More guests have arrived in Rome as final preparations for Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' wedding are made. Victoria and David Beckham flew into the Italian capital on Friday afternoon as did Will Smith, further boosting the already impressive celebrity count.
Fashion-conscious Victoria put in an elegant appearance as she stepped off the flight at Ciampino airport in a high-waisted pencil skirt, but her footballer husband made even more of an impression with his Starsky And Hutch style cardi.
Red and white flags are now flying over Castle Odescalchi - the 15th-century venue for Saturday's Scientology ceremony, 60km outside Rome. The service will most likely take place in the magnificent Hall of The Caesars - the castle's biggest and most impressive salon, which offers a sweeping vista of Lake Bracciano. Road signs outside the town warn drivers that the centre of town is to be closed to traffic all day Saturday.
The small town's mayor, Patrizia Riccioni, has revealed the $50,000 fee to use the castle has been waived. "I want to thank Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes for choosing this venue for such an important event," she explained, adding that the couple have been presented with a small silver sculpture of the building as a memento. According to the accompanying card the gift is: "A sincere note in sign of gratitude from the city of Bracciano, for having chosen it as the place where to crown your dream of love."
At the Hassler hotel - where Tom and Katie are reported to be staying in the luxury penthouse - bags from Armani have arrived, presumably bearing the couple's outfits. The menu for the wedding banquet is being kept top secret but is expected to be provided by Tom's favourite Rome restaurant Dal Bolognese.
Meanwhile, Tom's former wife Nicole Kidman has apparently sent the happy couple a wedding gift with a note that "wished them both a lifetime of happiness together", a source close to the actress revealed.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
