Christina ties the knot
2005-11-21 07:31
Los Angeles - Pop diva Christina Aguilera tied the knot on Saturday with music executive Jordan Bratman, in a pull-out-the-stops extravaganza ceremony in northern California's romantic wine country, according to news reports.
United States media reported on Sunday that Aguilera and Bratman's Napa Valley nuptials were held at a sunset gathering at an exclusive mountainside resort on Saturday.
Pre-wedding festivities reportedly began on Thursday and included a lavish Friday-night rehearsal dinner. News reports said the newly-weds were scheduled to depart on Sunday for an extended honeymoon at an undisclosed location.
Aguilera, 24, and Bratman, 28, reportedly asked their roughly 130 guests to make donations to Hurricane Katrina and Rita relief efforts.
Attendees also were made to sign a three-page confidentiality agreement promising not to disclose any details about the festivities.
Star-studded guest list
The wedding, held shortly after 18:00 on Saturday featured a gospel choir and a star-studded guest list that included Hollywood actresses Sharon Stone, Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore, according to news reports.
People magazine reported that Aguilera wore an ornate silk Christian Lacroix gown while her bridesmaids wore dresses designed by Kai Milla, who is married to R&B legend Stevie Wonder.
US weekly magazine, meanwhile, wrote that the pop singer wore her hair swept up in an elegant chignon knot hairdo, bedecked with jewels and white flowers.
The much-tattooed, multi-pierced star recently told US media that her taste tended toward the conservative when it came to choosing her wedding attire.
"The dress will be conservative. Don't expect the sort of stuff that hangs off me when I'm on stage. I want white and kind of traditional," she said.
Dream wedding
A close friend told Us magazine that the fantasy event had Aguilera's personal stamp.
"Christina wanted this to be a dream wedding," the friend was quoted as saying.
News reports said Bratman and Aguilera became engaged in February while on vacation in Carmel, California after a two-year-long courtship. They met in 2002, when Bratman worked for Aguilera's management company, AzoffMusic Management. It is the first marriage for both.
Aguilera shot to fame in 1999 with her breakthrough hit song Genie In A Bottle, and later graduated to more risqué fare, notably her raunchy bump-and-grind hit single and video Dirrty.
Aguilera achieved some fame as a child, when she was a standout "Mouseketeer" on the popular The Mickey Mouse Club, a children's television show whose impressive list of alumni celebrities also includes Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears.
Aguilera was given a Best New Artist Grammy in 1999, a Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals Grammy in 2002 for Lady Marmalade and the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance Grammy for Beautiful in 2004.
She is currently at work on an as-yet untitled new album, due for release early next year.