WEDDING: Secrets of Liz Hurley's £2m ceremony

BEAUTIFUL bride LIZ HURLEY was given away by ELTON JOHN in the £2 million showbiz wedding of the year.

I can reveal Sir Elt performed the duty at a church blessing — 24 hours AFTER Liz and her Indian fella ARUN NAYAR officially wed.

The Rocket Man arrived in style, flying into the grounds of Sudeley Castle by helicopter with pal, shoe designer PATRICK COX. 

Meanwhile, Elton's partner DAVID FURNISH had to slum it and travel to the bash by car.

Elton linked arms with the bride, 41, in her Versace dress, and led her up the aisle to be met at the altar by her 42-year-old groom.

Guests included PATSY KENSIT, Jimmy Choo shoes boss TAMARA MELLON, stylist TRINNY WOODALL, supermodel ELLE MACPHERSON, DONATELLA VERSACE and artist TRACEY EMIN. There was no sign of her ex, HUGH GRANT.

More than 90 friends and family squeezed into St Mary's Church in the sprawling grounds of the castle, near Liz's Gloucestershire home.

Giant

And for the 110 guests who couldn't fit in? They gathered in an adjoining marquee to watch proceedings on a giant screen.

After the hour-long service, everyone followed the newlyweds through a covered walkway to a second marquee, where boozy celebrations began.

A luxury four-course meal was enjoyed and no showbiz wedding would be complete without the 400 bottles of vintage champagne and a few songs from Elton.

The Reverend John Partington told me: "The bride and groom looked stunning. It was a lovely occasion. I was pleased Liz's son Damian took a central role as the ring bearer."

One guest added: "It was fitting that Elton gave Liz away because he became a father figure after her dad Roy died in 1996."

The couple were officially wed by a registrar in a small ceremony on Friday, before rehearsals began for the big do.

The couple's first week of marriage will see non-stop celebrations continue in Bombay - including a cricket match and traditional Hindu wedding ceremony.

Then it's time for their honeymoon... ten days of five-star luxury in the Seychelles.

Congratulations, Mr and Mrs Nayar.

Additional reporting LEWIS PANTHER