Fri, 02 March 2007 12:00:00 ET
Anna Nicole's lavish burial, that is to be held in private in Nassau, was taken advantage by the surrounding community who charges a sum of money for photogs or reporters.
Anna Nicole Smith will be buried in a custom-made gown following a lavish
and "very pink" memorial service today (02.03.07).
The "over the top" service - attended by 300 guests at Mount Horeb Baptist
Church in the Bahamaian town of Nassau - will include a performance from an
undisclosed singer and vast quantities of pink flowers.
Organiser Patrik Simpson said: "It will be a very beautiful, very private,
very pink Anna Nicole send-off. Of course it will be over the top because
it's Anna Nicole."
Only 30 people will attend the intimate service when the model-and-actress
is laid to rest next to her 20-year-old son Daniel.
Simpson - a 38-year-old talent scout who has been friends with the star for
five years - said the "very elegant" casket will probably be closed during
the ceremony but close friends and family can put their pictures into the
casket before the burial.
Simpson's partner, Pol Atteu - who has designed more than a dozen gowns for
Anna Nicole - created the dress in which she is to be buried. Simpson
declined to describe the dress, but said the service will reflect the model's larger-than-life personality.
The funeral and burial will be closed to the public and Bahamian police have
erected steel barriers.
However, the Bahamian private gated community of Sandy Port, where the
church is located, are trying to profit from the funeral by charging news
crews and paparazzi agencies to gain entry.
Charges begin at $2,000 per camera and $5,000 to set up a live feed.
Interested parties were told to submit a form with an authorised credit card
number before midnight on Thursday (01.03.07) to be allowed through the
gate.
One photo agency has paid over $15,000 for access to the grounds.
More Anna Nicole Smith News
