Greg Norman, Chris Evert Move Wedding To New Secluded Location For Privacy
Greg Norman and Chris Evert are so determined to keep their weekend wedding in the Bahamas private, they’ve moved the venue from the beachfront to a more secluded area on exclusive Paradise Island.
The Australian golfing great and the American tennis legend were expected to hold a sunset ceremony on Saturday on the private beach fronting the famous One and Only Ocean Club hotel, which features in a recent James Bond movie.
But the couple, who have reportedly sold the rights to the wedding, switched to the nearby fenced off Blue Shark Golf Club when it became apparent there would be major media interest, particularly from Norman’s native Australia, the Palm Beach Post reported today.
“It’s a lot more private,” a guest, who asked to remain anonymous, told the paper, based in the Florida city of Palm Beach where Norman and Evert live.
Bad weather is also forecast for Saturday afternoon.
Representatives of the Nine Network and News Ltd newspapers have already had run-ins with Paradise Island security, who threatened to detain them and warned against taking any pictures. Media has also been banned from the local, public, beach.
Norman and Evert, both 53, are checked into the Ocean Club hotel, which Norman is believed to have booked out for the big event.
About 100 guests have started to arrive, and one guest told the Palm Beach Post that they’ll be treated to rounds of golf with Norman, tennis with Evert and spa treatments.
The guest list is believed to include former US presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush senior, Martina Navratilova, singers Gwen Stefani and Kenny Loggins, and comedian Chevy Chase, and US Today show host Matt Lauer.
But the Post says it’s understood that President Bush snr is at his holiday home in the northern US state of Maine and will not be attending.
Norman’s son Gregory, 22, will be his best man while Evert’s sister Clare Evert-Shane will be her maid of honour. Norman’s daughter Morgan-Leigh and Evert’s three sons will also be there.
But two people who won’t be attending are Norman’s ex-wife Laura Andrassy and Evert’s second ex-husband Andy Mill.
“I’m bummed out because I’ve been waiting for a phone call to tell me whether I’d be the first-ever best man and bridesmaid at the same event. It hasn’t come yet,” a sarcastic Mill told the Palm Beach Post, referring to the fact that he and Evert were best friends with Norman and his former wife, Laura Andrassy.
Norman filed for divorce from Ms Andrassy after 25 years of marriage in June 2006. After fiery court proceedings and interviews in the press, Ms Andrassy reportedly collected $100 million ($107.34 million) in the divorce settlement.
British tennis player Chris Lloyd was Evert’s first husband. They divorced in 1987.
