Village manor hosts celebrity wedding (From Wiltshire Times)

Village manor hosts celebrity wedding

9:30am Monday 31st December 2007 in News By Craig Evry

ENGLAND cricket players were among a host of celebrities gathered at a country manor in north Wiltshire for the wedding of star batsman Kevin Pietersen and his pop singer bride.

Hampshire player Pietersen and Jessica Taylor, who topped the charts with her former band Liberty X, invited 60 guests to the afternoon event at the idyllic Manor House Hotel, in Castle Combe.

Best man Darren Gough and some of Taylor's former band-mates arrived at the venue at lunchtime, an official at the site said.

After the ceremony, which was understood to be due to begin at 3pm, an extra 25 guests were due to join the party for a reception in the grounds. They were all due to stay overnight.

The 14th century home, which is situated a stone's throw from Castle Combe racing circuit, has 32 rooms which had all been booked up by the couple.

England stars, including fellow batsman Paul Collingwood, were wandering through the Wiltshire village before the ceremony got under way.

The hotel's entrance was blocked off by security for the private event.

Pietersen and Taylor, both 27, recently declared they would not be following in the footsteps of many newlyweds by selling their pictures to the glossy magazines.

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "We could tell it was someone important by the men in sunglasses and suits outside the entrance.

"We often have celebrity weddings here. It is nothing new for us."

The picturesque village of Castle Combe has become popular as a film set in recent years.

St Andrew's Church, where Pietersen and Taylor were wed on Saturday, had previously been used in the film Stardust, featuring Sienna Miller.

England skippers Michael Vaughan and Collingwood were seen outside the church before the congregation disappeared into a marquee, shortly before 3pm.

The service went on for more than an hour. A cheer went up half way through the ceremony before music could be heard on the church's loud speakers.

Staff at the nearby Castle Inn Hotel said several guests had booked rooms for the night.

Henry Jacob of The Outside Organisation, which represents both Pietersen and Taylor, issued a statement this evening saying: "We can confirm that today Kevin Pietersen and Jessica Taylor were married.

"The private wedding was attended by close family, relatives and friends of the couple. They are now going away on their honeymoon and will return to the UK in January."