4 July wedding for Julia Roberts

It was Julia Roberts's wish to be married close to home. What Julia wants, it appears Julia will get today when it is widely believed she will wed boyfriend Danny Moder in a small chapel she has had built in her back garden.

Locals say the red-brick chapel was built approximately six weeks ago. It takes pride of place on the film star's 50-acre ranch in the small mountain town of Taos, New Mexico. One neighbour said: "Straight away we thought there might be wedding bells. How many people have a chapel in their back yard? Then again, if you are going to get married at home, it is nice to make it a religious occasion. "

Among those expected to attend are Hollywood stars Bruce Willis and George Clooney. Roberts, 34 and Moder have reportedly handled almost every aspect of planning the wedding, which was originally described as an Independence Day party.

Guests have been asked to wear "garden attire" and will be served barbecue food in a marquee.

Locals spotted Roberts on Tuesday stocking up on fruit and vegetables at the local grocery store, Rayleys. Tammy Lavieson said: "The last thing you expect a bride to be doing before the big day is shopping for groceries. She left with two bags but I dared not ask her about the wedding."

Roberts and Moder have yet to apply for a marriage licence but the Taos chief deputy clerk, Orlando Marquez, said the wedding can go ahead if they visit any clerk's office in New Mexico with photo identification.

"We have got to the stage now where we are taking bets as to when they might show," he said.