Their Dream Has Broken down into Pieces, but Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes' Italian Wedding Was a Real Fairy Tale

When she was only 8 years old, he was already cementing his status as a superstar thanks to the 1986 Tony Scott's movie “Top Gun”, that really took many breaths away. In 1997, she won the part of Joey Potter on world-famous American TV series Dawson's Creek and he was awarded a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Jerry Maguire. At the time, Tom Cruise was still married to fabulous Nicole Kidman and nobody thought they would ever break up; however, the Days of Thunder couple filed for divorce in 2001 and four years later, Cruise declared his love for Dawson's former best friend on the Oprah Winfrey Show (famously jumping up and down on Oprah's couch!).

Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise got engaged in Paris in the spring of 2005 and pronounced the fateful “yes” on November, 18th 2006 at Castello Orsini-Odescalchi, on the southern shore of Lake Bracciano, about 40 km from the Eternal City; you have to know that this 15th-century fortress is considered by many as one of the best-preserved in Italy and its long history is closely tied to the one of the Borgias and the Orsini family.

Celebrations began on Thursday, November 16th, Tom and Kat kicked off the long week-end with a wine toast at one of Tom's favorite local restaurants; Rome was literally filled with celebrities scaling the Spanish steps (from Jim Carrey to David Beckham and family), doing luxury shopping and smiling at jubilant passers-by on the beautiful streets. On the following evening, the bride's parents hosted a rehearsal dinner at Villa Aurelia (a mansion from the 17th century) and everybody celebrated past midnight.