Wedding joy ends Kennedy's tough week

Politics may have been their first love. But when Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy married his long-term sweetheart Sarah Gurling yesterday, the cut-and-thrust of Westminster life was clearly going to have to take a back seat – for a few weeks at least.

The couple, who met five years ago, married before a congregation of 150 people, including the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, at the House of Commons crypt. Scotsman Mr Kennedy shunned the traditional kilt in favour of a charcoal grey suit and red and gold tie while his bride wore a full length off-the-shoulder dress in white duchesse satin and a specially designed silk shrug.

But the pair were piped in to the "Skye Boat Song" and Mr Kennedy and his best man, Lib Dem campaigns organiser Lord Razzall, wore buttonholes made from an English rose and a Scottish thistle.

The new Mrs Kennedy, who was attended by three bridesmaids in red silk – two friends from university and a party friend – emerged from the hour-long service and declared herself "so happy" as she and her husband posed for pictures.

The wedding was a happier end to a week in which Mr Kennedy was forced to rebut suggestions that he drank too much in an embarrassing interview with Newsnight's Jeremy Paxman.

Mrs Kennedy had said earlier that his public image was evidence of "just a fun life really", though she admitted to being a "steadying influence" on her partner.

Perhaps that was why 32-year-old Sarah, head of government relations at lottery operator Camelot, chose not to "obey" her 42-year-old husband.

The couple, following a reception in Westminster Hall and a private dining room at the House of Commons, jetted off for their honeymoon last night in an undisclosed location in the Far East.