Olivia hosts nephew's wedding in Malibu
Olivia Newton-John has described her Malibu home as a very happy home and there is no doubt shat it made a very romantic setting for a happy occasion - the wedding of het nephew Emerson and girlfriend Amy Leatherman.
Olivia is very close to the 25-year-old racing driver, son of her sister Rona, it was only natural that she should offer to throw her doors open for him. It might be the last time she adds a big party in the house, as the singer recently put it up for sale.
The happy couple, who met four years ago, took their vows on one of Olivia’s balconies just as the sun started to set on the horizon.
Amy wore a beautiful traditional white gown male by a local designer for the big day complemented by a stunning forty foot veil decorated with exquisite red rosebuds. Two little girls had their hands full carrying the train, while another two were gives the role of flower carriers.
When it came to her bridesmaids, Amy broke with tradition by dressing the threesome Olivia’s 12-year-old daughter Chloe, Amy’s sister Jill and her friend Kristin in sophisticated dark dresses. And taking a special place in the celebrations was Emerson and Amy’s two-year-old son Brin, who was smartly dressed in a little waistcoat and bow tie. He seemed to have just as much fun as his parents on their big day.
The civil ceremony, presided over by the Reverend Marlene Morris, included a short reading from Olivia. As Emerson and Amy exchanged traditional views, Amy visibly struggled in fight hack her tears! Two candles burned brightly throughout the service and, at the end, the couple lit a “unity” candle to symbolise the two flames coming together. Butterflies were also released into the air to symbolise the transformation and elevation of the couple’s love.
Once the ceremony was over and the sun had set, the wedding party made their way downstairs to the terrace garden outside Olivia’s environmentally friendly, adobe-style mansion. There, amidst fairy lights and against a backdrop of crashing waves from the ocean below, they sat and enjoy dinner - a healthy selection of grilled vegetables salads and chicken.
Among the 60 guests was actress Jane Seymour, whose twin sons are the same age as the newlyweds son Brin and regularly play with him. But Olivia’s new boyfriend, TV cameraman Patrick McDermon was unable to attend.
Only two family members made speeches - Amy’s father and Emerson’s father Jeff Conway, Jeff had played Kenickie in the 1978 film of Grease that shot Olivia to fame and he fell for Olivia’s sister Rona when she visited the set one day.
When it came to the cutting of the cake, things get a little out of hand. The three tiered chocolate cake covered in white icing and made with real and white roses was in good shape until the newlyweds cut the first slice. But then they got a bit carried away and turned the time honoured ritual into a food fight. It was a funny but foolish moment, as both became so covered in chocolate cake that they had to retreat upstairs to clean up and change.
Once the mayhem was over, the guests took to the dance floor. Most of the guests departed for home in the early hours of the morning, but Amy, Emerson and young cousin Chloe were still dancing away to Seventies disco music.
The joyous occasion formed a perfect send-off for the house, which is now on the market. It was at this clifftop villa, partly designed by the 51-year-old singer’s former husband Matt Lattanzi, that Olivia began her recovery from breast cancer five years ago.
But she will be able to leave it with some very happy recent memories.
Report Rosalind Powell. Photos Michelle Day
Photo captions:
Emerson and Amy, both 24, have known each other for four years. The veil girls Rebecca and Candice, flower girls Melissa and Caroline and the couple’s two-year-old son Brin stand in front of Olivia Newton-John and daughter Chloe, the bride’s sister Jill, the happy couple, and their friends Rainer Negri and Kristin Jordan. (above right).
Olivia gives a reading during the service as the sun goes down (right)
Wearing matching necklaces are Olivia with her sister Rona, a scriptwriter and mother of the groom (far right)
Olivia shares a hug with Jane Seymour (left)
Amy joins Emerson and his parents Rona Newton-John and Jeff Conaway, who played Kenickie in Grease (below left).
Olivia (below, sister Rona (below right) and other guests release butteries
Olivia grabs an armful of children - her 12-year-old daughter Chloe, from her marriage to Matt Lattanzi, and her two-year-old great-nephew Brin (above).
Wearing a sophisticated dark dress, Chloe looked thrilled to be a bridesmaid and her dark red butterfly necklace was very much in keeping with the spirit of the occasion. So were the bubbles that she blew with a little help from her mother and the bride (right)