THE 3 BIG FOOTIE WEDDINGS
By Simon Wright, Michael Duffy And Karen Rockett 17/06/2007
MATCHES OF THE DAY: THE THREE BIG FOOTIE WEDDINGS Roo scores a marriages hat-trick Groom Stevie dresses as Travolta
IT was the WAGs' biggest day since the World Cup in Baden Baden... so many weddings, yet so little time.
Stately homes up and down the country locked away expensive antiques yesterday and replaced them with glitter balls and chocolate fountains as three England footballers tied the knot in one day.
Newlyweds Steven Gerrard, Gary Neville and Michael Carrick were all celebrating last night after throwing spectacular bashes.
But it was Wayne Rooney and fiancee Coleen McLoughlin who stole the show - by turning up to a hat-trick of weddings within 72 hours.
First they went to England captain John Terry's marriage to Toni Poole at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire on Friday. Then they jumped on a helicopter and flew up to Man Utd teammate Gary Neville's wedding yesterday.
Then today - "utterly gutted" at missing Gerrard's wedding in Berkshire - they plan to top their weekend with a barbecue with Michael Carrick.
Steven Gerrard and Alex Curran tied the knot first yesterday at Cliveden House, Berkshire, where they held a disco-themed reception.
The £120,000-a-week Liverpool star spared no expense for the wedding, which was "sold" to a magazine, turning a massive marquee in the grounds into a Saturday Night Fever-style disco for 200 family and friends. Deacon Blue entertained guests until the early hours.
They were joined by England and Newcastle striker Michael Owen and wife Louise, also fresh from Terry's nuptials. Teammate Jamie Carragher and wife Nicola, Robbie Fowler and wife Kerry, Harry Kewell and his I'm A Celebrity star wife Sheree were also there, as well as Jamie and Louise Redknapp.
Spurs and former Liverpool player Danny Murphy was best man for the civil ceremony in Cliveden's imposing Great Hall. Gerrard, 27 - said to have splashed out £1million on the wedding and Dubai honeymoon - wore a John Travolta-style white suit with white shoes and wore a £50,000 diamond stud in his ear.
Alex, 24, looked stunning in a £60,000 diamond-encrusted dress by Lebanese designer Ellie Saab.
The couple's two daughters Lilly-Ella, three, and Lexie, one, were bridesmaids in identical miniature versions of the same dress.
Advertisement - article continues below »
Next up was Gary Neville and Emma Hadfield at 3pm, with Wayne and Coleen drawing the biggest cheer of the day as they arrived at Manchester Cathedral.
But the ceremony went into extra time as the bride Emma, 25, in a traditional white Amanda Wakely wedding dress, kept Neville waiting for 15 minutes. Gary's brother Phil, 32, was best man after David Beckham had to pull out because of a Real Madrid game today. Joanne Beckham, 25, took the place of her absent brother.
After the 45-minute ceremony, Gary and his beaming bride walked out of the cathedral as fans again cheered and threw confetti. At the same time his Man Utd teammate Michael Carrick looked over the moon after marrying Lisa Roughhead, 24, in the parish church in Wymondham, Leics - to the tune of a gospel choir.
Lisa, wearing an ivory strapless Christian Lacroix wedding gown, emerged from the church with Michael to the cheers of villagers and soccer fans.
Chelsea star Joe Cole was joined by his fiancee Carly Zucker. It was followed by a reception at nearby Stapleford Park Hotel.
Other guests included Spurs star Robbie Keane and his partner Claudine Palmer, Liverpool striker Peter Crouch with lover Abbey Clancy and Jermaine Defoe with his partner Charlotte Mears.
Steve & Alex
VENUE: Cliveden House. BEST MAN: Danny Murphy. GUESTS: Michael and Louise Owen, Jamie and Louise Redknapp, Jamie and Nicola Carragher, Robbie and Kerry Fowler, Harry Kewell and Sheree Murphy. RECEPTION: At Cliveden. FOOD: Chicken & chips. HONEYMOON: Dubai. COST: £900k.
Michael & Lisa
VENUE: St Peter Church, Wymondham, Leics. BEST MAN: Carrick's brother Graeme. GUESTS: Robbie Keane and fiancee Claudine, Joe Cole and girlfriend Carly Zucker, Peter Crouch and girlfriend Abbey Clancy, Jermain Defoe and girlfriend Charlotte Mears. RECEPTION: 500 guests at Stapleford Park Hotel. FOOD: Canapes, champagne and a barbecue. HONEYMOON: Caribbean. COST: £500,000.
Gary & Emma
VENUE: Manchester Cathedral. BEST MAN: Brother Phil. GUESTS: Ryan Giggs and partner Stacey Cook, Paul and Kathleen Scholes, Wayne Rooney and fiancee Coleen. RECEPTION: At the couple's £6m mansion near Bolton. FOOD: Bangers & mash washed down with £205 bottles of Cristal champagne. HONEYMOON: Maltese island of Gozo where they own villa. COST: £1m-plus.
