December 31, 1999

..

Montréal, 20h00.  In her dressing room Céline can vaguely hear the buzz of the exited crowd waiting to see her.  The tension grows.  Behind the side wings of the Molson Centre the company of the musical "Notre Dame De Paris" is getting ready to enter the scene.  It's Garou, Luke Mervil, Daniel Lavoie and Bruno Pelletier.  They will take care of the first part of the evening and perform some songs from the musical.  "C'est la soirée la plus énervante de ma carrière. / It's the most enervating evening of my career." Céline whispers in René's ear.  She wants everything to be perfect, it has to be unforgettable!  Only a few days earlier they had feared the entire event had to be cancelled, because Céline had lost her voice.  The stress had been tremendous.  To protect her voice, Céline then did what she usually does before a concert, viz. being entirely silent during the 2 days before the performance.  Even during the repetitions, she could only be heard in sign language.

.

23h00.  When Céline appears on stage and the first notes of "My Heart Will Go On" follow, she can feel how a yoke of built up fear let go of its grip with a liberating movement.  To the public she then offers her most pure voice ever, and in addition to that the audience will be able to enjoy a few important guests.  When it's 23h58, René suddenly appears on stage, and Céline looks very surprised, whether it's studied or true emotion.  Together they count down the final seconds of 1999 and when it's exactly midnight and 2000, Céline says to René: "René, mon amour, mon amour, c'est formidable.  On y est. / René, my love, my love, it's incredible.  This is it."  Immediately after this to be watched and heard on stage is the other Canadian superstar Bryan Adams.  After his "Summer Of 69", Céline performs "Everything I Do, I Do It For You" with him.  The event continues until about 01h30, and then after the very last song ("Ce N'Était Q'Un Rêve"), Céline - in tears - says her goodbyes to the stage and her public that offers her a last, very long, standing ovation...

..

When Céline gets back into her dressing room, the celebration of the new year continues with René and some members of her family.  Céline is tired, but at the same time very happy and exited about the success of the show, when she and René get into a limousine that rides them to the airport.  At 05h00 in the morning they get into their private jet and fly to Las Vegas.  Las Vegas is René's favourite city and when they arrive there they head for the "Caesar's Palace" hotel/casino.  There they have a suite with no less than 4 rooms, a dining room and a jacuzzi at their disposal.  On the program for the first day of their stay are: relaxation, taking a siesta and playing black jack (René's favourite pastime).  During the evening Céline gives a private concert at the "Palace Ball Room" to some two hundred privileged clients of the hotel.  It's a very intimate performance that fits with the new lifestyle of Céline and René.

235 guests find themselves in a specially booked Boeing on its way to Las Vegas.  On board of the aeroplane they find out what Céline has planned for them.  When they arrive at the hotel, Céline and René are already awaiting them.   Next is a moment with lots of laughter and embracing.  Céline reserves some time for every one of them.  The suitcases are brought into the hall and the atmosphere there resembles one with true holiday spirit.  The rest of the day is free which gives everybody a good opportunity to test out the facilities of the hotel.

The festivities can start with a "Soirée du millénaire".  Whole the family gathers round Céline and she starts to hand out christmas presents.  Everybody receives an object that suits their personality best, explains Georges Hébert Germain who's also present.  Céline has chosen all the gifts herself!

Céline gets up early, although this is not her habit, to explore the city.  That night, we meet everybody at a showing of "Cirque Du Soleil" (by the same group as "Notre Dame De Paris").    "C'est le plus beau show que j'ai jamais vu. / It's the most beautiful show I've ever seen.", says Céline.

At 17h00 the renewed marriage session is scheduled.  Symbolically on the 5th of January at 17h00, now Céline and René have been married for 5 years (they married the first time on December 17, 1994) and "5" is their lucky number.  As the last preparations are made with regard to the decoration of the two big meeting halls, the guests are putting their cloths on.  The requested dress code is as follows: men are to appear in black and women in red, blue, green and/or diamond - like the colours of the four precious stones; ruby, sapphire, emerald and diamond.  Meanwhile also the ball room of the hotel has been transformed into a chapel.  The whole has been put into the style of the Byzantian culture.  With this, Céline wants to pay tribute to her husband who is from Syrian and Lebanon origin.

...

With a delay of half an hour the ceremony begins.  Céline and René are brought in separately, carried on armchairs by men in Arabian outfits.  Before the eyes of their guests and priest Michel Sayde they thank each other for their love, and the occasion is used also to baptize Claudia (or is it Andrea?); Céline's 5 month-old niece and godchild (daughter from Pauline).  Then it's the highest time to party just like in the stories from "Thousand and one night".   Everybody goes to the two meeting halls that had been transformed into a true oasis with tents, camels, rare birds, snakes,...  There's a white tent in the middle for the lovers.  Seated on gold-plated pillows the guests then have the opportunity to taste Eastern specialities.  For this the couple appealed upon the master cooks of the Lebanon restaurant "Daou" from Montréal where René regularly eats.  Furthermore Céline takes off for some belly dancing!   In the early morning the couple says farewell to their guests and leaves for Palm Beach, Miami, to live there an almost normal life.  Far away from all the spotlights...  More pictures of their marriage at the Picture Gallery