Elton John serenades Dua Lipa and Callum Turner with rendition of Your Song at couple’s lavish wedding ceremony after last-minute dash via private jet
Singer Dua Lipa and her new husband Callum Turner celebrated their nuptials with a gorgeous Sicilian ceremony on Saturday, serenaded by Sir Elton John.
The pair hosted a lavish party at the historic Villa Valguarnera in Bagheria, east of Palermo, where they exchanged vows six days after their official meeting at Marylebone Town Hall.
And in a ‘very emotional’ moment, the bride’s close friend Sir Elton performed his hit Your Song.
Ms Lipa, 30, was understood to be wearing a diamond-studded dress designed by fashion legend Donatella Versace, who was seen celebrating with the newlyweds at the cocktail party on Friday night.
For the final part of the three-day extravaganza, the bride arrived around 6pm Sicilian time and made a grand entrance along a 650ft path lined with bougainvillea trees.
Sources said that chairs were placed in a semicircle in front of Villa Valguarnera and there was a gazebo in the middle.
An insider said: ‘Dua and Callum sat on a stage under the gazebo and a simple swearing-in ceremony took place.’
The bride and groom’s families were driven from Palermo to the villa; But the trip nearly ended in disaster for Dua’s mother, Anesa, when a driver admitted he left his shoes in his car.
Singer Dua Lipa and new husband Callum Turner were serenaded by Sir Elton John at their ceremony in Sicily
Ms Lipa’s close friend Elton flew in at the last minute to perform her hit Your Song in a ‘very emotional’ moment
Six days after their official meeting in London, the newlyweds hosted a lavish party at the historic Villa Valguarnera in Bagheria, east of Palermo, where they exchanged vows.
While the interior of the villa was decorated with peonies and hyacinths, photo booths were set up to take souvenir photos.
Cigarettes were handed out and handkerchiefs emblazoned with the slogan ‘Stay mad at me forever’ were handed out to attendees on chairs outside.
Ms. Lipa and James Bond favorite Mr. Turner arrived in Palermo on Thursday and were joined by singer Charli XCX, as well as Ms. Lipa’s parents, Duji and Anesa, and Mr. Turner’s mother, Rose.
Guests staying at the £1,000-a-night Igiea hotel in the city were treated to a yacht party on Thursday night. On Friday, Ms. Lipa and Mr. Turner hosted a party at Galleria Moderna.
The bride dazzled in her custom-made Bottega Veneta dress. Her bag was also by the designer, with feathers added to her £2,580 Andiamo handbag.
Elton John flew in by private jet from Farnborough, Hampshire.
He was driven from Palermo airport into a blacked-out car and took to the stage just in time for yesterday’s ceremony.
However, the people of Palermo were not very impressed by the festivities. They put up posters saying ‘Palermo is not for rent’. ‘Public spaces belong to everyone.’
Another read: ‘Our square is not your living room’ and ‘Palermo is not for the rich’.
Villa Valguanera used to be a Mafia hideout but has since been taken over by Vittoria Alliata Di Villafranca, who still lives in the magnificent 18th-century baroque residence.
The party is expected to be held in the gardens in front of the double-columned villa, which provided the exterior opening shots for the White Lotus 2 series.
In the 1980s, the local mob briefly controlled the property and planned to turn it into a casino, stealing a Cyclops statue using a helicopter.
On the villa’s website, the Princess wrote: ‘I never thought I would have to defend this priceless cultural heritage tooth and nail against the deadly attacks of politicians and Mafiosos.’
On Friday, a heavy police presence was seen around Palazzo Gangi, gi, with guests including Charli XCX and Mark Ronson.
Hours later, crowds were seen gathering for the celebrations and guests arriving at Sicilia Marina Villa Igiea.
