A washout wedding! Torrential rain threatens Ant McPartlin and Anne-Marie Corbett’s big day

536

View
comments

Ant McPartlin gave a beaming smile as he arrived for his wedding to Anne-Marie Corbett with Best Man Declan Donnelly on Saturday. 

The presenter, 45, cut a dapper figure in a black suit and bow tie as he headed into the Hampshire church alongside his fellow Geordie pal Dec. 

Wearing lilac flower corsages, Ant and Dec smiled for photographers as they posed under a stunning flower wall, with celebrity guests Phillip Schofield, Stephen Mulhern and Alesha Dixon arriving shortly after.  

Celebrity guests such as Christine and Frank Lampard, David Walliams and Dermot O’Leary also looked in good spirits as they headed into the stunning church.   

Irish presenter Christine, 42, looked incredible in a smart red dress with cut-out flower detailing and black stilettos as she looked loved-up with navy suit-clad Frank, 43. 

Phillip Schofield cut a suave figure in a dark grey suit which he teamed with a blue patterned tie and white shirt as he smiled on his way into the church. 

Meanwhile Cat Deeley, 44, put on a leggy display in a black and white polka dot dress as she arrived with her husband Patrick Kielty. 

Earlier in the day Reverend Canon Marion De Quidt gestured to well-wishers as she stood under the stunning floral arch display at the venue just before celebrity guests began to arrive, as the earlier wet weather gave way to sunshine. 

It comes after last-minute preparations were made to the outside of the church this morning as rainy conditions threatened to put a dampener on the day. 

Flower walls and arches around the site in the sleepy village where the ‘simple and beautiful’ nuptials are taking place were being perfected as the drizzle set in. 

Stunning hydrangeas and roses in pretty pastels and greens lined the walls of the venue as raincoat-clad staff made sure everything looked as it should. 

Guests are expected to start arriving for the wedding at midday, followed by Anne-Marie at 12.45pm ahead of the service which begins at 1pm. 

Other members of staff were seen gathering outside the venue and shielding themselves from the torrential downpours with umbrellas as last-minute supplies arrived. 

It comes after insiders told The Sun: ‘Neither of them want the razzmatazz of a showbiz wedding’, and insisted the day will be ‘simple and beautiful’. 

Around 100 guests, including Holly Willoughby, Phillip Schofield, Stephen Mulhern, Alesha Dixon, David Walliams and Ant’s Best Man and TV sidekick, Declan Donnelly will be attending today. 

The celebrity guests are thought to have checked into their rooms at the posh wedding reception last night and will be taken to the church in cars.  

However close friend and Britain’s Got Talent co-star Amanda Holden, 50, won’t be attending as she is away on holiday. 

She uploaded a sweet picture of her with Ant and Dec and BGT judge Alesha Dixon with the caption: ‘So sorry we will miss @antanddec special day… we are still away, sending our love and huge congratulations to Ant & Amzie on this amazing day.’

It comes after on Friday a lorry full of flowers and vans were seen arriving at the venue ahead of the star-studded nuptials. 

A loading truck containing temporary fencing was seen parking up and creating barriers in the surrounding areas of the venue ahead of the arrival of some of the biggest stars on UK television.  

Following on from the fencing, the lorry-full of flowers arrived complete with stunning hydrangeas, roses and much more in pretty pastels and greens. Staff delivering unloaded at least eight large containers of flowers. 

Villagers were looking forward to seeing the couple as well as a host of their celebrity friends. Mum of three Janice Collete said:’ As soon as people heard there were barriers going up at the church we sort of guessed that it was going to be a big wedding. I am sure many people will come out to see and wish them the best.’

A team of 10 florists constructed two arches at the church. One arch was at the stone entrance to the church while the other was in the car park where the bride will be dropped off. Work on the flower filled arches had to be temporarily halted due to a downpour.   

Just one day before it was revealed that a ring of steel has been placed around the quaint village church in Hampshire where the couple are to exchange wows ahead of the lavish reception at a nearby Georgian stately home-turned hotel. 

Huge trucks have been spotted entering the grand estate where a large white marquee has been pictured on the grounds ready to host 100 guests.

The star-studded guest-list, as well as close friends and family, will be put up in £1,000 a night rooms and encouraged to use the hotel’s spa facilities – and send the bill to Ant and Anne-Marie’s honeymoon suite.

A source said: ‘Ant and Anne-Marie hoped to get married abroad but this is the next best thing. The wedding reception is located away from prying eyes and set in beautiful surroundings. 

‘It will also have the feel of a traditional wedding, which suits both parties as they are very down to earth people. ‘They can’t wait to finally get hitched.’ 

The source also told MailOnline, the couple were so desperate to keep the location underwraps, guests were only made aware of the date in their invitations – with the venue disclosed nearer the time. 

The vicar who is set to marry Ant and Anne-Marie, Rev’d Canon Dr Marion de Quidt, told the Daily Star: ‘I’m looking forward to sharing in their joy, and I’m looking forward to the blessings for their future.

‘That’s all I can say right now, but God bless, it’s going to be a wonderful time.’ 

Ant, 45, proposed to Anne-Marie, 43, on Christmas Eve having dated since March 2018.

During the last series of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here last December, the Geordie gushed over his fiancée, saying his perfect night in was with Anne-Marie and her two children from her previous marriage. 

Ant is reportedly spending £100,000 on hotel bills to ensure the couple’s guests enjoy the wedding, which will take place over two days – starting this Friday.

The Mail on Sunday reported the TV veteran has told them to send him their spa bills, which include £100 manicures, to his £5,000 per night honeymoon suite. 

The couple’s choice of reception venue appeals to celebrities due to its walled gardens offering privacy to guests. 

The hotel is also situated several 100 yards away from its entrance, meaning onlookers situated outside a heavy security presence will be unable to catch a glimpse of celebrations. 

The spacious grounds also boast ancient woodlands, tranquil gardens and a beautiful lake, offering the perfect backdrop to wedding pictures. 

Ant was this week pictured playing golf with Saturday Night Takeaway co-host Dec as part of the build-up to this weekend’s nuptials. 

The presenting duo, both dressed in navy blue, were seen high-fiving and celebrating after some particularly impressive shots. Dec, 45, was also Ant’s Best Man at his first marriage to former wife Lisa Armstrong in 2006. 

Ant and Lisa confirmed their divorce in January this year after ending their 11-year marriage in 2017. Ant worked with Anne-Marie for several years before they started dating. 

The former PA was employed for the same London-based management company as Ali Astall, Dec’s wife, for a decade, however she only began working closely with Ant since 2017. 

Anne-Marie, who split with ex-husband Scott in October that year, helped Ant recover from his ‘lowest depths’ after a spate of personal problems, culminating with a drink-driving charge in 2018.