4.55 PM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

Russell and Katy tie the knot in traditional Hindu wedding

U.S. singer Katy Perry and Brand are apparently due to wed at the Aman-i-Khas luxury resort in Rajasthan. (REUTERS)

Published
By Staff

British comedian Russell Brand and American pop singer Katy Perry have got married in a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony at a luxury resort in a tiger reserve in northwestern India.

A hotel official said on condition of anonymity that a Hindu priest conducted Saturday’s ceremony, which was attended by family and close friends of the celebrity couple.

Photographers and media reporters were not allowed into the Aman-e-Khas wildlife retreat. The couple has given the exclusive coverage rights to a London magazine.

Both Brand and Perry wore traditional Indian clothes to the wedding. Perry donned a sari, as did a number of other female guests at the ceremony.

On Friday, at a prenuptial celebration, Perry, like a typical Indian bride, had henna designs applied on her palms and hands.

The Aman-e-Khas in Ranthambore in Rajasthan, India turned into a fortress on Friday as Russell Brand and Perry lounged around with other celebrities including Jonathan Ross, David Walliams and Rihanna. (AP)

The couple

Russell is expected to arrive on a white steed flanked by camels and elephants.

Katy’s bridal dress is by designer Reem Acra and will have a traditional Indian theme. Katy will also sport traditional henna tattoos.

The ceremony

The couple are having a variety of events and blessings during their time in India. Things kicked off with an engagement ceremony on Thursday with a Hindu priest. Russell has a huge interest in Eastern religions and is a keen devotee of transcendental meditation. The pair have even been inked with the same matching Sanskrit tattoos meaning "Go with the flow".  The couple will sit on giant thrones during their wedding ceremony. 

Best man and maid of honour

Nik Linnen is Russell's manager, best friend and best man. Nik is the son of the incredibly successful showbusiness manager John Noel, the man Russell credits with turning his life around.

Maid of honour is Katy's pop pal Rihanna

For the guests

White embossed invites told guests to allow seven days for the wedding celebrations in India. They gave no other details in an attempt to stop details of the lavish do getting out early.

There will be an additional safari after the main ceremony. Guests will go on tiger-and gazelle-spotting trips.

Guests will stay in sumptuous £830-a-night tent that measure 30ft across, with separate areas for sleeping and dining, with a bathroom and vanity area separated by white cotton drapes. Each air-conditioned tent also has a king-sized bed flanked by writing desks.

After the vows

Born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson in Pennsylvania, the 25-year-old pop phenomenon has notched up number ones around the world, including two in the UK, and a number one album.

The "Rules Of Marriage" Katy has written up for them include: neither of them is allowed to go to a nightclub without the other. The second states that every night one must phone the other by 11pm. The third bans being "overly drunk". The fourth will be a tough one for Russell, who once claimed he slept with 90 women a month - no contact with any exes. And the fifth weirdly insists that, when posing for photos with fans, there is to be no kissing, hugging or... rubbing.

Katy and Russell have been consulting a marriage counsellor for months. With the pair often working on opposite sides of the globe they held regular conference calls with a therapist to make their relationship rock solid. 

The wedding planners

The couple called in help from Hollywood wedding planner Mindy Weiss, who has helped stars including Gwen Stefani, Kate Beckinsale and Heidi Klum plan their big day. 

The fortress

Meanwhile, on Saturday morning a large lorry blocked the way for any traffic movement beyond the resort's gates. Armed with bamboo sticks, men stood guard at regular intervals all along the boundary. Canvas spreads further screened the resort from any prying eye.

According to sources: "The couple has virtually bought the palace. The floral decorations at the resort have started. A three-level security has been put in place and even the wedding invitation has an electronic swipe for the guests. Each person entering the resort has been issued identity cards. Besides every employee or vendor entering the resort has to deposit cell phone at the entrance with the security."

Amid celebrations, things got a little unpleasant when the couple was stalked by the media during an afternoon safari.

"Katy and Perry were going in a gypsy when the scribes started following them and clicking pictures. Russell's personal security guards snatched the cameras and thrashed them. The photographers too lost their cool and attacked. The couple had to be taken back in another car," a source said.