost ￡1,500.
The food will be prepared by celebrated Australian chef Luke Mangan, a pal of
Jamie Oliver's.
Mangan, a TV chef and local celebrity, is favours Antipodean delicacies like
seared scallops and fish like barramundi. He has plenty of experience of big
events - he recently provided the wedding banquet in Denmark when former Sydney
estate agent Mary Donaldson married Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark.
Miss Kidman had several fittings for her dress which she started trying to
find just a few weeks after Urban's Thanksgiving day proposal, she consulted
with the label's designer Nicholas Ghesquiere on finding the dress of her
dreams.
They agreed that he would adapt the bias-cut, intricately stitched column
dress, which is part of the spring summer 2006 collection. Nicole's wedding
dress was completed in conditions of great secrecy in May and shipped out to
Nicole in Nashville, where she has set up home with Urban. She is apparently
'swept away' by its delicate beauty, and the empire line flatters her tall
dancer's figure.
He has also designed the dress for her sister Antonia, who will be the maid
of honour.
Miss Kidman's two adopted children from her marriage to Cruise will also play
a part in the wedding. Isabella, 13, will be a bridesmaid while her son Connor,
11, will be one of Urban's ushers.
The two arrived in Sydney on Wednesday chaperoned by Cruise's sister Cass on
a private jet from Tokyo where the actor has been working.
The new Mrs Urban and her husband will honeymoon at the exclusive Wakaya
resort in Fiji. They have booked out the entire resort, which was also the place
where Rolling Stones star Keith Richards fell out of a coconut tree causing
brain damage, for a week at a cost of ￡80,000.
Although Miss Kidman and Urban are convinced their marriage is forever, the
pair have signed a prenuptial agreement, as revealed yesterday by the Mail.
Urban will get ￡350,000 for every year of marriage - but the agreement will
become void if he binges on drink or drugs.
