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ANTIBES, France - James Packer and Erica Baxter have followed their intimate town hall marriage with a spectacular wedding ceremony in front of about 100 guests on the French Riviera.
The couple wed mid-morning local time yesterday in a civil ceremony at the Antibes Hotel de Ville, witnessed by a small circle including the groom's mother, Ros, and the bride's parents, Sheelah and Michael Baxter, from Gunnedah in north-west NSW.
They then returned to the nearby Hotel du Cap Eden Roc on the Cote d'Azur for the main event, where the bride wore a traditional, white flowing floor-length strapless gown with a long veil.
The dress was a $US100,000 haute couture creation by John Galliano of the Paris fashion house Christian Dior, Fairfax newspapers reported.
The bride walked down a long aisle of white carpet lined with decorative hanging lanterns.
Guests stood either side of the aisle, with some sheltering from the bright summer sun under umbrellas.
The couple wed under a flower-trimmed canopy, with Mr Packer wearing a black suit, white shirt and black tie.
Hollywood star Tom Cruise and wife Katie Holmes had front-row seats but, despite apparently being qualified to perform Scientology marriages, Cruise did not officiate.
It is unknown whether the service was Scientology based.
The ceremony began about 5.40pm local time (3.40am NZT) and lasted about 40 minutes.
Three media helicopters hovered overhead throughout and a number of small launches from Mr Packer's converted icebreaker, the Arctic P, circled a flotilla of boats carrying the press.
Afterwards, the reception began in the hotel overlooking the Mediterranean where the Arctic P was anchored.
Mr Packer's fellow media mogul, Lachlan Murdoch, arrived by boat with his wife, Sarah, who looked stunning in a gold gown by Australian designer Willow with her hair swept back.
After the ceremony, some jazz music struck up and guests could be heard talking and laughing behind a white chiffon curtain across the balcony which shielded the party from more cameras and reporters camped on a rocky outcrop nearby.
But many guests began emerging from behind the curtain to take in the magnificent ocean views, including the Murdochs, who kissed and chatted together before mingling with guests.
Also appearing on the balcony were television and AFL personality Eddie McGuire and Today show host Karl Stefanovic.
As the evening progressed, leafless decorative trees painted white and strung with fairy lights were erected in the garden where coloured spotlights shone on them in changing colours.
The pool area was decorated with candles and lillies, while the reception area was washed in pink lighting.
Shortly before midnight guests were still chatting on the balcony while the strains of Save The Last Dance For Me could be heard.
- AAP
