Cheryl and Ashley in showbiz wedding of the year

Cheryl Tweedy and Ashley Cole tie the knot today in the showbiz wedding of the year.

The Girls Aloud star will say “I do” to the England footballer in a romantic ceremony at Highclere Castle in Berkshire, England.

Her bandmates – Derry's Nadine Coyle, Kimberley Walsh, Nicola Roberts and Sarah Harding – are thought to be bridesmaids.

A year ago Tweedy, 23, said: “We’re not going to do a mag deal. We just want it to be a quiet affair with everyone we love there. I’ve decided I’m going to give a wedding picture to everyone as a thank you for all the support I’ve had.”

But the Geordie singer has had a change of heart - she and Cole, 25, have signed an exclusive deal with OK! Magazine said to be netting them £1m (€1.4m).

Sources say she may have been influenced by new best friend Victoria Beckham, whose wedding was also featured in OK!

Tweedy enjoyed a last night of freedom on Thursday when she hit the town for her hen night.

Her fellow Girls Aloud members – and their mums – partied at celebrity hangout Umbaba in London's West End.

They downed bottles of Lauren Perrier pink champagne and ran up a bar bill of £742 (€1,000).

Band member Kimberley Walsh kindly picked up the tab.

Looking a little worse for wear, Tweedy stumbled out of the club at 2.30am - giving her just 30 hours to recover in time for her big day.