It was the most anticipated social event of the year in Kentucky a lavish wedding of former Miss America Heather Renee French to Lt. Gov. Steve Henry. About 1,200 guests, from politicians to beauty queens, were expected for the ceremony Friday night inside the historic Cathedral of the Assumption in downtown Louisville. French, 25, chose a strapless white gown and a $1 million diamond tiara once worn by Princess Diana. Henry, 47, chose a black tailcoat, a white pleated shirt, white satin tie and white satin vest. The bride was to be escorted down the aisle by her father, Ron French, a Vietnam veteran whose military service inspired his daughter to become a champion of veterans issues during her year as Miss America. Henry, a Democrat, recruited two of his political allies as readers in the service Gov. Paul Patton, whom he likely will try to succeed in 2003, and state Sen. David Karem of Louisville. Henry and French had their own pastors presiding the Revs. David Stone, pastor of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, which is Henrys congregation, and Byron Z. Mills of the Church of the Redeemed in Maysville, Frenchs hometown. Frenchs sister, Gretchen Moody of Bowling Green, was matron of honor. The best man was Ed Tillett, who like Henry is a Louisville physician. Guests included several of Frenchs one-time rivals for Miss America. For their ceremony, the couple chose music by English composer John Rutter, performed by a string quartet accompanied by a cathedral choir ensemble. Bagpipers and drummers, a touch that Henry wanted, would lead the newly married couple to a carriage for a ride to the reception at the Seelbach Hotel. The couple chose the Glenn Miller tune At Last for their first dance as husband and wife. The seven-tiered, 58-inch-tall wedding cake was topped by a miniature castle. The grooms cake was shaped like the Old Governors Mansion, now official residence of the lieutenant governor, where the couple will live. Nick Clooney, a native of the Maysville area and a host on the American Movie Classics channel, was to emcee the couples reception. Henry becomes Kentuckys first lieutenant governor to wed while in office. The first Kentucky governor to do so was Gov. J.C.W. Bechham, who married in November 1900.French follows in the footsteps of another former Miss America who married a Kentucky politician. Phyllis George married John Y. Brown Jr., who later was elected Kentucky governor. The couple is now divorced. Henry, the son of Wanda Harper Henry and the late Virgil Henry of Owensboro, is an orthopedic surgeon. Henry was a Jefferson County commissioner before his election as lieutenant governor in 1995. He was re-elected in 1999, becoming Kentuckys first lieutenant governor elected to two consecutive terms. French, who ended her reign as Miss America this month, has a bachelors degree in fashion design from the University of Cincinnati. She switched her party registration from Republican to Democrat soon after she and Henry began dating.