Fairytale wedding for Liu Xiaoqing

Fairytale wedding for Liu Xiaoqing

BEIJING - You are never too old to be a blushing bride and walk down the aisle in a romantic church ceremony - especially when you are actress Liu Xiaoqing.

The 57-year-old exchanged vows with her 71-year-old groom at Valley Presbyterian Church, San Francisco, on Tuesday, days after announcing that they had registered their marriage last year, said Chinese website NetEase.

After the announcement, she posted a message on Weibo: "Do things you like. Love lovable people," with a photo of herself with a diamond ring. Her husband, furniture tycoon William Wang Xiaoyu, is from Anhui province in eastern China.

He made his fortune in Hong Kong and has factories in Guangdong, Zhejiang and other provinces, said NetEase.

Public records show she holds shares in his furniture chain, added the report. In addition, he is said to have transferred two mansions in Hong Kong and the United States to her.

The businessman is said to have wooed the actress for 20 years, never giving up hope through her other relationships, reported NetEase. They dated despite objections from his adult children and she visited him in the US for more than 20 days at a time.

This is said to be his third marriage and her fourth, reported Taiwan Apple Daily.

NetEase said Mr Wang insisted on having the church ceremony on their first wedding anniversary, as a sign of his love for her.

Addressing her by her Chinese and English names at the altar, he said: "Xiaoqing, my dear Livia, after many years of anticipation and admiration, I am finally able to hold your hand with Christ's blessing today."

He added: "If man lives eternally in heaven, then the partner I will spend eternity in heaven with is bound to be you, my beloved Livia."

She said he had known, loved and respected her for many years, and given her "concern, tolerance, trust and hope".

She would "bravely" go on the journey of marriage with him, she added.

NetEase said the wedding was open to family and close friends only, and some guests did not know they had flown to the US for it.

The ceremony, which moved the guests to tears, was followed by a banquet in a hotel that evening.


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