Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel, who have been together since 2007 and engaged since December 2011, married under the stars in southern Italy in front of 100 of their family and friends. Biel called the event, “a total fantasy experience.”
They were spotted in Italy earlier in the week and threw a party for guests at the Borgo Egnazia resort near Bari, Italy. The candlelit nondenominational ceremony was officiated by the couple’s close friend, director Bill Purple.
“It’s great to be married, the ceremony was beautiful and it was so special to be surrounded by our family and friends,” the couple said in a statement.
Biel, 30, began her screen career in the TV series “7th Heaven” and then moved into movie roles with “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “New Year’s Eve,” and “Total Recall.”
Defying tradition, Biel wore a custom petal pink and white strapless Giambattista Valli gown and carried a bouquet of chamomile, ranunculus, and ruscus. Timberlake sported in a traditional Tom Ford tuxedo that he had a hand in designing.
Timberlake played the guitar and serenaded his bride as she walked down the aisle with a song he wrote specifically for their big day and for her. “I figured if there was something I was going to be able to offer, it would be to sing her down the aisle. Grown men were weeping. Hopefully it’s because I didn’t sound bad,” Timberlake said.
About the tears she shed as she started her walk down the aisle, Biel said, “I was about to stand up in front of my friends and family and bare my soul for the person I love. It was terribly emotional.”
The couple read vows that they wrote themselves and exchanged gold rings from Leor Yerushalmi of the Jewelers of Las Vegas that they helped design. Their first dance was to Donny Hathaway’s 1971 rendition of “A Song for You.” Timberlake said about the song, “It happens to be one of my favorite songs of all time, and Jess’s as well.”
The guest list included close friends Jimmy Fallon, Andy Samberg, Timbaland, and Beverley Mitchell. Notably, not invited to the ceremony were Timberlake’s N’Sync band mates.
After the ceremony, the celebration moved to an al fresco bar for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres such as lobster in turnip tops and mini caprese salads. A four-course dinner featuring steak and sea bass was served. The meal ended with affogato, a scoop of ice cream topped with a shot of espresso.
Timberlake said, “To hear all of our family and friends cheering at extremely loud, inappropriate decibel levels, that became the pinnacle of the ceremony. It felt perfect. It felt like everything came together.”
Photos of the wedding were sold to People magazine for a reported $300,000.
