Their reception, on the Italian Riviera, was capped with a spectacular midnight firework display, reported to have cost in the region of £50,000. But the Manchester United footballer and his childhood sweetheart stayed away from photographers and reporters. Pictures from their wedding have been sold to OK! magazine - which is believed to have paid the couple £2.5m.

The assembled paparazzi scored an early victory with a snatched picture of the bride in her wedding dress, stepping off the yacht where she spent her last night as a single woman, shielded from the torrential rain by a large black umbrella.

Gianni Costa, the deputy mayor of Santa Margherita Ligure who conducted the wedding ceremony, seemed blissfully unaware of the couple's exclusive deal - and was happy to describe the union to journalists.

'Very beautiful'

He said the bride wore a white dress and pearls, while the groom wore a hazel-coloured suit with an open-necked shirt.

The white Marchesa wedding gown is believed to have cost £200,000.

"No rings were exchanged, and the ceremony was very simple, yet very beautiful," Mr Costa added.

"Everyone was very emotional and there were a few tears from everyone, especially the bride, but Wayne was very composed."

After the ceremony the couple - both 22 - were given a police escort in two cars with blacked-out windows for the short journey to the abbey of La Cervara.

The abbey, which has hosted three Popes and imprisoned a French king during its 650-year history, was the setting for the Rooneys' wedding reception. It climaxed with an eight-and-a-half-minute firework display, launched from a pontoon in the bay below the abbey.

"Glittering fountains of pink and green stars shimmered on the sea below," said BBC reporter Jane Prendergast.

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