Bargain Hunters Miss Wedding of the Year
The Oxford Star 2 January 1986

author: Steve Falla

Bargain-hunting shoppers flocking to Oxford's sales didn't spot the wedding of 1985 which took place under their noses.

Duran Duran were in Oxford to witness lead singer Simon Le Bon's hush-hush wedding to Oxford model Yasmin Parvaneh at the Westgate registry office.

Simon, 27, and Yasmin, 21, were driven to the centre of Oxford and dropped off at the Westgate car park last Friday morning.  They crept into the centre unnoticed via a back route.

And the rest of Duran Duran, with the exception of John Taylor, were with them.

Then the party moved on to The Bear Hotel, Woodstock, for a champagne reception.

If Yasmin is expecting Simon's baby, as suggested in newspaper reports, it's news to her mum, Mrs Pat Parvaneh, of Banbury Road, Oxford.  She told the Oxford Star: "We don't know for it to be true at the moment, but if Yassie comes back and tells us that it is we will be very happy."

The famous couple thought of marrying last July, but decided to wait.  Then weeks ago Yasmin announced that she had given up her glittering modelling career to be with Simon.

They were staying with Yasmin's parents for Christmas and went along to the Westgate office on Christmas Eve to book the wedding.  "The whole idea came about because Simon wanted to get married to her before he went on Drum again," Mrs Parvaneh said.

Simon was plucked to safety after his million pound yacht Drum capsized in the Fastnet race last August.

"He was in the country for a few days and obviously it had to be within those few days."

The 11.30 ceremony was slightly delayed by car parking problems but the wedding went off smoothly with the two fathers witnessing the marriage.  Simon was registered as a musician and a Chelsea address was given.  Yasmin gave her parents' address.

Both Yasmin's parents are photographers and there was no shortage of pictures of the happy day.  The couple want the photographs to be kept as a personal family collection and not for publication.

Yasmin's mum said that about 50 guests went to the reception at The Bear Hotel, Woodstock.  John Taylor was the only member of Duran Duran missing, because it was arranged at such late notice.

Hotel manager Mr Jean-François Piery said: "It was fantastic.  They are very nice people."

The four-hour party was informal but guests enjoyed a set meal of smoked salmon, champagne sorbet and roast lamb with Christmas crackers to add to the fun.  Simon ordered £31-a-bottle champagne to wash it down.

Afterwards the couple slipped off quietly to honeymoon in France.