Joseph star Craig Chalmers to tie the knot
STAGE PALS TO WEAR KILTS OF MANY COLOURS
By Ron Moore, 15/08/2009
ANY Dream Will Do star Craig Chalmers is to wed his sweetheart - after taking her breath away with a spectacular proposal.
The romantic singer presented thrilled lover Jennifer Smith with a sparkling £4,000 diamond solitaire ring as they watched the sun set on a Mexican beach.
The loved-up pair will now tie the knot in Craig's home town of Edinburgh next September.
And he's inviting the whole cast of stage show Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat along - as long as they wear kilts.
Craig, 28, said: "Times like these only come once in your life so I gave it the full shebang. I was months in planning it.
"I organised a sunset cruise and arranged for us to come back to a private beach. Fire torches were set up, and a dining table.
"After we had champagne and lobster, the waiter brought out the ring and I popped the question."
Delighted Jennifer, 19, of Birmingham, added: "It was a total surprise. We were having dinner on the beach - it was so romantic, but Craig is always doing romantic things.
"The waiter brought out a silver salver and Craig asked me to close my eyes.
"When I opened them, I saw he had written, 'Jennifer I love you' in syrup around the edges. In the middle of the plate was a piece of chocolate cake - with a box in the middle.
"It was the most perfect moment of my life. It was beautiful. I cried with joy and we had a little dance on the beach."
Craig and Jennifer are planning a traditional ceremony at Edinburgh's plush Norton House Hotel next year.
But the musical star admits the big day will be tinged with sadness - after he lost his beloved mum earlier this year.
Doting Elizabeth was only 51 when she died from pneumonia after suffering liver problems.
But grieving Craig - who came fifth in the BBC's Any Dream Will Do in 2007 - is comforted by the knowledge she knew he was going to ask marketing executive Jennifer to marry him and had seen the stunning sparkler he proposed with.
He said: "I am really glad that my mum got to see the ring. She met Jennifer and really liked her.
"She was very happy for me and was delighted at the prospect of Jennifer and I getting married."
After tying the knot, Craig and Jennifer will start married life with a romantic honeymoon at Loch Lomond.
Craig said: "We have booked a nice wee lodge in a beautiful spot overlooking the water.
"Jennifer really wants to have a traditional Scottish wedding. She loves it in Scotland and is making sure all the men are in kilts.
"But I won't be singing - I'll let someone else do the entertaining for a change. There'll be enough pressure on me without having to worry about performing."
Craig - who once performed with all-male dance troupe G-Force before having a top ten hit with boyband No Reason - celebrates his second anniversary as Joseph lead next week.
And bosses are so pleased with his performance they have now signed him up until July 2010.
The singer is also busy recording a new album with Any Dream Will Do co-star Anthony Hansen. Craig said: "He and I get on great and work well together.
"The theme is classic movie songs and one of the numbers I'm singing is She's Like The Wind from the Patrick Swayze film Dirty Dancing. It's one of my favourite songs.
"Joseph has been a great opportunity and I want to build on its success - that's my dream."
© 2009 News Group Newspapers Ltd.