Just Murray-ed
Beaming Kim and Andy tie the knot... and, oh I say, Judy wore white too!
IT was, unquestionably, the love-match of the year.
Tennis superstar Andy Murray married long-term girlfriend Kim Sears yesterday in an ¬emotional service in his home town.
Crowds lined the streets as Dunblane’s favourite son tied the knot with his girlfriend of nine years, who has been an ever-present fixture in the stands during his meteoric rise to the top of world sport.
After rain and giant hailstones gave way to bright sunshine, the couple, whose relationship began in 2005, finally became man and wife.
But Kim still had to contend with stiff gusts of wind as she made her entrance to Dunblane Cathedral, with a smiling support team, including her bridesmaids, helping to keep her beautiful embroidered gown from trailing on the ground.
The dress itself was a stunning bespoke ivory gown by Jenny Packham with a full skirt and open back, made of silk chiffon with hand-beaded Swarovski crystals.
It is likely to have cost more than the standard £4,000 price of bridal creations by the British designer, and work began on it late last year.
Kim’s hair was half up and half down, held in place with a plait and a three-metre trailing veil which was carried by her four bridesmaids – each wearing full-length gowns in deep rose crepe.
Kim, from Barcombe, Sussex, teamed her stylish dress with £475 silver-strapped Jimmy Choo ‘Lottie Glitter’ stiletto heels.
Andy wore a kilt in a blue and green Murray of Elibank tartan.
The happy couple, both 27, then exchanged vows during a service that seemed to have inspired in part by the Royal wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton in 2011. Andy and Kim walked down an aisle that had been lined with decorative potted silver birch trees while the cathedral had been festooned with hydrangeas, white roses and glittering tea lights.
Even the choir needed security passes to enter the 12th century cathedral as roads were cordoned off in the Perthshire town and crowds lined the streets.
All eyes were on the newlyweds as they emerged from the cathedral and were showered with confetti by guests, who included the former British tennis number one Tim Henman and his wife Lucy.
The couple had shunned the prospect of a big-money magazine deal and were happy to wave to the crowds of wellwishers.
They were then chauffeured to the reception at the nearby Cromlix House hotel – which the couple bought in 2013 for £1.8million and have recently renovated. During the hour-long service, 200 guests in the cathedral sang the hymns Praise, My Soul, The King of Heaven and Lord of All Hopefulness, Lord of all Joy.
At the end of the service, the choir sang Caledonia as a surprise for Andy.
In a departure from tradition, Andy had three best men, including his tennis player older brother Jamie, who was in charge of the rings.
The service was conducted by the Rev Colin Renwick, who later attended the reception at Cromlix House.
Last night he said: ‘Everything
‘Lovely event for everybody’
went very well – the only hitch was the marriage.
‘The cathedral was filled. It was an incredibly happy service – the main emotion was joy and love. It was a lovely event for everybody.
‘The hymns were lovely, traditional and thoughtful. they were chosen especially by the couple.
‘Kim was earlier than most brides. She was fashionably late you might say. Andy didn’t look at all nervous.’
He added: “The whole of Dunblane was thrilled. They are very proud of Andy and I think they have taken Kim to their hearts. They are equally proud of her. Andy has great affection for Dunblane and that is obvious.’
After the ceremony, the guests were taken by minibus to Cromlix House where they were served canapes and champagne on arrival. Of the bride and groom’s families, Andy’s father Will attended with his fiancée Sam Watson, as did both sets of Andy’s grandparents.
Andy’s grandmother, Shirley Erskine, baked a batch of her famous shortbread – which Judy has shared with her fellow ¬contestants on Strictly Come Dancing – for the reception.
Kim’s parents, Leonore and Nigel, were joined by her brother Scott, who served as an usher. Among her bridesmaids were close friends Emma Pavitt and Fiona Geddie.
To mark the occasion, some of Andy’s fans raised money for a cause close to Andy’s heart. Joan MacGillivray, 61 – a founding member of a group of female followers calling themselves The Murraynators – encouraged fans to contribute to the Elena Baltacha Foundation charity, set up after the Scots tennis player died of liver cancer last year, aged 30.
A total of £4,660 was raised in memory of the former British woman’s champion.
Having travelled down from Inverness yesterday, she said: ‘We wanted to do something special for Andy and Kim, but ensure it was something they would always remember.
‘Andy is not only a wonderful ambassador for the sport but for the entire Scottish nation. He does us proud – that’s why so many people are here today.’
A honeymoon has to wait, however, because of the former Wimbledon and Olympic champion’s competition commitments.
But Kim will no doubt be used to the rigours of the tour circuit, having met Andy in 2005 through tennis circles – her father Nigel is a coach and former head of the women’s game at the Lawn Tennis Association.
They moved in together in 2008 and briefly split the following year before rekindling their relationship, with Andy proposing last year.
He said last month: ‘I am actually not nervous about getting married. We’ve been together nine-and-a-half years and we’ve lived together for six or seven.
‘I will be more nervous about starting a family –that would be more life-changing, in a good way.’
‘It was an incredibly
happy service’’