Neighbours Golden Couple: Libby Kennedy and Drew Kirk

I Wanna Kiss the Bride

'Och aye, I do!'  Libby and Drew tie the knot in a romantic ceremony...

Goin' to the Chapel... Neighbours' on-again, off-again couple Drew and Libby finally get hitched - in Style!

In the television wedding of the year, Drew Kirk and Libby Kennedy finally make it to the altar in Neighbours.

The bride is resplendent in white, the groom wears a kilt and everyone has a smile on their face. It's the wedding Neighbours fans have waited three years for - and TV WEEK can reveal that Drew Kirk and Libby Kennedy make it to the altar without a hitch, although the occasion is a real tear-jerker!

For actors Kym Valentine (Libby) and Dan Paris (Drew), the long-awaited exchange of vows caps off a series of ups and downs for the popular characters. "It's what all the fans have been waiting for,' says Dan. 'Drew and Libby are meant for each other. It's taken them time to get their act together and they've had many setbacks, but once people see the wedding they'll realise it's been well worth the wait."

Happily, Libby's best friend Stephanie Scully (Carla Bonner) puts her own recent feelings for Drew aside and agrees to be bridesmaid. And viewers are in for another bonus with the arrival of Drew's colourful family, including his boisterous Uncle Fergus (Tommy Dysart). "It's a very romantic ceremony, especially because of the Scottish theme which ties in with Drew's ancestry," Kym says. "It looks as though their wedding is going to be hijacked by the family, but in the end it's perfect."

While there are no major dramas, there are a few interesting moments in the lead-up to the nuptials. "The night before, Drew's family get together with the Kennedys and they do the ritual eating of haggis," Dan explains. "I won't go into graphic detail, but haggis is the kind of dish that turns a lot of stomachs, including Drew's! Thankfully, he's all right by the next morning. You don't want to have food poisoning on your wedding day!"

With the sun shining, Libby travels to church in a vintage car with her father Dr Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher) and Steph at her side. Fashionably late, Libby walks down the aisle and marries the man of her dreams. "Libby and Drew are both ecstatic," Kym says. "It all goes to plan. There's never any doubt that they will say 'I do'. I had tears in my eyes. So did Alan and Jackie [Woodburne, who plays Kym's screen mum Susan]. My tears were real, but I don't know about theirs - they're such good actors!"

While Neighbours scriptwriters have saved viewers from any surprises at the altar, there are plenty at the reception. Scottish bagpipers are employed to entertain, but the biggest performance of the day comes from Drew himself. "Drew and his Uncle Fergus sing a traditional Scottish song," Dan says. "Drew's terrified, and so was I!"

Dan has been 'too afraid' to watch his efforts on video, but hopes viewers will get a laugh. He also confesses that the performance almost didn't happen! "When the writers asked me to sing, I had more than a few reservations," he says. "I'm no Celine Dion. I sing in the shower, and even then I don't get much positive feedback! I didn't want to ruin the episode by making a fool of myself. In the end, I had a bit of coaching and thought, 'Why not? I've taken all my gear off for Neighbours when we did the send-up of The Full Monty, so how much worse can this be?' It's certainly a wedding to remember."

Nerves and exhaustion aside, Kym and Dan agree that tying the knot is the highlight of their years in the Network Ten series - and there were moments when the wedding felt real. "Too real!" Kym admits. "For starters, Libby's dress is my dream dress - so if I ever get married for real, it will pale by comparison. [Melbourne designer] Shane McConnell did an amazing job, and I contributed one or two ideas, too. My mum Janey, my little sister Shayne and my manager Julie Torrance were also part of the gathering at the church, which added to the effect. My mum has always wanted me to get married, so she was overcome!"

Playing a screen groom was a new experience for Dan in more ways than you might think. "I've never been to a wedding, and I've only ever been in a church once before - when my father died," he says. "I had nothing to compare it to." He also felt a touch insecure about Drew's attire for the big occasion. "It's one thing to sing at a wedding, but another thing altogether to have to wear a dress!' Dan laughs. 'There was a lot of discussion as to whether or not I was wearing any underwear, but I'm not telling."

One thing Dan is happy to share is his thoughts on marrying in real life. "It's not likely," he says. "My partner Tanya and I don't see marriage as that important to our personal development. It's just not a big deal to us." And what about Kym? "Maybe one day," she teases. "I'd like it to be informal - but coming from a Maltese family, I doubt that will be the case. My mum will make it huge!"

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