£2.5m for Macca wedding

Sir Paul McCartney has spent an estimated £2.5 million on his wedding to Heather Mills which is lining up to be the among the most expensive and extravagant showbiz nuptials ever.

The ceremony and reception, which the Standard revealed last month will take place tomorrow afternoon at Castle Leslie in Ireland, have been a year in the planning, and the full extent of the event is now emerging.

The former Beatle has spent some of his £700 million fortune overhauling the vast 17th century castle and has not signed an exclusive magazine deal to cover the bash.

Those invited include former US President Bill Clinton, Eric Clapton, Sting and Sir Elton John and they will fly in from around the world to Belfast International airport tomorrow morning before being ferried in helicopters and cars to the castle in the village of Glaslough in Country Monaghan.

The couple arrived at the 17th century estate by helicopter and will stay there until the wedding, said Sir Paul's official spokesman, Geoff Baker.

Mr Baker said Sir Paul, 59, and Ms Mills, 34, would have their marriage blessed by a local priest at St Salvatore's church in the grounds of the castle before the reception for 300 guests.

But the couple would not spend the eve of their wedding together: "That would be bad luck," said Mr Baker.

However, they will appear at the heavily guarded gates as a "thank" you to fans and journalists who have camped outside for several days.Security is tight with 48 mounted guards patrolling day and night.

Over the weekend, Glaslough - which has one street and a population of around 400 people - suffered its first ever traffic jam, with 450 vans, refrigerated trucks, cars and flatbed lorries dropping off tonnes of equipment. At the castle, three 500 ft marquees joined by covered tunnels have been erected to house a large dance floor, sound systems and seating. New jetties and wooden decking have been constructed by the large lake so guests will be able to watch the elaborate beginning of the ceremony. Sir Paul and Heather will arrive in a vintage 40ft yacht, shipped in from Europe and lifted into the water with a nine tonne crane. The crane cost £25,000 to hire.

Items arriving arriving include four mobile kitchens, four enormous generators and Sir Paul's beloved beloved 15-year old blue Mercedes, with the number plate containing the letters MPL - after the name of his music publishing company.

The church and marquees will be festooned with £100,000 of white lilies, pink tulips, white carnations and cream, white and pink roses from Holland. Drinks include 120 pallets of beer, 300 bottles of Laurent Perrier and Cristal Rose champagne at £180 a bottle-150 bottles of white Chardonnay and 100 bottles of Merlot. Vegetarian and Indian buffet-style food will be served on gold decorated plates and matching bowls. Nine floating pontoons will be used to stage a midnight firework display from the middle of the lake.

Forty singers and dancers have been sworn to secrecy. John Eastman, the brother of McCartney's late wife Linda, is tipped to be best man. Sir Paul's children Stella, Mary, James and stepdaughter Heather will all attend the ceremony.

Under Church of Ireland rules, a divorcee such as Heather Mills cannot be married in church. After the blessing, guests will be led down a long covered walkway to the reception at which Ringo Starr will make a heart-felt speech - a reworked version of the classic hit John Lennon wrote with Sir Paul, All You Need is Love.

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