Singer enjoys a day in the Highlands he will never forget
Take That star Mark Owen ties the knot in low-key ceremony
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Take That singer Mark Owen married his fiancee Emma Ferguson in a low-key ceremony in an Inverness-shire village yesterday.
The couple tied the knot at Cawdor Parish Church, followed by a reception at nearby Cawdor Castle.
Hundreds of fans gathered outside the church in near-freezing weather, hoping to catch a glimpse of the couple.
Many booed and shouted when the bride and groom emerged from the church because they failed to stop and speak to fans.
They were also obscured from view when the guests formed an archway for the couple and showered them with rose petals.
Owen, 37, arrived at the church shortly after 4pm with his bandmates Gary Barlow, Jason Orange and Howard Donald.
The band stopped to wave to fans outside the church who had waited for up to six hours.
There was no sign of former bandmate Robbie Williams, however, to the disappointment of fans.
Several fans waiting at the back of the church claimed to have seen him sneaking in a back door, however. Owen wore a top hat and tails, while the other band members wore black suits and cravats with red roses in their buttonholes.
A short time later the couple’s two children, three-year-old Elwood, and Willow Rose, one, arrived.
The bride, 33, turned up 25 minutes late for the 4.30pm ceremony, wearing a white V-neck fitted gown, embellished with crystals, and an antique-style veil.
Surrounded by photographers she smiled and waved to the crowd as she was accompanied into the church by her two bridesmaids, who also wore white.
The ceremony, attended by about 50 guests including Monarch of the Glen actor Hamish Clark, began as darkness fell on the village, and it is understood the bride requested a service by candlelight.
Waiting fans kept themselves warm in the darkness by singing some Take That hits, including Patience, Shine and Back For Good.
At about 6pm, the new Mr and Mrs Owen emerged from the church.
The wedding party then walked through the grounds of the church to the rear exit before climbing into waiting cars which took them to a lavish reception at Cawdor Castle.
Sue Morrison, 59, had arrived in Cawdor around noon with husband, Ron, 62, and was happy that she saw the band.
The housewife from Nelson Road, Forres, said: “It was well worth the wait. Mark looked very happy and the bride looked lovely.
“I wasn’t expecting to see any of them so it was nice that they stopped and waved.”
Staff and pupils at Cawdor Primary School raised funds for the school during the day, charging £2 to park in the school’s car park, and also collecting from waiting fans.
Celebrations for the wedding got under way on Saturday in two huge tepees erected at Drynachan Lodge on the Cawdor Estate.
Several rumours emerged about how guests spent the day, with pursuits including clay-pigeon shooting and fishing.
Staff at Brodie Countryfare denied the band had visited the premises on Saturday.
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