Cruise, Holmes wed in castle
Their marriage became official in Los Angeles before they left, publicists said.
BRACCIANO, Italy (AP) -- In a fairy-tale setting, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes exchanged wedding vows Saturday in a glowing 15th-century castle in this medieval lakeside town.
The evening ceremony was performed by a Scientology minister in front of more than 150 relatives and friends, the couple's publicists said.
Oil-fed torches and tiny candles flickered from the battlements and windows of the Odescalchi castle as the couple and fellow celebrities gathered for the ceremony in the town about 27 miles northwest of Rome.
One of the guests was the couple's daughter, 7-month-old Suri, who was dressed in white and arrived in her mother's arms.
The wedding party included Cruise's two children, Isabella and Connor, from his previous marriage to Nicole Kidman, the publicists said in a statement. The best man was Cruise's best friend, David Miscavige, and the matron of honor was Holmes' sister Nancy Blaylock.
What they wore
Holmes wore a black dress and boots before she changed into an off-the-shoulder ivory silk gown designed by Giorgio Armani for the ceremony. Her father, Martin, walked her down the aisle, and she carried a bouquet of flowers, including calla lilies, made by Armani.
Cruise, who sported dark shades and waved to fans as he rode through the castle gates in a van, wore a single breasted navy blue Armani handmade suit, with an ivory silk French collar shirt of the same fabric as the bride's gown for the wedding.
Armani, who was among the guests, told The Associated Press that Cruise, then Holmes, walked down a stone ramp lined with flag bearers in medieval costumes and to the roll of drums.
They exchanged vows in a former stable decorated simply with white flowers.
"For the Americans this was very special, because Americans do not have this kind of thing back home, and they dream of such things in our beautiful country, and you can see the surprise and the awe on their faces," Armani said.
He added that the 20-minute ceremony ended with "a never-ending kiss" that prompted some of the guests to shout "stop, stop!"
Italian singer Andrea Bocelli serenaded the couple at the reception, and the bride and groom cut a five-tiered white chocolate wedding cake. Fireworks later burst above the castle, but the view was marred by a foggy night.
Scientology ceremony
Scientology ceremonies contain many elements of traditional weddings, including rings and vows. But they also include certain Scientology fundamentals, including vowing never to go to bed without communicating about any differences.
A spokesman for the Church of Scientology for Rome, Fabrizio D'Agostino, said an exchange of vows with a Scientology rite was not legally recognized in Italy, and would have to be preceded or followed by a civil union.
The publicists said Cruise and Holmes had "officialized their marriage in Los Angeles prior to their departure for Italy," saying that was customary for couples marrying outside the United States. Cruise's publicist, Arnold Robinson, did not immediately reply to an e-mailed question about whether that meant they had been married in a civil ceremony.
Famous guests included Brooke Shields, Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, Jim Carrey, soccer star David Beckham and his pop-star wife, Victoria, and Roberta Armani, the designer's niece.
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