Madonna Marrying Film Director

DORNOCH, Scotland (AP) â€” Reversing the formula that made her an international star, Madonna commanded maximum attention with the most minimal exposure on her wedding day. <br><br>Madonna was set to marry

Friday, December 22nd 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DORNOCH, Scotland (AP) â€” Reversing the formula that made her an international star, Madonna commanded maximum attention with the most minimal exposure on her wedding day.

Madonna was set to marry British film director Guy Ritchie on Friday in a strictly private ceremony, and it was only Friday morning that a waiting world got a first hint of the dress she would wear to the altar.

A midafternoon sighting of Sting, wearing a kilt and gliding through the gates of Dornoch Castle in a limousine, was the first signal to assembled photographers and reporters that the rites apparently were soon to begin.

Madonna's people continued to say absolutely nothing about the wedding, but a few details emerged from proud business connections.

London jeweler Susy Lauder said that the singer had chosen an antique French bracelet studded with 19 carats of diamonds because it was ``in keeping with the gothic style wedding dress Madonna is going to wear.''

It wasn't clear whether the bracelet was something old or merely something borrowed from Moira, the Bond Street Jewelers.

But Lauder, whose family runs the business, did disclose that the $72,000 bracelet was actually selected by Stella McCartney. McCartney, daughter of ex-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney and reportedly the designer of Madonna's wedding dress, accompanied Madonna on the shopping trip.

The Alfred Dunhill company announced that Ritchie would wear a lovat green jacket of Shetland tweed with matching tie and socks and a plain white cotton shirt with a 1930s-style straight collar. The ensemble was expected to include a Mackintosh tartan kilt â€” the garment that has fascinated the tabloids and caused fevered speculation about whether he would follow the Scots tradition of spurning underpants.

The wedding came a day after Madonna, 42, and Ritchie, 32, brought their 4-month-old son Rocco to Dornoch Cathedral to be baptized, to the delight of several hundred local people who joined the media crush outside.

Private security men were on hand to make sure no one got close to the happy couple or to celebrity guests including Gwyneth Paltrow, Sting and Rupert Everett.

But something went awry with the security inside the church: Police said an unemployed 51-year-old man from southern England was discovered in the building after the ceremony and was arrested. Police said the man did not disturb the christening and was not considered to be a stalker.

A second man, a 33-year-old, was arrested early Friday morning, but police again gave no details of the charges. Neither suspect was working for the media, police said.

Friday's wedding was expected to be held inside Skibo Castle, steel baron Andrew Carnegie's imposing vacation home. Press Association, the British news agency, forlornly notified its subscribers on Friday that it wouldn't be allowed inside.

``We will only be transmitting pictures of the actual wedding in the unlikely event of any being made available to us,'' the agency said.

Thursday was the big photo opportunity. The crowds got only a brief glimpse of the happy couple and son as they entered and then left the cathedral, but people went away happy.

``Pipe bands greeted the queen and the queen mother when they visited us and a few people turned out. But everybody appeared to see this woman Madonna,'' said guesthouse owner Jim Matheson. ``She had them all in the palm of her hand.''

``I was hanging on to a fence on my tiptoes for two hours. My feet are killing me, but it was worth it,'' said Margaret Wilson, 47. ``Rocco was just a small wee bundle, and Madonna, such a lovely wee lady.''

Discarding the provocative style of her musical performances, Madonna appeared in the role of a proper mum of two small children, bundled up in a long double-breasted cream coat and her hair topped with a veil.

``My mission since I was small has been to see Madonna,'' said a delighted Elizabeth Gwinne, 28. ``Now I'm off to celebrate with an extra large portion of fish and chips â€” with extra salt and vinegar!''

As the commotion grew, some here feared the town would struggle to come back down to earth again after the stars depart.

``Och! It's all going to fall a little flat after the weekend,'' said Matheson's wife, Rose. ``It's just as well Christmas is approaching. That should keep spirits high.''