Final Preps Underway For "Wedding Of The Century"

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

12 Nov 2006 07:36 AM

While the rest of us mere mortals gear up to watch "Super Mario" and "Ride, Emmitt, Ride" go toe-to-toe in the "Dancing with the Stars" finale. Super star couple Tom Cruise and fiancée Katie Holmes will be concentrating on more pressing matters this week--the countdown to their "wedding of the century" (or so it is being dubbed by various media outlets).

We know who the bride and groom will be wearing (Giorgio Armani) and we know that Cruise's ex-wife, Nicole Kidman will not be attending the star-studded affair (although TV's "Entertainment Tonight" reported that she had already sent the brunette couple a lovely crystal vase as a wedding gift). We also know the date of the nuptials: Saturday, November 18th. And now, finally, we know the location of the big Italian shindig: the Odescalchi Castle on Lake Bracciano, near Rome.

News reports have confirmed that the romantic, 15th-century castle--with its halls, gardens, and nearby chapel-will host the wedding that has been more than a year in the making. And you can expect to see a lot more of the location in the days to come since hundreds of members of the international media have already descended on the quiet town.

Scoop-seeking paparazzi were already reporting that as of midday Saturday, a red truck from Santa Ana, California-based logistic company GeoLogistics was seen regularly coming in and out of Odescalchi Castle. In addition, Italian news channel SkyTG24 interviewed an electrician near Lake Bracciano a few days ago, who said he was doing work in the castle for the rumored wedding.

You'll remember that 27-year-old Holmes and 44-year-old Cruise became engaged in June 2005 in Paris, and ten months later their daughter, Suri, was born. In what some are calling a "full-circle" event, Cruise and Holmes were first photographed together in Rome in April 2005. Now they will return to tie the knot and (legally) begin a life together as man and wife.

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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