LOUISVILLE — Former Miss America Heather Renee French married Lt. Gov. Steve Henry in a lavish ceremony Friday night that was the social event of the year in Kentucky.

        About 1,200 guests, from politicians to beauty queens, gathered inside the historic Cathedral of the Assumption in downtown Louisville for the nearly hour-long ceremony, broadcast live on local television stations.

Heather French shows her ring off to the crowd following her marriage to Lt. Gov. Steve Henry as they leave the church. (Associated Press photo) | ZOOM |

        The crowd gasped, camera flashes blinked and Mr. Henry became emotional as Ms. French, 25, strode down the aisle in a white, strapless wedding gown and a $1 million diamond tiara once worn by Princess Diana.

        Ms. French's father, Ron French, patted Mr. Henry on the back as he unclasped hands with his daughter and took his seat next to his wife.

        The ceremony had a strong religious theme, as the bride and groom's pastors spoke of their commitment to each other.

        Mr. Henry's pastor, Dave Stone of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, said Mr. Henry entered politics wanting to serve others. He urged him to take the same approach to his marriage.

        "The same thing that makes you a success in politics will make you successful in marriage,” Mr. Stone told the second-term lieutenant governor.

        Ms. French's pastor, the Rev. Byron Z. Mills of the Church of the Redeemed in her hometown of Maysville, said she learned about commitment from her father's military service and her small-town roots.

        "Maysville is about relationships and family,” he said.

        Ron French is a Vietnam veteran whose military service inspired his daughter to become a champion of veterans' issues during her reign as Miss America, which ended this month.

        Mr. Henry, 47, a Democrat, recruited two of his political allies to read Biblical passages in the service — Gov. Paul Patton, whom he likely will try to succeed in 2003, and state Sen. David Karem of Louisville. Gov. Patton and his wife sat behind Mr. Henry's mother, Wanda Harper Henry of Owensboro.

        Mr. Henry committed a small faux pas when he leaned toward Ms. French to kiss her before the appointed time. "Not yet. You can't until I let you,” Rev. Mills told Mr. Henry as the audience laughed.

        A short time later, the couple was pronounced husband and wife, and Mr. Henry gave his bride a long kiss, caressed her cheeks and whispered into her ear. She kissed him back. The couple was introduced as "Lieutenant Governor and Mrs. Steve Henry,” and the audience applauded.

        Two bagpipers and a drummer entered the cathedral, marched to the front and led the couple out. It was a touch that Mr. Henry wanted. As the couple walked down the aisle arm-in-arm, Mr. Henry leaned over and kissed his mother and then briefly spoke to Gov. Patton.

        Ms. French later confided that her husband had whispered that she looked beautiful. Both beamed as they talked about the ceremony to reporters moments after it ended.

        "I think the whole ceremony went beautifully,” she said.

        Ms. French said that everything about the ceremony, down to the musical selections, symbolized the couple's feelings about each other and the seriousness of their vows.

        "I want people to know how much Stephen and I appreciate each other and love each other,” she said. "It has nothing to do with titles, it has nothing to do with the crown, but it has everything to do with us.”

        The couple chose music by English composer John Rutter, performed by a string quartet from the University of Louisville and a cathedral choir ensemble.

        Ms. French's sister, Gretchen Moody of Bowling Green, was matron of honor. The best man was Ed Tillett, who like Mr. Henry is a Louisville physician. Guests included several of Ms. French's one-time rivals for Miss America.

        The bagpipers led the newly married couple to a carriage for a short ride to the reception at the Seelbach Hotel. The couple chose the Glenn Miller tune "At Last” for their first dance as husband and wife.

        The seven-tiered, 58-inch-tall wedding cake was topped by a miniature castle. The groom's cake was shaped like the Old Governor's Mansion, now official residence of the lieutenant governor, where the couple will live.

        Nick Clooney, a native of the Maysville area and a host on the American Movie Classics channel, emceed the couple's reception.

        Mr. Henry becomes Kentucky's first lieutenant governor to wed while in office. The first Kentucky governor to do so was Gov. J.C.W. Bechham, who married in November 1900.

        Ms. French follows in the footsteps of another former Miss America who married a Kentucky politician. Phyllis George married John Y. Brown Jr., who later was elected Kentucky governor. The couple is now divorced.

        Mr. Henry, an Owensboro native, is an orthopedic surgeon. He was a Jefferson County commissioner before his election as lieutenant governor in 1995. He was re-elected in 1999, becoming Kentucky's first lieutenant governor elected to two consecutive terms.

        Ms. French has a bachelor's degree in fashion design from the University of Cincinnati.
       She switched her party registration from Republican to Democrat soon after she and Mr. Henry began dating.

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