Kate Ties the Knot

She nearly got away with it... But when you're one of the hottest actresses in Britain, the chances of getting hitched in private are slim indeed and inevitably, as Titanic star, Kate Winslet , tied the knot in her local church this weekend, the world's press descended. Around 160 guests - including Kate's Sense and Sensibility co-star, Emma Thompson - gathered to watch the 23-year-old actress wed assistant director, Jim Threapleton, 25, in a low-key Anglican ceremony at the All Saints' Church in Reading, Berkshire. And, after the vows were made, instead of indulging in a lavish champagne and caviar reception, as one would expect from one of Hollywood's brightest stars, the couple opted for a bangers and mash knees-up in the local pub - the Crooked Billet in Stoke Row. Kate wore a cream tasselled gown by her favourite designer, Alexander McQueen, and an Asian-style tasselled headband and arrived - traditionally late, if only by ten minutes - in a Mercedes to join Jim at the alter, who had been ushered in earlier by a team of minders. The couple were married by Father John Mortiboys, who taught Kate and her sisters Beth, 19, and Anna, 26, at St Mary and All Saints' Church of England primary school in the town. Father Mortiboys divulged that no hymns were sung during the 30-minute service and the couple exchanged simple and plain wedding rings. He said: "They were trying to keep everything as secret as possible because you can imagine what it is like in the glare of the publicity all of the time. Since the success of Titanic the family have been under tremendous strain from the pressure of Kate's success." The bride's mum, Sally, had apparently bust a gut trying to keep the wedding a secret and throw the paparazzi off the scent, but word got out just before the event and a team of security guards had to be called in to keep gawpers and the media at a respectful distance. Despite the cat being let out of the bag, the couple seemed relaxed and happy, constantly kissing each other outside the church and cheerfully posing for photos. Kate did show her nerves once though: begging for a cigarette as she set off for her reception. Kate can currently be seen on UK cinema screens in her new movie Hideous Kinky, in which she plays a hippy mother who drops out.