Culminating a week in which their every move and wedding detail was excrutiatingly chronicled in the press, the Bewitched star married country crooner Keith Urban on Sunday at a clifftop Catholic chapel overlooking the harbor near her family's home in Sydney, Australia.
Helicopters buzzed overhead and paparazzi thronged outside the gates to the private estate playing host the nuptials, hoping to catch a glimpse of the bride, groom and such A-list pals as Naomi Watts, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Baz Luhrumann and Rupert Murdoch.
Kidman waved to the crowd as a small fleet of white Rolls Royce shuttled her and the other guests into the compound in the suburb of Manly at 5:30 p.m. local time.
"We just want to thank everyone in Australia and around the world who have sent us their warm wishes," the couple said in a brief statement released with the photo.
The Oscar winner walked down the aisle clad in a pearly lace-and-chiffon Balenciaga creation, complete with veil, clutching a bouquet of white roses
She was given away by her father, Antony, while a quartet from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra played in the background. The traditional, candlelit ceremony lasted a little over an hour and was conducted by longtime family friend Father Paul Coleman and included readings from the Gospel selected by Kidman's mother, Janelle. Kidman's two children from her previous marriage to Cruise, 13-year-old Isabella and 11-year-old Connor, were in the wedding party, which also included her sister, Antonia, and her niece, Lucia.
As church bells signaled the end of the vow-swapping, the newlyweds and their 230 guests celebrated at a reception held under a towering white marquee, decorated with thousands of pink and white roses. Jackman and singer Neil Finn helped to provide the soundtrack for the party.
Rather than bringing gifts, wedding attendees were instead asked to donate to several charities earmarked by the happy couple.
The actress first announced that she and Urban planned to wed last month at the 30th anniversary gala for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the organization for which she serves as goodwill ambassador.
"He's actually my fiancé," Kidman told People magazine at the event. "I wouldn't be bringing my boyfriend." Urban's rep later confirmed that the twosome were indeed engaged.
The couple touched down in Sydney on Monday and embarked on a week of celebrations leading up to their wedding.
Kidman celebrated her 39th birthday on Tuesday and attended a low-key bachelorette party on Wednesday. Urban's bachelor party took place on Thursday. In between various events, the twosome enjoyed downtime with family and friends.
Kidman and Urban, 38, met in January 2005 at an awards dinner where they were both being honored by the Australian government. Though neither of them was born in Australia--Kidman was born in Hawaii and Urban was born in New Zealand--both grew up there.
The newlyweds have both distinguished themselves in their respective careers. Kidman won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2002 for The Hours, while Urban won the Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 2005 for "You'll Think of Me."
Wedding photo credit: Nicole Kidman (L) and Keith Urban pose during their candlelit wedding ceremony at Cardinal Cerretti Memorial Chapel in Manly, Sydney June 25, 2006. REUTERS/Cath Muscat/Handout (AUSTRALIA)
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