Actor Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes pose for their official wedding portrait in Lake Braccino, Italy in this photo released to Reuters November 18, 2006.
Actress Katie Holmes watches from a window of Castello Odescalchi as her fiance Tom Cruise arrives for their wedding in the Italian lakeside town of Bracciano November 18, 2006. Cruise and Holmes chose the 15th century castle just outside of Rome as the location for their celebrity wedding. BRACCIANO, Nov. 19 - In a fairy-tale setting fit for royalty, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes exchanged wedding vows Saturday evening in a glowing 15th-century castle in a lakeside Italian town.
Cruise's publicist Arnold Robinson confirmed that the ceremony had taken place, and later said in a statement that it was performed by a Scientology minister before more than 150 relatives and friends.
Holmes wore a fitted Giorgio Armani off-the-shoulder bridal gown with a train in ivory silk cadis adorned in Valenciennes lace and Swarovski beaded crystal embroidery.
The designer, Giorgio Armani, was a guest at the wedding. Armani said Holmes looked "very sweet, and at the same time modern."
"Hollywood people are very demanding. They know they are being watched and they need a certain security," Armani said.
Cruise also wore a handmade Armani suit. The two men are longtime friends.
Armani said Cruise first, and then Holmes, came down a stone ramp lined with flag bearers in medieval costumes and to the roll of drums.
Holmes' father, Martin Holmes, walked her down the aisle, and she carried a bouquet of flowers made by Armani.
It included calla lilies wrapped in leaves of galax and steelgrass, Robinson said.
The couple's baby daughter was also dressed in Armani, the designer said, describing a little, white wool bloomer dress, decorated in tulle. The 72-year-old designer said he made the outfit simple, not wanting to exaggerate the dress of a child.
Cruise and Holmes were married in a former stable decorated simply with white flowers, and exchanged vows under an awning, Armani said.
American guests awed
"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.
Cruise's best friend, David Miscavige, was best man, and the matron of honor was Holmes' sister, Nancy Blaylock.
The 20-minute ceremony ended with "a never-ending kiss" that prompted some of the guests to shout "stop, stop!" Armani said.
In his statement, Robinson said Cruise and Holmes "officialized their marriage" in Los Angeles before coming to Italy.
He did not immediately reply to an e-mailed question about whether that meant they had been married in a civil ceremony.
Outside, fans and residents hoped for a glimpse of the celebrity couple, as oil-fed torches glowed from the battlements of the Odescalchi castle, which towers over the town on the shores of Lake Bracciano.
Tiny candles, placed in the castle's windows, flickered romantically as the couple and fellow stars gathered in the town about 25 miles northwest of the Italian capital.
Following the ceremony, Cruise and Holmes were serenaded at the reception with a special performance by Italian singer Andrea Bocelli.
Guests were treated to Italian hors d'oeuvres followed by a multi-course meal. Cruise and Holmes cut a five-tiered white chocolate wedding cake decorated with marzipan roses and studded with white chocolate chips.