Madonna Officially Wed

ByABC News
December 27, 2000, 8:18 PM

December 23 -- The official confirmation of Madonna's wedding to Guy Ritchie finally came this morning, 12 hours after the 42-year-old pop superstar wed the 32-year-old British film director at a fairytale Scottish castle in the celebrity wedding of the year. Church of Scotland minister Susan Brown, who officiated at the wedding, confirmed that Madonna is now, as Guy refers to her, "The Missus.

"It did happen," Rev. Brown told reporters outside her home in this sleepy Scottish town of Dornoch.

The delay in the official wedding announcement provided enough time for the newlyweds to make their escape to parts unknown. Rumors have the pair staying in the Scottish Highlands for their honeymoon, with a New Year's Eve stop in Edinburgh.

Brown would not divulge any more details of the star-studded Ritchie nuptials.

Top SecurityMadonna's choice of Skibo Castle for her second wedding was not merely based on its romance and luxury; the secluded, century-old castle afforded top security that effectively cut off the frantic media from intruding on the couple's privacy.

Three security teams with thermal heat-seeking equipment prowled the pine forests around Skibo in search of intruders, Reuters reports.

The day before, as 4-month-old Rocco was christened at Dornoch Cathedral, a man who was loitering suspiciously in the building was apprehended and arrested. Another man was arrested in Dornoch in the early hours of Friday morning, the BBC reports, although the charges have not been made public.

Cut off from entering the grounds of Skibo, a group of more than 200 frustrated journalists camped out at the castle's wrought-iron gates. By dawn, their number had dwindled to a mere handful, Reuters reports. The bride and groom had successfully escaped media scrutiny on their wedding day, and the paparazzi had to be content with photographing the A-list celebs as they arrived at Skibo.

Star-Studded Guest ListIn attendance at the pre-Christmas ceremony were some of the biggest names in Hollywood and the music world, including pop star Sting and his wife, Trudie Styler, who first introduced Madonna to her future husband at their country home two years ago. Sting had a small role in Ritchie's first film, Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. The former Police frontman arrived in a kilt and is believed to be among the pop star guests who sang for those in attendance.