Evans and Piper beginning married life
DJ Chris Evans and singer Billie Piper were enjoying their honeymoon today after surprising pals by marrying in a hush-hush £200 Las Vegas ceremony.
The 35-year-old millionaire Virgin Radio DJ and his 18-year-old bride married on Sunday evening with just a handful of people watching.
They had been planning to tie the knot in around four months’ time but, unusually for Evans, he decided to avoid publicity and opted for the low-key approach.
The couple had been on holiday in Palm Springs.
Evans’s DJ pal Danny Baker, a scriptwriter for his shows, was best man at the ceremony and flew out specially for the bash at the Little Church of the West.
It is the same venue where the ill-fated unions of Noel Gallagher and Meg Mathews and Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford took place.
News of the marriage was confirmed on air by Virgin DJ Nick Abbot yesterday.
A spokeswoman for the station said: ‘‘Virgin Radio knew of their intention to marry last week but we were sworn to secrecy.
‘‘We wish Chris and Billie every happiness and look forward to celebrating with them when Chris returns to the breakfast show next Monday.
‘‘The ceremony took place in Las Vegas with close friends in attendance.
The ‘‘quickie’’ ceremony on the Las Vegas strip was conducted by a local minister, the Rev James Hamilton.
Church manager Greg Smith said the couple looked ‘‘ecstatic’’ as they exchanged vows in a ‘‘traditional ceremony’’ in front of six guests.
‘‘They both looked very happy together. They had six guests including Danny Baker, who was their best man.’’
Evans was wearing striped trousers and a green shirt, Mr Smith added, while Billie looked ‘‘radiant’’ in a pink sarong and white cotton blouse.
They opted for a £200 wedding, which included live music played by a church organist, a set of glossy photos and a service by a minister.
The price also included a teardrop rose bouquet for the bride and buttonhole for the groom.
Others to marry at the same church have included Zsa Zsa Gabor, Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Telly Savalas and Dudley Moore.
The cost of a wedding starts at 65 dollars (£45) for the hire of the church, with other options available, including an audio tape of the ceremony at 10 dollars (£7), a garter for the bride at 7.50 dollars (£5) and the services of an organist for 30 dollars (£20).
The package which Evans and Piper opted for includes 10 glossy pictures, a video of the wedding with a five-minute history of the chapel, and a customised wedding certificate and holder.
Piper, who was only 15 when she had her first No 1 hit, Because We Want To, met Evans last May while appearing on his TV show TFI Friday.
At the time she was going through a painful break-up with Ritchie Neville of the hit boy band 5ive.
Romance blossomed after she went on his radio breakfast show in December to promote her single Walk Of Life. Since then the pair who are almost inseparable have been on numerous trips away and fun days out.
In the past Evans has been linked with actress Anna Friel and model Melanie Sykes.
He married DJ Carol McGiffin in 1991 before he became famous as one of the original presenters of Channel 4’s Big Breakfast, but they divorced in 1997.
He has a 12-year-old daughter, Jade, by former girlfriend Alison Ward.
