Hefner to marry his 'runaway bride'

Twice-married Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and Crystal Harris are again taking steps towards the altar, more than a year after the centrefold cancelled their previous engagement and was branded a "runaway bride" in his magazine.

The couple obtained a marriage licence at a court in Beverly Hills yesterday.

Harris called off the couple's previous engagement in June 2011, prompting Playboy to affix "runaway bride" stickers to an issue introducing her as Mrs Hefner.

Celebrity website TMZ first reported the couple's licence and said they reunited earlier this year and planned to wed on New Year's Eve.

LA County Recorder public information officer Elizabeth Knox said the licence was valid for 90 days.