McCartney and Shevell arrive for wedding

Paul McCartney and American heiress Nancy Shevell smiled and waved as they arrived at a register office for their wedding today.

The couple spent around a minute posing for photographers after arriving at The Old Marylebone Town Hall in London shortly after 3.25pm.

The 69-year-old former Beatle wore a dark suit with a white shirt and pale blue tie while his bride chose a long-sleeved white dress for the ceremony.

McCartney's former band mate Ringo Starr posed for photographs and made a peace sign as he arrived at the register office.

McCartney and his bride left the north London home for the ceremony at around 3.05pm.

They smiled widely as Nancy, wearing a white flower in her hair, got into the back seat of the car to sit alongside a young bridesmaid dressed in pink.

Both clutched small bouquets of flowers.

McCartney got into the passenger seat, waved and blew a kiss to the dozens of fans waiting by the entrance to the driveway.

Members of the press scrambled to get the first glimpse of Nancy's dress and to take pictures of her and the former Beatle.

A black Mercedes saloon car left a few minutes before with three women inside, believed to be members of Nancy's family.

McCartney and Nancy broke tradition by spending the morning of the wedding together.

They were first seen when they left the house looking relaxed and in casual clothes shortly after 11.30am.

They are thought to have gone to the gym at nearby Lord's Cricket Ground.

Nancy beamed as she walked to the same chauffeur-driven red Lexus saloon car that took them to the ceremony, wearing Aviator-style sunglasses and a blue rain coat.

The music legend joined her on the back seat in a black fleece jacket.

Fans and journalists took pictures of the couple.

Vans delivering supplies such as temporary carpets, candles and an entertainment system arrived shortly after the couple left.

Around an hour later the pair returned and McCartney waved and smiled out of the window as the car pulled back into the drive.

A make-up artist and hair stylist are thought to have gone into the house shortly after.

Caterers and other staff ferried items into the house all afternoon.