Kiwi singer invites fans to her wedding

DOMINION POST

HAPPY COUPLE: Christchurch singer Yulia Townsend and manager Glyn MacLean cuddle up in Wellington yesterday. The pop- classical artist will be walking up the aisle within the next two months.

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The closest most people get to a celebrity wedding is poring over the photos in women's magazines.

Fans of pop and classical singer Yulia Townsend are being given the chance to be there when she walks down the aisle.

Russian-born Townsend, 22, is to marry her Wellington manager, Glyn MacLean, 39, on February 10 in Christchurch.

The wedding will be held in the great hall at the Christchurch Arts Centre, which can seat about 260 guests.

Townsend, whose debut album Into the West went platinum after its release in 2004, hopes to invite several performers and celebrities, including Sir Howard Morrison, Bic Runga, Hayley Westenra, Dame Malvina Major and Dave Dobbyn.

But the singer has also extended the invitation to those members of public "who consider themselves a friend or special fan".

Mr MacLean said the numbers would be limited and they must be genuine fans of the singer.

"They should say why they think they should come along and a little about themselves," he said.

"We will screen them as we have already had a few `fruit cases', as it were, who contacted us."

There were fans, "probably people in the 40-plus demographic, who we'd be more happy to have along", he said.

Would-be wedding guests have to make their request by e-mailing submissions@kol.co.nz

Mr MacLean said Townsend would sing at the wedding. New singer Nadine, who recently signed with record label EMI, will sing I Love You, written by Mr MacLean, as his bride walks up the aisle.

The couple announced their engagement two weeks ago.

They plan to honeymoon in Fiji.