Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes marry in Italy

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have married in a $2.5million Scientology ceremony at the Castello Odescalchi in front of 200 friends and family.

The couple arrived at the castle in the early afternoon and the candelit ceremony itself started around sunset (5.30pm local time), being led by Scientology minister David Miscavige. Scientology ceremonies are not recognised as legally binding in Italy but a spokesperson for the couple confirmed: “As is customary for couples marrying outside of the United States, Cruise and Holmes officialized their marriage in Los Angeles prior to their departure for Italy.”

As previously reported, the couple wore Armani outfits for the event: Katie wore an off-the-shoulder ivory silk gown, adorned with lace and Swarovski crystals, and a full-length veil while Tom wore a navy blue tuxedo. Armani also designed Katie’s bouquet of calla lilies.

The couple exchanged white gold Cartier diamond rings, engraved on the inside with “ARC” standing for “Affinity, Reality and Communication”.

Katie changed into a champagne coloured evening gown (another Armani creation) for the reception where the guests were served a multi-course meal after cocktails and Italian hors d’oeuvres.

The wedding cake was five-tiered white chocolate, decorated with marzipan roses and studded with white chocolate chips, with red and white rose petals falling from the ceiling when the couple cut the cake.

As rumoured, opera star Andrea Bocelli performed at the reception although according to Britain’s People newspaper, he had originally been asked to perform at the ceremony itself but as a strict Catholic refused saying, “I don’t want to participate in the wedding ceremony of another faith but I will sing afterwards.”

Guests for the event had been gathering in Rome since Thursday, with Jennifer Lopez and Victoria Beckham’s outfits causing the most gasps from the 40,000 onlookers that flooded into the town of Bracciano to try to catch a glimpse of the event.

The couple are expected to honeymoon in the Maldives but they might not get too much alone time: they’re taking along their seven month old daughter Suri and Tom’s children Connor and Isabella from his previous marriage to Nicole Kidman.