Michael Owen and Louise Bonsall have chosen their wedding venue

The Real Madrid striker and Louise Bonsall wanted a wedding at their �1.6m home near Mold but have opted for the Carden Park Country Hotel in June.

The change was made because Owen's home would have to have been made available for other weddings for three years.

The rule recently applied to Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall's first choice of venue.

The couple's wedding banns show the marriage will take place at the Chester hotel in June.

Grade II-listed Lower Soughton Hall was the original wedding venue

The four-star golf resort and spa, where a deluxe double room costs from �135, is close to Owen's childhood home in Hawarden.

Keen golfer Owen, 25, is said to be very familiar with the hotel's Jack Nicklaus-designed course.

The ex-Liverpool FC player, who became an international household name in the 1998 World Cup, and Miss Bonsall were childhood sweethearts.

They have a two-year-old daughter, Gemma Rose.

Owen and former bank clerk Louise have known each other since primary school.

They grew up in Hawarden, Flintshire where Owen bought luxury homes for his parents and siblings.

Owen bought a �1.6m manor house in Soughton near Mold before their daughter was born.

A spokeswoman for the hotel claimed to have no knowledge of the wedding.