Skate champions set for dream wedding on ice

Beijing, China (CNN) -- It is a fairy tale romance of Olympic-sized proportions: China's 2010 gold medal pair skaters Zhao Hongbo and Shen Xue are getting married Saturday in front of thousands of fans -- on ice.

The wedding, scheduled to take place at Beijing's Capital Gymnasium, has been an affair three years in the making. Zhao proposed to Shen after a gold medal-winning performance at the 2007 World Figure Skating Championships.

Zhao and Shen have been skating together since 1992, and fell in love between practices and competitions around the world. After a short retirement, the pair returned to the ice to win gold in Vancouver in February, breaking nearly half a century of dominance by Russian and Soviet pairs. [MOTHER RUSSIA WEEPS.]

Zhao and Shen, both born and raised in China's northeast city of Harbin, were legally married in China in 2007, but most Chinese do not consider a couple formally married until after a festive celebration with family and friends.

"We have been waiting a long time for this," Zhao said. "After the Olympics, we had some time to choose a place and we are so happy the time has finally come."

It won't be just any ordinary friends in attendance on Saturday evening. Taking part in the couple's wedding will be some of the world's best skating stars who have flown into Beijing to perform as their gift to the couple. 2006 Olympic champion Evgeni Plushenko of Russia will skate to "Sex Bomb" while Japan's 2010 Olympic silver medalist Mao Asada will perform a tango-inspired program. [MAOSHENKO WINS!!!]

The men's 2002 Olympic champion Alexei Yagudin of Russia and two-time World Champion Stephane Lambiel of Canada will also hit the ice with Zhao and Shen.

The newlyweds will conclude their wedding festivities with the classic "Turandot."

Perhaps the only program that might outshine Zhao and Shen will be American Johnny Weir's performance to Lady Gaga's "Poker Face," which is slated to immediately follow the wedding vows. [OIC]

"So many of my fans want me to perform 'Poker Face' in China," Weir told CNN. "Yes, I am a little nervous that I am going right after because Poker Face is a little bit dirty... but I am excited by the challenge."

As for gifts, Zhao and Shen have skipped the bridal registries, saying they already have their hands full with their massive wedding. Beijing's Capital Gymnasium was decked out in sweeping red ribbons and spotlights as skaters rehearsed on Friday. Young figure skaters dressed in white lace costumes and roses waited in the wings during the rehearsal.

"We are pretty tired, very busy but excited," Shen told CNN on Friday. "It is our first time doing this type of skating so we hope it goes smoothly. We are very thankful to our friends, family and fans who will be with us tomorrow night."

The bride and groom's Olympic friends are tight-lipped about what they will give Zhao and Shen. "We have all been discussing what we will do but I can't tell you what the gift it. It's still a secret," said 2010 Olympic bronze medalist Joannie Rochette of Canada.

"I have prepared a traditional Japanese gift for them," Asada said. [Yeah I heard it was a cooker, babe. ]

Many Chinese skating fans are overflowing with excitement on the web. User Xiaoxiao on a Sina.com blog said, "Bless you two, you're always the most beautiful couple on the ice! I'm looking forward to your wedding on ice!"

But not all Chinese fans are as enthusiastic.

Others disagree with the public wedding, arguing Zhao and Shen are "using their wedding to make money" and "the wedding itself wastes a lot of money." [WHATEVS, WHATEVS. HATERS GONNA HATE.]

But overall, the skating community in China is awaiting Saturday night with baited breath.

"Back when I got married, all my wife and I had was a big family meal," the pair's long-time coach Yao Bin said. "We are very happy for them to have this opportunity to live the dream on ice."