Rona marries Jeff Conaway
“Taxi” star Jeff Conaway and Rona Newton-John who backed out of their big planned wedding last July quietly tied the knot in a sudden hush-hush Las Vegas ceremony.
But The ENQUIRER was there to get the exclusive story and photos for our readers.
“We decided to do it now because the time is right.” said Jeff, who jetted to Las Vegas after a “Taxi” rehearsal January 9, wed Rona sister of singer Olivia Newton-John then flew back to Los Angeles on Thursday to continue rehearsing.
The two had bowed out of their wedding last July 4 “because I was working too hard and we weren’t communicating as well as we do now,” said Jeff. “It was always important for us to marry, but everything had to feel just right.”
“It has to be something that will last forever and we did not want to go into it unless we were 100 percent positive.”
Rona, looking stunning in a purple satin jump suit, added that last summer’s planned wedding “got out of hand to the point where it seemed like it was someone else’s wedding.”
So they waited six months and slipped off to the secret ceremony arranged by Olivia just two days in advance.
“They called me only two days ago to tell me,” said the singer, who performs at the Riviera Hotel, where the wedding took place in a rose-decked suite on the hotel’s 16th floor.
“I am delighted for them. No one knew when it would happen but we are all glad that it did.”
The 20-minute ceremony was attended by only a small group of friends and relatives, including both their mothers, Olivia, and Emerson, Rona’s 5-year-old son from a previous marriage.
“The special part of the ceremony for both of us was the ‘I will and I do,” said Jeff. “We both really meant it. This is for keeps.”
Jeff’s mother, Helen Conaway, sipped champagne and admitted, “It was a real surprise.”
“I knew they wanted to get married for a long time and it seems they have been getting married forever. I just told Jeff, Marvelous.”
Rev. Richard Gilster, who conducted the simple ceremony, added, “They are two moung people very much in love and I am sure they plan to spend the rest of their days together.”
The marriage provided one added plus for both Jeff and Rona it means that British-born Rona can now stay in the U.S. legally, and that Jeff can perform without any problems in England.
“It’s a fringe benefit for both of us,” said the bridegroom. The two plan a European honeymoon at the end of February.
By Malcolm Boyes
Photo caption: NEWLYWEDS: Jeff Conaway gets a helping hand from his bride, Rona Newton-John, as they cut wedding cake. Enjoying the occasion is the bride's sister, Olivia.