Sir Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell wave to the crowds as they prepare to wed

By Lara Gould And Steve Farrell


All you need is love: Sir Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell wave to fans the day before they are due to wed


Sir Paul McCartney will pay tribute to his late wife Linda in an emotional speech when he marries for the third time today, to American heiress Nancy Shevell.

Sources close to the former Beatle said that, during the wedding reception at his London home, he would refer lovingly to Linda – mother of three of his grown-up children – who died from breast cancer in 1998.

But there will be no mention of his second wife, Heather Mills, whom he divorced acrimoniously in 2008, despite their daughter Beatrice, seven, acting as bridesmaid.

Third time lucky: Sir Paul says hello to his well wishers

Yesterday 69-year-old Sir Paul and 51-year-old Miss Shevell, who is Jewish, visited the Liberal Jewish Synagogue near his home in

St John's Wood, North-West London, to mark Yom Kippur.

The couple left the singer's home in a chauffeur-driven Lexus just before 5pm, with Sir Paul winding down his window to say: 'Hi guys. Thanks for coming. We're looking forward to it. See you guys.'

Today the couple, who boast a combined fortune of £700 million, will marry in a low-key ceremony in front of just 30 guests at Marylebone Register Office – where Sir Paul married Linda in March 1969.

A spokesman at Marylebone Town Hall confirmed just one service will take place there today, while a source added: 'You wouldn't be far wrong to assume the whole venue has been booked.' The service, to be conducted by Superintendent Registrar Alison Cathcart, will cost £1,540.

Deliveries: Wedding preparations at Paul McCartney's house in St Johns Wood

Fan favourite: Macca waves and signs autographs from his car

The couple are expected to exchange rings from Los Angeles jeweller Neil Lane, before returning to Sir Paul's home for the reception.

Yesterday, final preparations were getting under way at the house before the arrival of guests who are expected to include Sir Paul's five children – adopted eldest daughter Heather from Linda's first mar¬riage, photographer Mary, fashion designer Stella, son James, and youngest daughter Beatrice.

A marquee had been erected on the drive of the three-storey detached property, which is hidden from the street by a 6ft wall, while an awning had been erected on the pavement at the gates to the property.

The happy couple: Sir Paul and fiancee Nancy outside their London home

Moving day: Temporary furniture is delivered to the north London home of former Beatle Paul McCartney

Reception: A fridge is loaded with champagne for the wedding

Two van loads of flowers, including pastel coloured roses and white hydrangeas, were delivered and bottles of champagne could be seen in a fridge next to the marquee, while more vans delivered furniture including around 100 steel chairs and ten drinks tables with mirrored glass surfaces.

The proceedings are in stark contrast to the £1.5 million Sir Paul spent on his wedding to Heather Mills in 2003 in front of 300 guests at Castle Leslie in Ireland. That was followed by an elaborate reception which included a vegetarian banquet.

Then, Sir Paul was reported to have spent tens of thousands of pounds on 300 bottles of vintage Cristal and Laurent Perrier, costing £180 a time.

But yesterday, fridges were being loaded with a far cheaper option – non-vintage Dumangin Grande Reserve champagne costing £26.50 a bottle. The brand is little-known in the UK but was described by one critic last year as 'delicious, rare and delectable' and 'good value for money'.

Seating arrangements: Chairs are delivered for the guests

Musical chairs: Seating for the reception is delivered to the house

Fresh as a daisy: Flowers are ready to be placed at the reception

The venue: Marylebone Town Hall in London where Paul McCartney will Marry Nancy Shevell on Sunday

Workmen carrying tools including a spirit level arrived at the property in a van from the firm Momart, which specialises in transporting fine art. One said they had been asked to hang paintings, including works by Picasso and some of Sir Paul's own work.

After the celebrations the newlyweds are expected to fly to America to mark their nuptials with a second gathering at the Hamptons, the exclusive seaside enclave two hours from New York where they both own homes.

The move mirrors Sir Paul's wedding to Linda in 1969 when they flew to New York to visit her family.

Miss Shevell, a family friend of Sir Paul and Linda, is vice president of her family's transport firm and has a 19-year-old son, Arlen, from her 24-year marriage to first husband Bruce Blakeman.

Memories: Paul McCartney leaving Marylebone Registry Office after marrying Linda Eastman

Over: Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills outside Castle Leslie, in Glaslough, County Monaghan, Ireland, ahead of their marriage in 2002


source:dailymail
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