Day for celebrity weddings

Kirsty Williams, bride of golf caddy Steve Williams, after their wedding ceremony at the River Mill, Waimauku. Picture / Brett Phibbs

It was a day for celebrity weddings yesterday as the world's most famous golf caddy and a former All Black married their partners on a sunny Auckland day.

Tiger Woods' caddy Steve Williams got hitched in true Westie style in Kumeu, with the bride arriving in a long-haul truck and the bridesmaids in a battered grey ute. In a more urban setting at St Marys Bay Chapel, TV and sports star Marc Ellis married long-time girlfriend Agustina Mon in a quiet private ceremony.

But it was the presence of the world's top golfer, Tiger Woods, which cast the spotlight on Williams' wedding. A couple of blasts on the truck's horn heralded bride Kirsty Millar's arrival at the sprawling River Mill function centre in Kumeu while earlier, family and friends had arrived in more conventional style by bus for the 3.30pm ceremony.

Clutching a bouquet of yellow roses, Ms Millar wore a long white gown with full veil while the bridesmaid's low-backed dresses were deep red.

Two members of the wedding party wore kilts but the groom and his best man, believed to be Woods, wore black shirts and grey pants.

A bagpiper played Amazing Grace as Ms Millar made her entrance for the ceremony. Afterwards, Woods could be seen cheering with the rest as the newlyweds were showered with red rose petals.

Only one neighbour was curious enough to wander by for a closer look, a middle-aged woman dressed in gumboots and cap. She did not want to be named but said the locals were impressed Mr Williams had chosen to get married at Kumeu.

"I really admire him, it's fantastic for the local area," she said.

But not everyone was happy. Williams' stepmother Michelle said her husband John, Steve's father, had not attended because she and her 13-year-old daughter were not invited.

Meanwhile, in a somewhat bizarre and strangely secretive ceremony, Ellis ducked photographers and press and Ms Mon was shielded by a white cloak and umbrellas.

The measures are often seen when celebrities sell their weddings to women's magazines - but in this case, no deal was done. Ellis greeted guests, including former All Blacks and Otago team mates Aaron Pene, John Timu, Stu Forster and Jamie Joseph. Ms Mon's dress was white, fringed with feathers and her hair held back by a white headband. Ellis wore a morning suit, with a wide blue-speckled tie over wing-tip collars.

Guests gathered after at the Hyatt, for the reception.

Hit reggae band Katchafire were to play for guests.