When Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye-Smith walk down the aisle at 800-year-old Ballintubber Abbey in Ireland tomorrow, it will be a fairytale conclusion to a very special romance.
One hundred guests including Hollywood stars, politicians and celebrity activists will jet in from around the world for the nuptials, which will be followed by a reception at dramatic Ashford Castle. And HELLO! will be there, too, capturing exclusive images of the day and speaking to the couple in an in-depth interview on the eve of their wedding.
HELLO! magazine will be dedicating two issues to the wedding. The first – on sale on Wednesday August 8 – will cover the preparations and the ceremony itself, while the second, out on August 14, will feature the reception and wedding night party.
Pierce and Keely’s trip to the altar has not been a smooth one. The pair have tried to tie the knot three times, only to be thwarted by circumstances or misfortune. Initial plans had to be called off after Keely and the couple’s four-year-old son Dylan Thomas were trapped in their Californian home for a week by floods. The second ceremony was cancelled after Pierce’s 17-year-old son Sean was seriously injured after a car in which he was travelling plunged into a ravine. Then Keely discovered she was pregnant with their second son, Paris Beckett, who was born in February.
The waiting and delays – the gown 37-year-old Keely will wear when she says “I do” to the 007 actor has had to be altered several times to accommodate her changing figure – mean the occasion, guaranteed to be one of the most glamorous, star studded and romantic weddings of the decade, will be especially sweet for both of them. “We have been on a journey together,” says Pierce, 49. “I want the world to know I love this woman. I don’t know any better way than saying: ‘Be my wife’ and standing up there in the eyes of God. It’s old fashioned but pretty wonderful.”
And he’s determined that now the moment has arrived, everything should be perfect. The ceremony itself is to be a traditional Catholic affair, but all the finishing touches, including the flowers and the music, are the Irish star’s own special tribute to his bride. As is his decision to toast her with a local brew. “There will be plenty of time for champagne,” he told friends. “But for that special toast it should be Guinness.”
Be sure to look out for HELLO!’s exclusive and extensive coverage of the wedding ceremony and celebrations in the August 8 and August 14 issues of the magazine, and here on the website.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
