When lead singer Natalie Maines and beau Adrian Pasdar said their "I dos" June 24 at a Vegas wedding chapel, it seemed like a spur-of-the-moment decision.
But it wasn't.
"We planned it for two weeks," reveals Natalie. "My parents knew because Adrian asked for my hand. And his parents knew. Emily and Martie knew a few days in advance. Hardly anyone else did, until right before the ceremony."
Natalie's stylist helped her get ready Adrian's ring and a one-of-a-kind vintage champagne-tinted gown of Austrian crystals, designed by Giorgia di Saint Angelo. "It had a hood and was very 1930s Hollywood," explains Natalie. "It weighed 18 pounds!"
Following the Chicks' show at the Thomas and Mack arena, the couple went to the famous A Little White Wedding Chapel on the Vegas strip.
Pastor Ann married them in a simple $55 ceremony, the least expensive no-frills package offered, which includes use of the chapel, candle-light service, traditional music and the minister. The groom wore a steel gray Prada suit with a black, ruffled Gucci shirt.
Despite the quickie wedding, "Adrian and I took our vows very seriously," confides Natalie, who met the actor at bandmate Emily's May 1999 wedding to singer/songwriter Charlie Robison. "The service we had was very romantic. We made our wedding just about me and him. We wanted our vows to be heard only by each other."
After the ceremony, the happy couple bought matching chapel T-shirts with purple hearts. They then joined Emily and fellow band member Martie Seidel, along with the crew and the Fly tour entourage, for a couple hours of gambling at Mandalay Bay Casino before heading to Salt Lake City for the next tour stop.
"We played blackjack and roulette - and amazingly we all won!" declares Natalie with a laugh. Emily was up $335, Martie $210 and the newlyweds racked up $740.
