Friday, July 3, 2009

Congratulations Kendra and Hank!

Call her the princess next door. Wearing a white R-Mine dress with a bodice bedecked with thousands of crystals, Kendra Wilkinson shimmered down the aisle for her wedding Saturday evening to pro football player Hank Baskett on the front lawn of the Playboy Mansion, sources tell PEOPLE. (Yes, the story is from People, and the photo is from US Magazine!)

After reciting traditional vows before non-denominational minister Chris Robinson, the star of The Girls Next Door spin-off Kendra, had Baskett place a third ring on her wedding finger – to go with her engagement ring and another ring he had given her earlier for their baby on the way. It was so romantic that guests didn't even notice E!'s cameras filming everything for her new show. The ceremony took place before 300 guests, including Wilkinson's Girls Next Door costars Bridget Marquardt and Holly Madison – both members of her seven-woman bridal party – along with Baskett's teammates from the Philadelphia Eagles and celebrity guest Jon Lovitz.

After Wilkinson approached L.A.'s Bridal Bar looking for vendors, wedding planner Nicole Hirsty of Cobalt Events helped arrange a wedding in nearly all white with splashes of lavender.

Lavender and White
Surrounded by white and lavender roses and orchids from L.A. Premier florist, Baskett wore a white tuxedo by Sy Devore with a lavender tie. His groomsmen also had white Devore tuxes, while Wilkinson's white dress was contrasted by her bridesmaids lavender gowns. The bridal party had bouquets of white roses with touches of lavender while the groomsmen wore lavender boutineers.

At the last minute, Wilkinson's dress was let out slightly to
accommodate her pregnancy, and at the altar she had her blond hair in soft curls and half down. Wilkinson was walked down the aisle by her brother Colin, who gave her away, and her mother walked down the aisle with Wilkinson's grandmother. Baskett's brother Randy Curtis served as best man, and the flower girl was Lilly Hart, the daughter of family friend Clinton Hart, who plays for the San Diego Chargers.
Playboy CatererWilkinson's former boyfriend, Hugh Hefner, watched the ceremony from the second row and had the second dance to a song from Casablanca on the pure white dance floor from Tabella Linens of West Hollywood under a tent in the mansion's sprawling back yard. Baskett had the first dance with his new bride, to a tune from George Strait.

At the reception, guests dined on a banquet dinner from Playboy's in-house caterer and a Fantasy Frostings wedding cake with the bride and groom's monograms. The deejay kept everyone dancing until midnight, and not even the hum of distant paparazzi helicopters could spoil the mood. On Sunday, the newlyweds – Wilkinson in a tank top that read "high maintenance bride" – were snapped getting through security at LAX, before hopping a flight to St. Lucia for their nine-day honeymoon.

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