BBC News Online: Entertainment

Elton: The $800,000 wedding singer

James Packer, 32, tied the knot with model Jodie Meares in a private ceremony at the Packer family mansion in Sydney's exclusive Bellevue Hill suburb.

Sir Elton rehearsed for his performance with a collection of songs including "Can You Feel The Love Tonight," the theme from the film, "The Lion King."

Blues legend B B King was also among the performers for a wedding with a reported bill of around $10m.

Private ceremony

James Packer is chairman of Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd and heir to his father's media empire and reported $4bn fortune.

Meares, 27, wore a $20,000 white gown by New York-based Australian designer Richard Tyler.

"James Packer and Jodie Meares were married this afternoon in a private ceremony with their families in attendance," said a statement from the elder Packer's Nine Network TV station.

Among the couple's 750 wedding guests were News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch - a media rival of Packer senior - and his wife Wendi Deng.

The newly-weds' honeymoon destination is a guarded secret.

Champagne, sushi and Sir Elton

Sweeping in in cars and limousines with tinted windows, the guests enjoyed an evening of sushi, steak, Dom Perignon and Sir Elton.

In June this year the singer, with an estimated wealth of £160m, was reported to have asked a merchant bank to help him borrow £25m to pay off a large accumulation of debt in the UK and US.

A month later he was the subject of a health scare - and was admitted to hospital to have a heart pacemaker fitted.

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Internet Links

Hercules International - Elton John Fan Club

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