Madonna boosts weddings

DORNOCH is becoming the wedding capital of the north following the marriage of the pop idol Madonna in the district last December.

When the motor racing star Dario Franchitti marries the Hollywood actress Ashley Judd at Skibo Castle today, it will be the 67th wedding in the area this year - there were 32 in 2000.

Residents believe the surge in weddings is a direct result of the "Madonna factor" - describing the boost to Dornoch’s global profile from the star’s wedding to the film director Guy Ritchie at Skibo a year ago on 22 December - and the christening of their son, Rocco, the previous day at Dornoch Cathedral.

Lesley Conner, who was appointed registrar to the district in 1999, said: "I would say this is the most weddings Dornoch has seen in one year, certainly far more than ever before since I arrived here.

"I don’t think it’s a case of Madonna’s fans coming here. Dornoch was put on the world map by Madonna’s wedding."

The Dornoch Castle Hotel said it had received more than 450 inquiries from people considering marrying in the town.

There is still a long way to go to catch up with Scotland’s wedding capital, Gretna Green, however. The famous site hosts up to 60 weddings on St Valentine’s Day alone.

Last night, it was reported that Dario Franchitti, whose family is from West Lothian, crashed a golf buggy on his stag night. A source at the estate said the 28-year-old suffered a cut to the left side of his face when he went down an embankment during a race with friends.