Golf ace Colin Montgomerie gets married in £1M lochside wedding

Apr 20 2008 By Raymond Hainey And David Taylor

Monty's £1m Lochside Love Match

COLIN MONTGOMERIE was all smiles yesterday as he tied the knot with heiress Gaynor Knowles.

Golf ace Monty was on top form as he led many of his 300 guests on a round of golf before marrying on the banks of Loch Lomond.

The big day teed off at 8am when celebrity pals including supermodel Jodie Kidd and ex-Liverpool star Alan Hansen joined Monty on the course.

Even bride-to-be Gaynor, 40, who does not play golf, ventured on to the fairways.

Monty's daughter Olivia, 15, sang the ballad You Raise Me Up after the pair exchanged vows.

Guests were entertained by pop band The All Stars and by a traditional pipe band.

Yesterday's s1million wedding was one of the most lavish in Scotland with the 11pm fireworks finale alone costing s10,000.

Ryder Cup hero Monty, 44, ordered tight security round the posh Loch Lomond Golf Club and 18th-century Rossdhu clubhouse.

Bosses at the club - which costs s30,000 to join and has s6000 annual fees - obtained an 800-acre exclusion zone around the venue, infuriating ramblers.

Other guests included Prince Andrew, actor Hugh Grant, ex-Scotland rugby captain Gavin Hastings, Millennium Dome supremo PY Gerbeau and TV sports presenters John Inverdale and Dougie Donnelly - who introduced his pal to Sterling Furniture heiress Gaynor.

Passing boats on the loch stopped to watch and Monty waved at well-wishers.

Monty's other children, Ventia, 12, and Cameron, 10, were joined by widow Gaynor's four children from her marriage to furniture tycoon George Knowles Jnr, who died aged 41 in 2003.

Monty said on his website before the big day: "This weekend Gaynor and I get married.

"We'll be in Scotland for the big day and are really looking forward to it. All seven children will be involved.

"And to have our family and friends with us is going to make it a very special day."

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