Exclusive By Will Mapplebeck, The Journal
Like most couples, Graham and Andrea Wylie have that special song. "Their
tune".
They wanted Ronan Keating's When You Say Nothing At All - the theme song to the
Hugh Grant movie Notting Hill - played at their wedding.
But Mr Wylie, 42, who is one of the richest men in the North-East, went one
better.
He hired the former Boyzone star for just one night to sing live to his new
bride, 30, and assembled guests at what is being called the North-East's wedding
of the decade. It was held at Slaley Hall, near Hexham, Northumberland on
Saturday evening.
There were gasps of surprise as a curtain wall at one end of a marquee was drawn
back to reveal musicians, a band . . . and Ronan Keating.
The reason behind the special song is that Notting Hill is the film the couple
saw on their first date in 1999.
Mr Wylie, 42, who co-founded accountancy software company Sage and has a
personal fortune of around £100m, kept the star's appearance a closely guarded
secret from the 250 guests.
But it wasn't the only spectacular surprise of the night.
The gathering was also treated to a 10-minute firework display and live opera.
There were also ice sculptures plus a nine-tier, 300 portion cake. Guests sipped
champagne from flutes designed by Jasper Conran.
The happy couple and their guests, including Newcastle United captain Alan
Shearer and his manager Sir Bobby Robson, effectively took over the luxury hotel
for the weekend.
The Kielder Suite, where the ceremony took place, was transformed into an
opulent garden featuring lilies, cream roses, birch trees and ivy.
The cabaret also included The Drifters and an 11-piece orchestra playing Glenn
Miller standards.
The event was put together by Andrew Chance and his team, who organised David
and Victoria Beckham's World Cup party.
He said: "It was one of the best, if not the best, wedding I have ever
organised.
"It went smoothly from start to finish and it was certainly one of the
happiest."
The couple, believed to be honeymooning on the Continent, were reported to be
absolutely thrilled at how their big day had turned out.
How everything was left to Chance
The Wylie wedding plan was a 30-page document that covered everything from the
canapes to the security guards.
Produced by London-based company The Chance Organisation, it details an
extravaganza rarely witnessed in the North.
A whole section was dedicated to the Wylie wedding cake . . . made up of 150
individual lemon cakes covered in white chocolate.
Staff had to wear 50 ivory and gold Nehru jackets
The plan also listed 270 Venetian pink champagne glasses with a green stem for
use during the reception, 70 white ashtrays, and 70 white and gold butter
dishes.
Wines drunk included Laurent Perrier Rose and Chateau d'Agassac Cru Bourgeois
Haut-Medoc 1997.
Catering was overseen by world-class chef Albert Roux