Tom Cruise and actress Katie Holmes prepared to tie the knot today with a star-studded ceremony at a medieval castle near Rome, braving hordes of paparazzi who were besieging the venue.
The normally sleepy lakeside town of Bracciano, 40 km (25 miles) north of the Italian capital, has been swarming for days with at least 200 journalists -- more than the 150 celebrities invited at the wedding in its frescoed castle.
Cruise and his bride-to-be, along with their guests were expected to arrive in Bracciano from Rome around midday and the ceremony, whose details have been shrouded in secrecy, is likely to take place in the evening.
"You know it is a beautiful time in their lives and I hope people will give them a bit of room," actor Will Smith told reporters late yesterday outside the luxurious hotel in central Rome where the pair and most of their guests have been staying.
Footballer David Beckham and his pop star wife Victoria, as well as Jim Carrey, Jennifer Lopez, Jada Pinkett Smith, Brooke Shields, and "Mission: Impossible III" director J.J. Abrams are among the invitees for the nuptials.
They all joined the couple for a lavish party on Friday at Rome's 17th century Villa Aurelia.
John Travolta, who shares Cruise's Scientologist faith, was also expected to attend, but has not showed up so far.
"I hope they remember this whole weekend," said Shields, who had a public spat with Cruise last year when he criticised her for taking medication to treat post-partum depression.
In Bracciano, fans started gathering in Piazza Mazzini, the main square facing the castle, early on Saturday morning.
But it may be nearly impossible to catch a glimpse of the couple and their guests, let alone know what is happening inside the castle, which is fenced by a 10 metre-high boundary wall.
"I have been here since 6:45. This is just so cool," said 18-year old Carolina Tuccio, standing behind barriers meant to keep the crowd -- expected to reach 30,000 -- at a distance.
"If I can't see them I'll be realy disappointed. I won't go to see his films anymore," she said with a smile.