In a move as surprising as her 55-hour marriage in January, Britney Spears wed dancer Kevin Federline in a five-minute ceremony Saturday before a small group of friends and family members.
“She did marry him yesterday,” said Sonia Muckle, a spokeswoman for Britney’s label, Jive Records, but she and another Jive spokesman declined Sunday to provide any additional details. Plenty have emerged on entertainment news Web sites, though–painting the wedding scene as a simple affair with lots of roses, chicken fingers on the menu and Journey tunes on a boombox.
The wedding was held at a private home in Studio City–a Los Angeles suburb just north of Hollywood–with roughly 20 to 30 people attending, “Entertainment Tonight” said on its Web site.
It was the second marriage in nine months for Britney, 22, and the first for Kevin, 26, who has two kids with ex-girlfriend Shar Jackson.
On Saturday–possibly banking on the media’s fascination with the Emmy awards–Britney and Kevin were able to pull off the wedding surprise with little notice by the paparazzi.
Britney’s mom, Lynne, reportedly was not in on the secret marriage scheme either–despite her heavy role in planning what was expected to be a giant glam wedding scheduled for Oct. 16. A crew from TV’s “Access Hollywood” spent the afternoon with Lynne and Britney’s little sister, Jamie Lynn, during preparations for what they thought would be Britney and Kevin’s engagement party.
Jamie Lynn told the show’s crew that she had dyed her hair brown and was excited to surprise her sister with her new color that night.
Meanwhile, Kevin and Britney–who sported her own dyed-brown hair in photos posted this weekend on the Web–set up their dinner surprise.
As the guests arrived at the home of the tailor who custom made the tuxes for the groom and groomsmen, according to Star magazine’s Web site, the couple’s wedding plans emerged.
Britney, wearing a strapless white gown designed by Monique L’Huillier, complete with veil and tiara, married Kevin at 7:30 p.m. in a five-minute non-denominational service, Star reported. No word if the service included any Kabbalah touches.
After the wedding couple exchanged platinum bands, the guests dined on a spread of chicken tenders, crab cakes, ribs and Waldorf salad, the magazine said.
And for the newlyweds’ first dance? Superstar Britney and her professional dancer hubby chose the old prom hit “Lights” by Journey–played on a boombox, the Star reported.
The wedding gathering lasted into early Sunday morning, reported “Entertainment Tonight,” which said that the newlyweds were spotted leaving the party in a black SUV.
Britney and Kevin announced their engagement in June after dating since early this year. Their engagement came just a few months after Britney’s bombshell quickie Vegas wedding to high school pal Jason Alexander. That whirlwind marriage lasted all of 55 hours before they had it annulled.
Her engagement to Kevin caused a worldwide stir, too, but Britney has insisted she has found true love.
“Marrying Kevin was the last thing I was thinking about doing,” Spears told People magazine in July.
“But then I said, ‘You know what? This is my life, and I don’t care what people think. I’m going to get married. I’m in love with him.’ “
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Marry-go-round
The boys
Justin Timberlake
The two Mouseketeers began dating shortly after both shot to fame in the late ’90s, creating a pop power couple for the ages. But the romance didn’t last, and they went their separate ways in 2002. Justin then accused Britney of cheating on him in a televised interview, and Britney later admitted that (Surprise!) she lost her virginity to Timberlake because she thought they would eventually marry.
Colin Farrell
The paparazzi caught them smooching in early February of 2003. They were photographed cuddling at Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont hotel after she attended the premiere of his movie “The Recruit.” Farrell was quick to say the two were “just mates, not dating.”
Columbus Short
Rumors began flying in October of 2003 when Short, a dancer training for Britney’s tour, was photographed alone with the pop tart several times. Short, whose girlfriend was pregnant at the time, denied that anything happened between them, and the gossip died down after a few weeks of tabloid speculation.
Jason Alexander
Oops–Britney did it this time, marrying her childhood friend on Jan. 3 in a wedding ceremony in Las Vegas. She had the marriage annulled immediately and went into hiding while reporters hounded Alexander.
Kevin Federline
“Britney stole my boyfriend” was the cover headline of Us Weekly magazine after the pop tart went public in April with her relationship with Federline.
The wedding caper
Late April
Star magazine and the New York Post publish photos of Britney canoodling with Kevin. Federline, they point out, is in a relationship with Shar Jackson , who is seven months pregnant and already has a daughter with Kevin.
June 6
Britney and Kevin get matching tattoos–pink dice for her, blue dice for him–while in Ireland, teenhollywood.com reports.
June 25
After dating Kevin for just a few months, Britney announces (through her record label) her engagement to the dancer.
July 13
Donald Trump adds his two cents to rumors that Britney is refusing to have Kevin sign a prenuptial agreement, saying that Britney is “making a huge mistake. Just a huge, traumatic and potentially ruinous mistake.” Britney and Kevin’s prenup arrangements are never confirmed.
July 26
Britney’s friends–including Madonna–urge the pop tart to have a Kabbalah wedding, complete with Jewish canopy, MSNBC reports. Her Baptist family, the network says, isn’t thrilled by the idea.
Aug. 9
People magazine features photos of Britney with Kevin and his 2-year-old daughter, Kori. It’s Britney’s first meeting with her stepdaughter-to-be, the magazine reports.
Aug. 23
Early glimpses of Britney’s video for “My Prerogative” show the singer in a mock wedding with Kevin starring as the groom.
Aug. 30
The tabloids buzz with conflicting info about the wedding date. One says it may be as soon as Labor Day, and another says Britney has cold feet and has called the wedding off.
Sept. 15
In an interview on “The Insider,” Britney says she wasn’t bothered by criticism that she might be too young to settle down. “I want to be a young mom,” she said. “That’s my dream. You can judge me however you want. I’m happy.” When interviewer Steven Cojocaru pushed for details of the Big Day, Britney was coy. “It’s gonna be my fairy-tale wedding!”
Sept. 18
Britney and Kevin are married, record label spokespeople confirm.
Marry-go-round / Face off
CATEGORY: Groom
Britney wedding No. 1
Unknown high school buddy.
Britney wedding No. 2
Unknown dancer with two kids and less money.
CATEGORY: Location
Britney wedding No. 1
Vegas chapel
Britney wedding No. 2
A tailor’s house near L.A.
CATEGORY: Best Accessory
Britney wedding No. 1
Trucker Hat
Britney wedding No. 2
Tiara
CATEGORY: GUEST LIST
Britney wedding No. 1
Few were still awake for the 5:30 a.m. nuptials, but a limo driver from the Palms hotel escorted Brit down the aisle.
Britney wedding No. 2
About 20 people who may, or may not, have been asked to wear tacky track suits after the ceremony.
CATEGORY: FOOD
Britney wedding No. 1
Some say “the sauce,” if you get our drift, though Britney denies it.
Britney wedding No. 2
Chicken fingers, crab cakes and ribs.
CATEGORY: MUSIC
Britney wedding No. 1
The mind-numbing ching-ching of the casino floors.
Britney wedding No. 2
The mind-numbing sound of Journey’s slow-dance song, “Lights.”
CATEGORY: STAYING POWER
Britney wedding No. 1
Annulled within 3 days.
Britney wedding No. 2
Three-month anniversary would give new meaning to “Christmas miracle.”
