Tom & Kat’s Hollywood Wedding Party

[as originally published on EOnline.com 01.11.07 ]

For friends and family who didn't make it to Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' wedding in Italy, it didn't really matter on Saturday night.

The newlyweds celebrated their nuptials with a star-studded party at the Los Angeles home of Cruise's business partner, Paula Wagner, and her husband, CAA agent Rick Nicita.

The seven-hour affair began at about 6 p.m. Light appetizers were passed at the start of the evening, with heavier fare like short ribs, mashed potatoes and couscous served as more of the 300 or so guests filed into the bash, including Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, Orlando Bloom, Penélope Cruz, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith and even up-and-comer Derek Luke.

There was a four-hour caviar bar, complete with pink ice and imported coral. A dessert bar featured strawberry apéritifs and chocolate cigars with a hint of mint. Imported French linen napkins were custom-dyed chocolate brown, and also shipped in from overseas was the crushed cork that covered the party's two bars.

Sisal rug was laid in the backyard, and three tents were erected to protect well-wishers from the night's rainfall. Table centerpieces featured cream roses, peonies and amaryllis in smoke-mirrored glass boxes. A chandelier of 50,000 Swarovski crystals decorated the center tent.

An insider told me the cost of the evening was estimated to be about $400,000.

A jazz trio performed throughout the night. "It wasn't the kind of party with dancing," one partygoer said. "It was more of an elegant cocktail party for socializing." While the band was only booked until 11 p.m., I'm told they were asked to continue for an additional two hours, when it became clear the party would last longer than expected.

Event planner Damon Pease and Ikus Productions coordinated on the party, and Salt of the Earth Catering created the menu, according to the partygoer.

Holmes wore a simple pale pink dress, and Cruise was in a dark suit, the partygoer said.

By Marc Malkin
Dec 10, 2006 8:31 PM

« back