The bride wasn't late, but the divorce papers were -- so TV chief Kenneth DeFontes decided to have a party anyway.

DeFontes Broadcasting Company owner Mr. DeFontes was due to tie the knot with American fiancee Peggy Bissell on Thursday and about 60 people -- including Premier Pamela Gordon, Works Minister C.V. (Jim) Woolrodge and Tourism Minister David Dodwell -- had been invited to the reception.

But it is understood that Mr. DeFontes and his future bride had set the date believing his divorce would have cleared its last legal hurdles. But by Thursday, he was still waiting for his final divorce papers.

While Mr. DeFontes was granted a divorce decree nisi in late April, the divorce has not yet become absolute. Under law, those filing for divorce must wait six weeks to apply to have the divorce nisi made absolute, said attorney Keren V.P. Lomas.

"A divorce nisi is sort of a half step; it ends certain rights and liabilities of the marriage, but also gives the other party time to apply for financial provisions,'' she said.

Because it was too late to cancel his plans, Mr. DeFontes appeared to have decided to throw a party instead, said St. Anne's Church, Southampton vicar the Rev. Michael Davis who was present at the reception.

But Mr. Davis denied reports that Mr. DeFontes had in fact married Dr. Bissell on Thursday.

"Somebody's going around spreading nasty rumours. There was definitely no wedding and won't be until the divorce is absolute,'' he said.

There was no exchange of rings, no blessing, no pronouncement of man and wife or anything to that effect, he said.

"This whole thing is really humourous, and kind of scary,'' he said. " It shows how small this Island really is and how they love to gossip and use it to destroy people.'' At the reception, held on the terrace overlooking Harrington Sound at the Palmetto Bay Hotel, the bride to be -- or not to be -- was said to have looked radiant in a pale green pastel dress, with large flower imprints; Mr. DeFontes wore a business suit.

"If Kenneth wants to have a party, and he'd already invited all these people, then he can have a party,'' said Mr. Davis. "All I did was let them stand under a moongate, said three prayers, read two pieces of Scripture, and a psalm; I can't do anything else until the divorce is absolute.'' That was good enough to fool some guests, including the Premier.

"You're kidding, he's not married,'' Ms. Gordon laughed yesterday. "That's so funny. They asked me to attend a wedding but I said I was very busy. I said I'd try to drop by for about ten minutes but I had a meeting and had to go to a graduation.

"I got there about 7.30 p.m. and everything was already in full swing. I wished them luck and then had to leave,'' she yesterday told The Royal Gazette .

Mr. DeFontes refused all comment. He had been married to wife Joanne since 1979.