The world came to a screeching halt that chilly Saturday evening on Nov. 18, 2006, when Thomas "Tommy" Cruise Mapother IV—once considered the world's hottest man and now deemed the craziest by some—wed girl-next-door Katherine "Katie" Noelle Holmes at a majestic castle on Lake Bracciano. Some of the duo's closest pals, like Will Smith and wife Jada, Kelly Preston and hubby John Travolta, and Leah Remini made the trans-Atlantic trip for the occasion. Opera sensation Andrea Bocelli sang at the service, while the couple's daughter, Suri, who was seven-months-old at the time, cruised the carpet on all fours—clad in Armani.

For more information: Odescalchi Castle in Bracciano

After Madonna and Guy Ritchie wed at the Scottish castle in 2000, Ashley Judd and Dario Franchitti followed suit the next year. Skibo has a members-only wing, the Carnegie Club, which hosted Madonna's wedding and costs roughly $8,000 annually for membership and $1,200 for a night's stay. The name of the Highlands-situated castle, which was built in the 1100s, translates to "fairyland" or "place of peace." But don't go rushing to book the venue just yet: The castle allegedly put an end to hosting such lavish affairs. (Perhaps due to outlandish requests by the celebrity predecessors?)

For more information: Carnegie Club

Britain's current golden couple, soccer star David Beckham and former pop queen Victoria Adams (aka Posh Spice), tied the knot overseas from the couple's native England in Ireland, where all 236 guests—their infant son, Brooklyn, included—were forced to wear security tags. The Irish castle doubles as a hotel and remains one of the country's most acclaimed resorts and golf courses. The castle is closed for renovations throughout the summer of 2008, but will be opening again for events thereafter.

For more information: Luttrellstown Castle

After marrying at Paris City Hall just days before, Eva Longoria and Tony Parker made their marriage official with a bigger ceremony at Paris' Church of Saint Germain l'Auxerrois, opposite the Louvre, before moving the party out to the Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte in the country. The privately owned chateau features eight-foot-high walls and 1,235 acres of well-manicured grounds. The evening ended with a magnificent fireworks display.

For more information: Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte

In 2001, Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye Smith were joined in legal matrimony at an 11th-century abbey in County Mayo and booked an 800-year-old castle-hotel in which to commemorate the occasion. The opulent Victorian setting, which opened its doors to the public in 1939, is tucked away amongst hundreds of acres of emerald Irish hills and woodland.

For more information: Ashford Castle Hotel

If you're having trouble deciding where to wed and you have the funds, why not celebrate with two unions? That's precisely what actress Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar did in 2007. For her wedding, Hurley, who was once married to Hugh Grant, opted for an old-fashioned ceremony at a palace in Winchcombe, England, in the county of Glouchestershire. The guest list included a whole host of A-listers: Sir Elton John, Elle Macpherson, Kate Moss, Kate Winslet, Donatella Versace, who designed Hurley's wedding dress—and even Hugh Grant.

For more information: Sudeley Castle

In June 2002, Glaslough, Ireland welcomed Paul McCartney and Heather Mills to its pride and joy, Castle Leslie, as 300 onlookers watched the former Beatle get hitched to a model nearly half his age. The ceremony was performed at St. Salvador's Church on the grounds of the 17th-century castle. Imported lilies and roses from Holland adorned the white tents on the lawn of the 1,000-acre estate. McCartney chose the location because his mother hailed from County Monaghan, where Glaslough is located. The couple separated just four years later.

For more information: Castle Leslie

The third time was (hopefully) a charm for rocker Rod Stewart, who gave love one more shot by marrying Penny Lancaster in June 2007. The 62-year-old musician and his 36-year-old bride exchanged vows at Santa Margherita's 17th-century castle, Villa Durazzo, in front of two witnesses, before enjoying a bigger ceremony with 100 guests present at medieval abbey La Cervara later on in the day.

For more information: Villa Durazzo

Big-screen beauty Grace Kelly and Monaco royalty Prince Rainier III, both now deceased, said "I do" at the prince's official quarters, the Palace of Monaco, where the nuptial mass was held in the cathedral. The Kelly family and their entourage of a bridal party, pet poodle and more than 80 pieces of luggage arrived in Monaco via the ocean liner SS Constitution, following an eight-day journey from the United States. Six hundred guests were in attendance, and Kelly's dress took six weeks to make with the work of three dozen seamstresses toiling around the clock. Thirty million viewers watched the 40-minute broadcast on television from their homes.

For more information: Prince’s Palace of Monaco

While you can't get much better than a grandiose party thrown in the middle of some enchanting European wilderness, you don't always have to travel thousands of miles to have a castle wedding of grandeur. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett proved this on New Year's Eve 1997 when they held their nuptials at Cloisters Castle, built in 1931. A medieval European-style establishment, the castle occupies 60 acres of secluded forest in Lutherfille, Maryland, outside of Baltimore. Surprisingly, though, this particular celebrity affair was relatively glitz-free: The property manager at the time was quoted as saying it was far from "ostentatious" and nothing about it "screamed 'Hollywood.'"

For more information: The Cloisters