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28 March 2024

Katy, Russell host gala reception; Rihanna misses out

Together forever: Katy Perry and Russell Brand. (SUPPLIED)

Published
By AFP

British comic Russell Brand and US pop star Katy Perry moved their India wedding extravaganza to Jaipur for a gala reception Sunday, a day after tying the knot amid tigers and tight security.

But the bride's maid of honour was forced to miss out on the event because of a last-minute call to hit the studios for her next album. Although she was confirmed to attend until just days before the wedding, telling everyone she was planning to wear Stella McCartney at the event, Rihanna was called in to finish work on her album, "loud", which is set to hit stands within weeks.

The pair are extremely close, and while disappointed, Perry has reportedly told Rihanna she understands that work comes first, TMZ.com reported. Rihanna will reportedly make it up to the "California Gurls" singer with a new duet she's planning.

Brand and Perry were married Saturday in what the couple described in a statement as a "very private and spiritual ceremony" attended by close family and friends.

Privacy was maintained by heavy security at the venue -- a luxury resort adjoining the Ranthambore tiger sanctuary in northern India -- which was screened off to keep out the prying eyes and lenses of the paparazzi.

The ceremony had a distinctly Indian flavour with Brand leading the marriage procession on a horse, flanked by dozens of elephants and camels.

Perry's wedding dress had an Indian theme and she had traditional Indian henna tattoos on her palms as part of the wedding preparations, media reports said.

Indian snake charmers and folk musicians have been employed to entertain the celebrity guests, who were said to include pop princess Rihanna and talk show host Jonathan Ross.

Sunday's gala reception is being held at the Taj Rambagh Palace Hotel, the former home of the Maharaja and Maharani of Jaipur which was converted into a five-star hotel in 1957. The party is expected to have an "East meets West" theme and feature performances by rap mogul P. Diddy and Indian classical dancers.

Brand, 35, reportedly proposed to Perry, 25, at the Rambagh Palace during a New Year holiday after a whirlwind romance.

At an engagement ceremony Friday night, Perry wore a maroon sari while Brand wore a kurta pyjama and a turban as Bollywood tunes belted out, the Times of India reported.

The same day, bodyguards clashed with photographers trailing Brand and guests in the Ranthambore wildlife park, punching two of the photographers and their driver.

The British star's minders grabbed the car keys and left the photographers stranded in the park -- one of the most popular tiger reserves in India.

Brand, a recovering drug and alcohol addict with a reputation as a womaniser, was arrested last month for allegedly attacking a photographer at Los Angeles airport and was freed on $20,000 bail.The hirsute star found fame as a comedian and later as a TV and radio presenter, before starring in hit Hollywood films "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Get Him to the Greek". Perry is famous for her hit songs, "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot n Cold".