Kim Kardashian and Kanye West kicked
off their wedding weekend in France at the Palace of Versailles on
Friday, ahead of their nuptials on Saturday.
The
couple - collectively known as Kimye - welcomed guests to their
pre-wedding celebration in the iconic Hall Of Mirrors, which no doubt
provided the guests and the happy pair ample opportunity to admire
themselves.
Lana del Rey
supplied the entertainment at the opulent engagement party, taking the
stage to serenade Kimye - upon Kanye's special request - with her song
Young And Beautiful.
Opulent pre-wedding bash: Kim Kardashian and
Kanye West took to the stage to welcome guests at their pre-wedding
party at the Palace of Versailles and were serenaded by Lana Del Rey in
the iconic Hall Of Mirrors on Friday
Family affair: Kim was joined by sisters Kourtney, Khloe, Kylie, Kendall and her mother Kris Jenner at the lavish celebration
Kim is said to be a 'huge fan'
of the 27-year-old singer and Kanye hired an orchestra to play her hit
Young And Beautiful when he proposed to the reality show star at the San
Francisco AT&T park last October.
The rapper then
requested the singer to perform his bride-to-be's favourite song - which
was made famous in the Leonardo DiCAprio film The Great Gatsby - at
their lavish party in the Hall Of Mirrors.
Although, according to Entertainment Tonight,
the Summertime Sadness artist was late to the event, forcing Kimye to
take the stage and entertain their guests, even poking a bit of fun at
Del Rey's tardiness.
Earlier that same day Lana was spotted rehearsing in the hallways of the Palace, preparing for her performance later that night.
From
inside the party Giancarlo Giammetti, the honorary president of the
Valentino Fashion House, shared snaps of the happy couple as they took
the stage to greet guests.
Opulent celebration: Guests shared views of the
Hall Of Mirrors and the estate grounds during the celebration, which
featured a fireworks show as the sun set
Full orchestra: Musicians, pictured inside the event, wore classic 18th century gowns and wigs
Happy day: Kris appeared absolutely ecstatic
over her daughter Kim's festivities as she took to Instagram to share
candid moments from the evening
'Goodnight, Paris': Jonathan Cheban shared a snap from the grounds of the Palace
Giammetti also posted a family
portrait of the bride-to-be with her mother Kris Jenner and sisters
Kourtney, Khloe, Kendall and Kylie with the caption: Keeping up with a
great family'.
The fashion
maven even captured a rare moment with Kanye smiling as he gazed
lovingly at his fiancee as they greeted guests within the Hall Of
Mirrors.
Fireworks were said to have been fired off over the Palace grounds during Del Rey's performance as female musicians wearing Marie Antoinette-inspired frocks and wigs were seen preparing to perform.
That bride should be blushing: Kim wore a low
cut tuxedo jacket dress as she and Kanye stepped out for dinner at the
Palace Of Versailles, where they hosted a party to celebrate their
impending nuptials amongst family and friends
Chic: Kim wore her hair in a knotted updo for the special evening at one of France's most famous historical landmarks
Attendants at the fete wore baroque
costumes, in keeping with the 18th century Palace, as ornate cakes were
brought in, according to E! News, for the decadent wedding feast - that
is reported to have featured wild salmon and a large salad buffet.
A
Palace worker at Versailles told Entertainment Tonight that 1,000
bottles of rosé champagne was on hand for the 100 guests in attendance.
Party-goers
were also given full access to roam the Chateau grounds, and even
explore any of the many rooms in the Palace. Horse drawn carriages were
also provided for attendees.
According
to the insider, the baroque costumed workers at the Palace were given
instructions not to speak to Kimye's guests, who were given free reign
to enjoy the Palace's many delights.
The
soon to be married pair also announced to their guests that the wedding
would be in Italy the next day, ET reports. Although, Kanye got a bit
more exact saying that the destination was in Florence, which got a rise
out of Kim as she playfully explained that her fiance was only supposed
to say Italy and not the specific city.
Protective: The American rapper tries to stop fans from getting to close to Kim as they make their way into their vehicle
Leading the way: Kim and Kanye are said to be
marrying in FLorence, where preparations are busily being made at Forte
di Belvedere in Florence
Crowd: Fans gathered outside the couple's Parisian residence to try and get a picture of the two
Dramatic: Kardashian opted for a very smokey eye make-up design to contrast with her white dress
Later
that night Kim's BFF Jonathan Cheban tweeted a snap of himself on the
Palace grounds with a caption that seemed to a bring a close to the
festive evening: 'Goodnight Paris...'
Earlier that day, the couple were spotted leaving their
Parisian residence to make their way to the pre-wedding celebration at the Louis XIV estate.
Kim, 33, showcased her cleavage by
strategically positioning the lapels of her Maison Martin Margiela white
tuxedo jacket dress over each boob.
Kanye,
36, also showed off much of his chest in a low cut T-shirt under his
suit as they made their way to their first stop in what is set to be a
whirlwind weekend of parties and celebrations spanning Paris and
Florence, Italy.
However,
onlookers would never guess from their stony impressions that this
couple are preparing for the happiest day of their lives in just 24
hours, with speculation about the ceremony is at fever pitch, with
rumours circulating that the guest list has blown out to now include 600
people, the amount who attended Friday's bash, according to People.
Touching moment: An excited young fan grabs Kanye's hand as he makes his way into his custom-designed Porsche in matte black
One more sleep: The couple will be officially be
man and wife after they walk down the aisle on Saturday in front of
their friends and family
Here they come: Kanye drives his wife-to-be towards the Palace of Versailles as eager fans try to get a picture
Arrivals: Kim and Kanye chat to staff at Versailles ahead of their pre-wedding party on Friday night in Paris
KIMYE'S WEDDING TIMELINE
FRIDAY: Kim,
Kanye and family enjoyed a pre-wedding brunch hosted by designer
Valentino Garavani at his home Chateau de Wideville, the magnificent
French residence where King Louis XIV used to keep a mistress. On
Friday night, the couple hosted a glamorous party with close friends
including music producer Rick Rubin and 12 Years A Slave director Steve
McQueen at their first-choice wedding venue the Palace Of Versailles
SATURDAY: Palace
Of Versailles had denied Kim and Kanye permission to marry at the famed
former residence of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette so they have
turned to their second choice; Forte di Belvedere in Florence, Italy.Guests
are said to have 'no idea' how they will get between Paris and Florence
or even where they will stay on Saturday night after the ceremony
SUNDAY:The
party are thought to be getting out of the romantic city of Florence
and heading to a villa six miles out of town, called Corsini Villa of
Costello
Kim pursed her lips
and did not even crack a smile as she made her way to a waiting car,
although she may simply have been concentrating on ensuring her gravity
defying dress stayed in position.
No
doubt plenty of double sided tape was involved in order for her to wear the ensemble and it’s unlikely Kim
will be showing off her dance moves at the party if she wants to keep
her ensemble in place.
Maison Martin Margiela tweeted a
picture of Kim and Kanye in their outfits and wrote: 'Congratulations
Kanye and Kim. We are really glad to be part of your special day.
Wishing you all the happiness in the world. MMM'.
Kanye first introduced his bride-to-be to Maison Martin
Margiela back in 2006.
Speaking about boots Kanye bought her from the avant-garde
French fashion house, Kim previously said: 'I was like, "What’s
Margiela?" back then.'
Kim’s
white outfit was also slashed to her upper thigh, ensuring that guests
could see almost every inch of her body which has undergone a dramatic
50lbs weight loss since the birth of her first daughter last year.
She opted for very unbridal make-up, despite her white outfit.
Dramatic
black eye-liner and lashings of mascara made her eyes pop while her
bronzer and blusher – along with her pursed expression – combined to
show off her cheekbones.
Kanye left the residence with his default expression firmly in place, looking no happier than Kim.
And
he wasn't letting his fiancee 's cleavage get all of the attention,
showing off his own pecs with a very low cut grey T-shirt under his tan
suit.
A gold chain also drew the eye to his chest.
There
was no sign of their baby daughter North West, who was no doubt sound
asleep so she will be on her best behaviour for her parents’ big day on
Saturday.
Preparations had
been underway all day at the famous Palace of Versailles for the private
bash with their close family and friends.
Catherine
Pegard, president of the Palace of Versailles, previously said it just
'wasn't possible' for the couple to wed at the palace, even though it
was their first choice but revealed their plans for the Friday night
bash.
Ms Pegard said in a
statement: 'Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have decided to visit the
Chateau of Versailles with their guests in a private surprise tour
organised for Friday, May 23rd, on the eve of their marriage.'
However, there is still speculation that they could in fact marry at the palace.
If
not, second choice and the site of their reception in either case is
the Forte di Belvedere in Florence, Italy, which they have rented out
for the weekend.
Bridesmaids: Kendall Jenner and Khloe Kardashian opted for glamorous floor-length gowns for the evening
Textured: Kourtney Kardashian wore a ruffled
pink and cream suit while her partner Scott Disick opted for a
pin-striped suit as they left the Four Seasons Georgie V hotel
Father of the bride: Bruce Jenner was snubbed at
their brunch with Valentino but he was at least joining his family at
the pre-wedding dinner
Her palace awaits: Kim is driven into Versailles
as she readies herself for the night of her being the centre of
attention along with her rapper husband-to-be
KIMYE'S WEDDING BY NUMBERS
Kim's third marriage and Kanye's first
200 guests originally invited to the wedding but rumours that it has expanded 600
Kim celebrated bachelorette party at Eiffel Tower with 15 bottles of champagne
$650k celebration dinner at Versailles on Friday night with $6k bottles of champagne and a $200k fireworks display
Refused permission to marry at palace so have paid $420k to rent Forte di Belvedere in Florence
Beyonce and Kanye's best man Jay-Z will receive $2 million to perform at reception
Kim is set to wear a $2 million designer wedding gown
There is
one main entrance to the Florence fort - which will be cordoned off from
the public from noon tomorrow, security sources suggested. The first
guests on the guest list are expected to arrive at 2pm.
Barriers
and 'no entry' signs were delivered to the entrance throughout the day.
Signage had already been put up this evening at another side entrance
warning the public the area was closed.
Scores
of confused tourists approached security guards throughout the day -
only to be told the fort was closed 'for a music and entertainment
event'.
The
security presence also increased during the afternoon. Meanwhile, sound
checks took place - but no specific songs were played, keeping the
identity of those performing at the event a close secret.
A
crane could be seen lifting in large amount of wood, perhaps for the
stage, at one point in the afternoon, while work men busily rushed about
the area.
A
temporary, nude-coloured partition, stationed in front of unsightly
generators, was also put up near to the entrance of the fort.
Food
catering vans arrived at the venue. One contained cuisine from Spain
and another was a gellato van. However, it's rumoured three Michelin star
chef Giorgio Pinchiorr may be behind the menu.
Meanwhile,
a huge arch was erected in front of the Palace Of Versailles on Friday
and truck loads of flowers were spotted arriving all day.
Regal: Guests arriving a the Palace of Versaille
were greeted by traditional guards on horseback as they drove through
the palace gates
Convoy: Town cars and SUVs carrying guests queued up outside the French landmark to enter the party on Friday night
The
full list of guests was not announced but along with close family,
music producer Rick Rubin, 12 Years A Slave director Steve McQueen,
personal trainers Gunnar Peterson and Harley Pasternak, Madonna's
manager Guy Oseary and Jennifer Aniston's hairstylist Chris McMillan
were set to attend.
Other
guests included Lindsay May Palevsky, the daughter-in-law of
multi-millionaire LA philanthropist Max Palevsky, who died in 2010. (She’s married to his son Jonathan.)
Aaron Michaelson, one of the owners of
the Chicago White Sox, Tracey Mills, a designer at Kanye's fashion label
and Jerry Lorenzo, who designs Kanye's favourite brand Fear Of God,
also made the cut.
Denied: Kim and Kanye originally wanted to get
married at the nearby Palace of Versailles, where Louis lived but
permission was refused
Grandiose: The Château de Versailles,
is considered one of the most beautiful architectural achievements of
18th-century French art.
Keeping it tight: The couple are
leaving nothing to chance and sources claim non-uniformed Italian
militia have been drafted in to assist the pair's personal security team
Drum roll please: Drummers in traditional dress
look like they are readying themselves for a procession at the wedding
party for Kim and Kanye
PALACE OF VERSAILLES: A HISTORY
The Palace of Versailles was famously the home of Louis XIV and his wife Marie Antoinette.
Marie
was and still is distinguished for her frivolity and perhaps best known
for suggesting 'let them eat cake' when she was told her subjects were
dying of hunger because they had no bread.
Located
in Île-de-France around 20 kilometres southwest of Paris, Versailles
was a rural village when the famous chateau was built.
When Louis XIV moved there from the French capital in 1682, it became the centre of political power in France.
The court remained this way until October 1789, when the royal family had to return to Paris after the French revolution began.
The chateau is nowadays one of the biggest tourist attractions in France, but is still used for some political affairs.
In
the palace’s Hall Of Mirrors, Heads of state are regaled, while the
Sénat and the Assemblée nationale make amendments to the French
Constitution when they meet in congress in Versailles.
According to People, 600 guests - although Entertainment Tonight estimates 100 guests - arrived
for the pre-wedding dinner in 90 vehicles. Guests had to pass through
two checkpoints at the palace before they were allowed access to the
bash, while hundreds of fans queued for hours to catch a glimpse of
Kanye - who arrived at a side gate in a porsche - and Kim.
The
sky over the palace was reportedly made a NO-FLY ZONE on Friday, but
according to TMZ, it is uncertain if the order was given because of Kim
and Kanye's presence.
Also
spotted in Paris was singer Lana del Rey, who has supposedly been asked
by the happy couple to sing her song Young And Beautiful.
Kim and Kanye weren't the only ones who pulled out all the stops for the glamorous occasion.
Younger
sisters Khloe Kardashian, 29, and 18-year-old Kendall Jenner were styled
to perfection as they prepared to celebrate at the royal venue.
Leaving
their Parisian hotel, the Four Seasons Hotel George V, Kendall showed
off her fantastic figure in a simple navy silk sheath, which featured a
small train.
Like
Kim's dress it was slashed to her upper thigh to show off her toned
pins and a pair of heeled gladiator sandals completed the look.
The dress featured spaghetti straps and Kendall opted for just a small clutch to complete the look.
She left her long dark hair loose around her shoulders and, like Kim, chose dramatic eye make-up.
Khloe’s gown was more ostentatious than Kendall's, an embellished floor length kaftan which was slashed almost to her navel.
The
estranged wife of basketball player Lamar Odom styled her Ombre hair in
loose curls around her shoulders and carried a gold clutch bag.
While
usually only the bride can wear white, Kim's older sister Kourtney, 35,
opted for a white trousersuit with a ruffled peplum jacket.
She
was accompanied by her partner, and the father of her two children,
Scott Disick, who looked dapper in a dark suit, white shirt and
sunglasses.
Sporting designer stubble, handsome Scott showed no signs of jet lag despite flying in after the rest of the family.
Who could it be? Crowds of people peer into the
cars of the guests as they arrive at the 'Chateau de Versailles' ahead
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian's pre-wedding dinner
Florals: Thousands of flowers were delivered to
the Palace of Versailles, the former home of the French monarchy and now
a historical building
Extravagance: Truck after truck can be seen delivering white flowers to the Florence venue for Kim and Kanye's actual wedding
Guest list: The names of all the attendees were
printed and checked off by the guard, and it seems 12 Years A Slave
director Steve McQueen is joining the party
Sprucing up: An archway was being erected at the Palace of Versaille before Kardashian and West's party
Epic maintenance: The Garden needs vast amounts
of earth had to be shifted to lay out the flower beds, the Orangerie,
the fountains and the Canal, where previously only woods, grasslands and
marshes were
The angels came out: Kim suggests her wedding
day will be blessed by the heavens because of the lights she captured in
a picture of the gardens of Valentino's Chateau
AS KIM BANS KUWTK CAMERA, WILL FANS GET TO SEE WEDDING SNAPS?
While
Kim's second marriage - to Kris Humphries in 2011 - was televised on
Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Kimye have decided to keep their
nuptials private.
Kim
tweeted: 'We are not filming our wedding for Keeping Up With The
Kardashians. You will see everything leading up til and maybe even
photos. As much as we would love to share these memories, privacy is our
main priority.'
The couple have turned down offers of up to $1 million for their wedding photos despite a bidding war.
According
to the Daily Star they have issuing a contract which 'bans guests from
uploading anything on social media, taking pictures and even talking
about the big day with friends and family who weren't invited to the
wedding'.
They are currently in talks with Anna Wintour to feature the nuptials in an upcoming issue of US Vogue.
Kim
and Kanye covered Vogue earlier this year leading to around 250,000
sales - about 20 percent more from the previous issue featuring Rihanna.
Kim's
stepfather Bruce - who will walk her down the aisle at her third
wedding just as he did for her ill-fated second in 2011 to Kris
Humphries - appeared to be in high spirits as he got in a car to zoom
off to the palace.
While
preparations were underway for the party at Versailles earlier in the
day, the family was enjoying a pre-wedding brunch hosted by designer
Valentino.
They
spent the day at the magnificent French home where King Louis XIV used
to keep a mistress, called Chateau de Wideville, a 17th Century
residence to the west of Paris.
The
brunch venue is now the home of the fashion designer Valentino Garavani
who was 'absolutely thrilled' to welcome the wedding party.
Police and
other security officials could on Friday morning be seen securing its
main gate and perimeter wall and fresh flowers were also delivered.
All eyes were on bride-to-be Kim as she made her way to her luxurious pre-wedding brunch with her family in tow.
The
reality star was pictured pushing baby North, 11 months, in her
stroller as set off for the brunch flanked by fiancé Kanye and her
mother, Kris Jenner to head to the lavish event.
Kim
and Kanye originally wanted to get married at the nearby Palace of
Versailles, where Louis lived but permission was refused - they will
take guests on a guided tour at the venue instead.
‘Both of
them think the French chateaus are awesome,’ said one of the US
organisers of Thursday’s festivities at Wideville. ‘They love all that
old fashioned style – they think it’s really classy.
Kanye
- who Kim has previously called a perfectionist - has taken charge of
most of the details in order to surprise Kim, according to TMZ, and is
doing everything he can to stop her from finding out what he has in
store including trying to keep her away from her phone and the internet.
While
Kim was busy with bachelorette parties, pre-wedding brunches and final
dress fittings, her 'groomzilla' was thought to be working day and night
on the final touches for the big day with venues in both Paris and
Florence being prepped.
Guests are
said to have have 'no idea' how they will get between the France and
Italy or even where they will stay on Saturday night after the ceremony.
The men in her life: Kanye dressed in a light
suit for the rehearsal dinner as he stopped to chat to a fan while Kim's
step-father Bruce was dapper in a dark suit
Kanye
announced last month that he has postponed his Australian tour to
finish work on his new studio album, but it has been claimed he actually
called it off in order to work on wedding plans.
His concert dates Down Under were pushed from May 2 to May 11 to September 5 to September 15 later this year.
A
statement on Ticketek's website read: 'Due to unexpected timing
requirements to finish his highly anticipated new studio album,
scheduled for a 2014 release, Kanye West regretfully announces the
postponement of his upcoming tour dates in Australia.'
BFFs forever: Larsa and Scotty Pippen were among
Kim's close friends who received a coveted invitation to the wedding,
along with pal Lala Anthony
Wedding singer: Lana Del Rey shared this image
of herself rehearsing for the ceremony after she originally turned down
Kanye's request to perform while he proposed
But
the move has led many to speculate on social media sites that the
postponement could be more due to the fact he needed that time to help
prepare for his wedding day, rumored to be May 24, in Paris.
'Kanye
West postponed tour cuz he’s a control freak and needs to stay and
oversee the minutia of the wedding,' @TAndre6 said on Twitter.
While
@oliviajc wrote: 'Everyone calm down about the Kanye shows being
postponed. Y’all know this means the Royal Wedding is about to happen, a
small price to pay.'
And @EastAfricaChild added, 'I feel bad for [his Australian fans]. Kanye’s on wedding mode.'
And a source told Radar that Kanye has taken the reins and the plans have now gotten 'out of control.'
'It’s
just insane. Kanye has basically billed it as breaking the boundaries
of what to expect when it comes to a wedding. This will be the event of
the year,' the source continued. 'Think fashion runway, stage show
performance. Think avant grade. Think nothing like you’ve ever seen.'
Designer seal of approval: Earlier in the day
Kim and her family enjoyed an elegant brunch hosted by designer
Valentino at his magnificent French home, Chateau de Wildeville , a 17th
Century residence to the west of Paris
Designer family: The Kardashian/Jenner/West
family were warmly received by the famous designer at the brunch which
is set to be featured in Vogue magazine
‘WHAT’S MARGIELA?’:KIM'S DRESS DESIGNER REVEALED (BUT SHE'D NEVER HEARD OF IT UNTIL SHE MET KANYE)
by Tamara Abraham, US Femail Editor
Making an entrance: Kim made sure she was centre of attention in her Maison Martin Margiela gown
Kim
Kardashian certainly made an entrance this evening when she arrived at
her pre-wedding dinner in that sculptural Maison Martin Margiela gown.
The
reality star was likely having her final fitting when fans spotted her
and Kanye yesterday at the Belgian label’s Paris showroom.
But
while the label has been operating since 1988, it was still a foreign
name to her in 2008 when Kanye presented her with a pair of Margiela
boots as a gift.
She admits in the April edition of Vogue: ‘I was like, “What’s Margiela?” back then.’Of
course any fashion lover worth their couture will know that the
famously reclusive Martin Margiela is one of Belgium’s most famous
fashion exports.
His
avant garde designs reject the typical tenets of luxury fashion and
instead embrace unlined edges, recycled materials and any manner of
repurposed items.
Even the
most dedicated of fashionistas would struggle to identify the man
though. He refuses all publicity, communication is handled only by fax,
his staff are clad in lab coats and even his label is a mere square
piece of cloth marked with the numbers 0 to 23.
The
Maison Martin Margiela brand was sold to Diesel owner Renzo Rosso in
2002, and in 2009 it was officially announced that Mr Margiela had left
the business. The label continues to thrive nonetheless. This week
actress Marion Cotillard wore a heavily embellished creation by the
label at Cannes, and yesterday it launched its second collection for
Converse.
