5.4.2008

Australian cricketer Michael Clarke and his model wife-to-be Lara Bingle celebrated their engagement at a VIP party at the famous Luna Park on Friday night.

Sydney, Apr.5 : Australian cricketer Michael Clarke and his model wife-to-be Lara Bingle celebrated their engagement at a VIP party at the famous Luna Park on Friday night.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the happy couple knocked back champagne with 300 of their nearest and dearest, including Clarke's Aussie teammates and her fashionable friends.

Paid 135,000 dollars for the magazine rights to their two-part love story, it was only fitting the pair's accountant Anthony Bell played MC, toasting and roasting the bride and groom-to-be.

Guests included Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting and his wife Rhianna, New South Wales team mate Brett Lee and commentator Michael Slater, while the sparkle was added by social princesses Terry Biviano, and Laura Csortan.

Clark arrived first, without his bride-to-be, in an outfit cricketing legend Richie Benaud would have loved: a beige (or was it off white?) suit with a sharp black dress shirt.

The social extravaganza was expected to kick on into the wee hours, with private members bar, De Nom on Oxford Street, on notice to receive guests for an after-party.

Earlier in the day, Clarke arrived at the theme park to oversee preparations for the surprise party he arranged before jetting off to New York late last month where he proposed to his 20-year-old girlfriend.

Bingle was busy all day getting herself preened and polished, having her hair done at Raw salon in Darlinghurst, before trying to nail down a manicure in Double Bay.

On Wednesday the glamour couple, styling themselves as Australia's answer to Posh and Becks, spent up their magazine deal money at luxury store, Prada.

However not everyone was happy about the affair, with NSW cricket officials privately fuming over the timing of the party - on the same night as the team's Steve Waugh Medal presentation night.

The clash meant a number of players cancelled attending the prize night in favour of the glitzy invitation to party at Luna Park's function room, Crystal Palace.

Publishers of New Idea were also reportedly fuming after coughing up a six-figure sum for the story and exclusive access - only to read the details of the kiss-and-sell they'd paid for in The Daily Telegraph's coverage.

The magazine's new editor Mirella Cestaro was rumoured to be under pressure to roll back the big bucks she agreed to pay, after this week's edition, featuring the proposal, apparently flopped at the newsstand.

ANI

Courtesy - SNNI