Kardashian, Humphries wed in TV-friendly ceremony

Associated Press - August 21, 2011 4:03 AM PDT

FILE - In this Aug. 17, 2011 file photo, reality TV personality Kim Kardashian, right, and her fiance, NBA basketball player Kris Humphries, arrive at the Kardashian Kollection launch party in Los Angeles. Kardashian and Humphries are expected to wed on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011 in Montecito, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, file)Associated Press

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Kris Humphries has officially caught up with Kim Kardashian. The basketball pro and the reality star are husband and wife.

Kardashian, 30, and Humphries, 26, tied the knot Saturday night in the exclusive Montecito area near Santa Barbara, Calif., Kardashian publicist Jill Fritzo told People magazine and E!

The ceremony will be televised as a two-part special on E! in October.

It is the first marriage for Humphries, who last played for the NBA's New Jersey Nets, and the second for Kardashian, star of E!'s "Keeping Up with the Kardashians." She was married to music producer Damon Thomas from 2000 to 2004.

People and E! reported Kardashian wore an ivory gown designed by Vera Wang. Her stepfather, Bruce Jenner, walked her down the aisle in front of 440 guests, including Demi Lovato, Mario Lopez, Eva Longoria, Sugar Ray Leonard, Alan Thicke and Lindsay Lohan.

Kardashian's gown had a tulle skirt, basque waist and Chantilly lace, and was matched with a pair of Giuseppe Zanotti shoes, the media outlets reported. The bride planned to wear two other Wang dresses before the night and the party were over.

Her sisters and TV co-stars Kourtney Kardashian, 32, and Khloe Kardashian, 27, served as co-maids of honor.

The groom wore a white peak lapel tuxedo jacket, black tuxedo pants and, a white shirt and a white bow tie, all designed by Ermenegildo Zegna.

Kardashian and Humphries began dating late last year and announced their engagement in May. He proposed on bended knee with a 20.5-carat ring by spelling out "Will you marry me?" in rose petals.

Since the couple's engagement, the pending nuptials have provided constant fodder for the media and the Kardashians, who posted updates about the wedding on their blogs and websites.

The waves of hype that preceded the ceremony didn't seem to faze the bride. Earlier this week, Kardashian said she was "totally calm" about the much-hyped ceremony.

"I think that freak-out moment kind of already passed," she said at a party Wednesday to launch her new clothing line at Sears.

It's Official: Kim Kardashian & Kris Humphries Have Married

Access Hollywood - August 21, 2011 3:18 AM PDT

Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian share a kiss on the red carpet of the Kardashian Kollection Launch Party in Hollywood, Calif.on August 17, 2011 Getty ImagesAccess Hollywood

MONTECITO, Calif. -- Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian are officially husband and wife!

The couple tied the knot in front of 440 family members and friends at a private estate in Montecito, Calif., on Saturday evening, E! and People jointly confirmed.

PLAY IT NOW: Kim Kardashian Wedding Countdown: Will She Change Her Name?

Eva Longoria, "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" producer Ryan Seacrest, Lindsay, Dina and Ali Lohan, Avril Lavigne, former Spice Girl Melanie "Mel B" Brown, tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, Kathie Lee Gifford, Kim's former "Dancing with the Stars" pals Cheryl Burke and Mark Ballas (who choreographed the first dance), Babyface, Demi Lovato, designer Vera Wang, Brody Jenner, and Sugar Ray Leonard were among the stars in attendance, according to People.

Photos have not yet been released from the event, however, Kim, 30, wore a Vera Wang gown.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: I Do! Celebrities Who Got Married On TV

According to a press release sent out before the event, the groom, 26, wore a white, peak lapel tuxedo jacket with black tuxedo pants by Ermenegildo Zegna. His groomsmen, including Lamar Odom and Rob Kardashian, also wore Ermenegildo Zegna. Bruce Jenner and Kris' father, William Humphries, also wore dark suits by the designer, E! reported.

The bridesmaids - Kim's sisters - all wore white, Vera Wang gowns, which E! described as "very Pippa" Middleton-esque. Kim's mom, Kris Jenner, also wore Vera Wang.

On Saturday evening, E!, the network behind "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," noted Kim and Kris exchanged wedding bands from Lorraine Schwartz. The designer was also behind the 20.5-carat engagement ring Kris gave Kim.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Kim Kardashian & Kris Humphries: Reality TV's Fabulous Couple!

Kim and Kris' big day will air as a two-part special, "Kim's Fairytale Wedding: A Kardashian Event," on October 9 and 10 on E!.

As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, after a lengthy relationship with NFL star Reggie Bush and a short stint with Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin, Kim finally found the man of her dreams in yet another athlete -- New Jersey Nets star Kris Humphries.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: The Many Men Of Kim Kardashian

The reality bombshell began dating her now-husband less than one year ago (back in December 2010).

In May, the 6' 9" tall basketball star proposed to Kim at her Beverly Hills home by spelling out "Will you marry me?" in rose petals on the reality star's bedroom floor - catching his future-wife off guard.

"I didn't expect this at all," Kim told People of Kris' proposal at the time. "I was in such shock. I never thought it would happen at home, and I never thought now."

Kris sealed the deal with a blinding 20.5-carat diamond ring by Lorraine Schwartz, reportedly worth $2 million.

Saudi tycoon to build new world's tallest tower

AFP – 3 hrs ago

Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, seen here in April 2011, has launched …

Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal launched Tuesday a project to build the world's tallest tower at more than 1,000 metres (3,281 feet) in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.

The project to built a tower topping Dubai's world's highest building, Burj Khalifa, "will soon see the light after the signing of a $1.2 billion agreement" between Alwaleed's Kingdom Holding Co and construction giant Bin Laden Group, the Saudi tycoon told reporters.

It will take 36 months to build the tower, said the Saudi businessman, a nephew of King Abdullah and one of the kingdom's wealthiest men. He did not say when construction will begin.

Alwaleed said the tower was intended to "send a message of strength" reflecting the OPEC kingpin's economic and political stability.

"Our message is political," he said.

Saudi Arabia has been spared a wave of protests that has rocked the region, leading to the downfall of autocratic rulers in Tunisia and Egypt despite sporadic small protests staged by Shiites in the Eastern Province.

The tower, which will be part of a $20 billion project north of Jeddah, would top Dubai's 828-meter Burj Khalifa (2,717 feet), which was opened last year.

It will include a hotel, apartments and offices occupying an area of 500,000 square metres.

Afghan minister: Peace depends on Pakistan

AP – 1 hr 2 mins ago

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Afghanistan's deputy foreign minister says Kabul has yet to contact the insurgent leaders it needs to for meaningful peace talks to begin.

Jawed Ludin also said Monday the success of the peace process would depend on Pakistan persuading Taliban leaders to come to the negotiating table.

His comments hint at the challenges facing the U.S.-supported reconciliation drive.

After fighting the Taliban for 10 years in Afghanistan, the United States now wants to cut a deal with them to enable it to leave the country.

The Taliban publicly insist they have no interest in negotiating peace so long as foreign troops occupy Afghanistan.