EXCLUSIVE: La Dolce Vita! Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker’s wedding is sponsored by Dolce & Gabbana in a deal set to give millions of pounds worth of free publicity to controversy-hit luxury fashion house
The lavish showbiz wedding of Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker is being sponsored by luxury fashion house Dolce & Gabbana in an exclusive deal, MailOnline can reveal.
Members of the Kardashian and Jenner clans have been repeatedly photographed in expensive Dolce & Gabbana outfits in the run up to the ceremony which is being held later today in the Italian seaside village of Portofino.
The worldwide coverage of the reality stars showcasing the brand’s clothes against the idyllic backdrop of the Italian Riviera is set to give millions of pounds worth of free publicity to Dolce & Gabbana which has been hit by controversies in recent years.
Dolce Vita: The lavish showbiz wedding of Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker is being sponsored by luxury fashion house Dolce & Gabbana in an exclusive deal, MailOnline can reveal
As part of the deal, guests will be ferried from their hotels to Portofino harbour late this afternoon in a fleet of four classic wooden Riva speedboats, furnished with Dolce & Gabbana accessories including animal print cushions and towels.
Guests will then only have to walk a short distance into a tunnel in a nearby hillside where they will be able to access a lift to carry them up to the spectacular Castello Brown fortress where the ceremony is taking place.
MailOnline can reveal that the Italian fashion house has been closely involved in organising every aspect of the lavish wedding celebrations which has been described as the showbiz event of the year.
Sponsorship: A pop up Dolce & Gabbana shop, describing itself as a Galleria d’Arte, opened three days ago on the market square piazza beside the harbour in Portofino to capitalise on the public interest in the wedding
Fashion forward: The bride’s mother, Kris Jenner, in D&G this weekend
Staff from the company’s base in Milan have been sent to the resort in recent days to oversee preparations, and have been put up in local hotels.
Kourtney, 43, and heavily tattooed Blink-182 drummer Travis, 46, have also been staying on the superyacht Regina d’Italia which is believed to be owned by Stefano Gabbana, the co-founder of Dolce & Gabbana.
The yacht has been conveniently anchored offshore next to Portofino, just a short boat ride from Castello Brown and a neighbouring house which have been hired for the celebrations.
Staff carrying black bags and cases emblazoned with the name Dolce & Gabbana have also been seen making their way into the medieval castle which overlooks Portofino harbour and has spectacular views over the Mediterranean.
Several clothes in suit bags, labelled as being for Travis, were conveniently pictured next to a Dolce & Gabbana shopping bag before being carried up a steep garden path into the rented house as preparations continued on Friday.
D&G fans: The worldwide coverage of the reality stars showcasing the brand’s clothes against the idyllic backdrop of the Italian Riviera is set to give millions of pounds worth of free publicity to Dolce & Gabbana- pictured Kourtney in her dolce wedding dress from her and Travis’ legal ceremony in California last weekend
Nice ride! As part of the deal, guests will be ferried from their hotels to Portofino harbour late this afternoon in a fleet of four classic wooden Riva speedboats, furnished with Dolce & Gabbana accessories including animal print cushions and towels
Prep: Staff from the company’s base in Milan have been sent to the resort in recent days to oversee preparations, and have been put up in local hotels
Ready and waiting: The boats will ferry guests to the ceremony venue, where they will then only have to walk a short distance into a tunnel in a nearby hillside where they will be able to access a lift to carry them up to the spectacular Castello Brown
Hard at work: Staff have been busy furnishing the boats in Portofino harbour
A pop up Dolce & Gabbana shop, describing itself as a Galleria d’Arte, opened three days ago on the market square piazza beside the harbour in Portofino to capitalise on the public interest in the wedding.
An insider working for Dolce & Gabbana confirmed to MailOnline: ‘The opening of the shop is entirely due to the wedding.’
The staff member added that the shop would remain open for three months, stocking items from current collections, to promote the brand to well-heeled tourists who flock to the idyllic fishing village.
Pop up shop: An insider working for Dolce & Gabbana confirmed to MailOnline: ‘The opening of the shop is entirely due to the wedding’ with the store decking out guests
Signature prints: Each boat has been furnished with a different theme, with a leopard print filled vessel seen here
Not long to go: The US couple are due to wed in the fortress overlooking Portofino on Sunday according to reports
Fleet of staff: The Kardashians and Jenners have always been big fans of the Italian label, seemingly shrugging off criticism of Stefano Gabbana who once referred to them as ‘the most cheap people in the world’ in an Instagram comment
A member of staff at the shop, earlier smiled when a MailOnline reporter asked about the brand’s link up with the Kardashians, saying: ‘They are friends of the house’.
Asked about the Kardashians staying on his boss’s lavishly furnished 213ft yacht worth around £50million, he added with a grin: ‘He loves to have guests’.
Dolce & Gabbana has not officially responded to requests from Mailonline to explain the sponsorship deal for the wedding.
Today’s ceremony will be the third time that mother-of-three Kourtney and Travis have got ‘married’.
Major deal: Dolce & Gabbana has been working hard in recent years to escape the fall out from a string of scandals which led to the brand being accused of racism and homophobia
Controversy: Gabbana and fellow founder Domenico Dolce who are openly gay also faced a furious backlash in 2015 when they spoke out against gay fathers having children through surrogate mothers.
The couple had their first small wedding in Los Angeles after the Grammys last month and legally tied the knot last Sunday in Santa Barbara, California.
Kourtney was unsurprisingly seen in a Dolce & Gabbana wedding dress in black and white pictures of her big day which she released after the intimate ceremony in Santa Barbara.
The Kardashians and Jenners have made very public displays of support for Dolce & Gabbana in recent days by wearing the brand’s clothes in the run up to the wedding.
Some of the clothes have been vintage items which would have been hard to source, according to fashion industry insiders.
Gorgeous: The Kardashians and Jenners have made very public displays of support for Dolce & Gabbana in recent days by wearing the brand’s clothes in the run up to the wedding
Dolce & Gabanna has been quick to capitalise on the reality stars giving their apparent backing to the brand by retweeting pictures of them walking around Portofino in their outfits.
Kourtney and her sisters Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and Kendall Jenner were all seen in vintage Dolce & Gabbana gear when they arrived in the village for a pre-wedding meal on Friday night.
Their display of support for the label continued on Saturday when Kim, 41, was photographed in the a Dolce & Gabbana black maxi dress as she walked barefoot around Portofino on her way to engagements in the morning and early evening.
Khloé, 37, also wore a sensational thigh skimming chocolate brown mini dress paired with statement knee high boats as she strutted around the harbour, showcasing her famous curves.
Deal worth millions: Dolce & Gabanna has been quick to capitalise on the reality stars giving their apparent backing to the brand by retweeting pictures of them walking around Portofino in their outfits
She later updated her Instagram site which has 244 million followers by posting picture of herself in the figure hugging outfit as she posed in the cockpit of a yacht and on a balcony.
Kourtney also stepped out in a dress from the label, bearing an image which appeared to be the Virgin Mary, paired with a short black veil with blue lace trim, black gloves and matching strappy sandals
The sisters’ mother Kris Jenner, 66, has also regularly been stepping out in Dolce & Gabbana outfits, and posting pictures on her social media.
The Kardashians and Jenners have always been big fans of the Italian label, seemingly shrugging off criticism of Stefano Gabbana who once referred to them as ‘the most cheap people in the world’ in an Instagram comment.
Seeing stars! Kris Jenner, 66. rocked a glamorous look as she attended a Dolce & Gabbana pop-up in the Italian village of Portofino on Friday
Suit up! Dolce&Gabbana suits are delivered as preparations get underway for Kourtney and Travis’s wedding at Castello Brown in Portofino
Preparations: With the clock ticking, bright floral arrangements and chic outdoor furniture were seeing being delivered to the couple’s venue ahead of the big day
Wedding ready! According to TMZ, Kourtney and Travis have rented the historic house museum Castello Brown located on a hill above Portofino harbour
Social media users have been quick to notice that the fashion house is now unashamedly tied in to the lives of the reality stars through Kourtney’s wedding.
Twitter user @almizzy_ commented: ‘Did Dolce Gabbana sponsor kourtneys wedding????????’. Suzy Homemaker added: ‘Dolce & Gabbana is sponsoring the hell out of this Kardashian/Jenner trip.’
Dolce & Gabbana has been working hard in recent years to escape the fall out from a string of scandals which led to the brand being accused of racism and homophobia
The brand came under fire in 2018 when it ran adverts featuring an Asian model struggling to eat traditional Italian food with chopsticks.
Preparations: Security guards refused to answer questions at the entrance to the castle, saying only that it was closed to members of the public
Bride to be: Kourtney donned a black sheer veil with blue lace detail and Travis wore a full-length gown as the pair strolled with Reign
Close: The dressed up family put on a loved up display as they clutched each other, with Penelope and Atiana following closely behind her mother
It was also accused of sending white models, wearing Blackamoor style earrings, down a catwalk in 2012.
Gabbana and fellow founder Domenico Dolce who are openly gay also faced a furious backlash in 2015 when they spoke out against gay fathers having children through surrogate mothers.
MailOnline revealed yesterday that an intimate garden grotto with outlandish gold structures is set to play a key role in the Kardashian wedding.
The amazing set was being erected yesterday in the grounds of the historic beachside house next to Castello Brown which has been rented by the Kardashian family for the matrimonial festivities.
Stylish: The whole family have been spotted in D&G pieces throughout the weekend – with Reign sporting a blue, vibrant printed satin-cord with a pair of white trainers as he held onto his mum’s hand
Newlyweds: Kourtney and Travis celebrated their union with a boat trip with their family as they kicked off the weekend
Smitten: After boarding the boat for the luxury trip, Kourtney was seen sitting on Travis’ lap as they appeared as loved-up as ever
A 12ft high gold structure in the shape of a huge gilded picture frame or mirror was erected at one end of a garden plot.
Workers were seen hanging leaves and foliage from a curved frame over the length of the 40ft long garden to create the effect of a woodland hideaway.
Two other giant gilded objects with wide brimmed bowls on top, possibly to become flaming bowls to illuminate the area, were also seen in place.
Mother and daughter: Kourtney was spotted on Saturday descending a brick staircase to the dock while holding hands with her only daughter Penelope, who displayed her cross-body D&G mini bag
Legging it: When they arrived at their destination on Saturday, Kourtney could be glimpsed watchfully holding her youngest child’s hand as they clambered out of the smaller motorboat that took them from their larger vessel to the quay
Dressed up: Barker made a point of donning a black caftan just before he was whisked along Portofino’s azure waterways, while a pal on the boat sported a monochrome shirt from the sponsoring designer brand
Dozens of candles in glass jars were also lined up ready to be lit and moved into position to in what promises to be an enchanting and romantic scene.
The secret garden is on the hillside beneath the castle and enjoys magnificent views over the Mediterranean.
Curious tourists in hire boats anchored in the cove adjacent to the castle were watching the last minute preparations taking place.
Paths around the perimeter of the castle and the rented house were closed off to the public today to guarantee privacy for the wedding.
Stunning: Workers were seen hanging leaves and foliage from a curved frame over the length of the 40ft long garden to create the effect of a woodland hideaway for the wedding
Glamour: Kourtney and Travis are staying on the prestigious $14.2million Regina d’Italia superyacht off the coast of Portofino, Italy ahead of their wedding this weekend
Glitz: The vessel’s name, Regina d’Italia, means Queen of Italy in English, with the interior of the boat striking an impressive balance between flamboyance and minimalism
No expense spared: Rome-based architectural team Lazzarini Pickering Architetti designed the interior, with the cruiser featuring gold doorhandles shaped like outstretched hands
Staff have been arriving in boats at a jetty which has been erected next to the beachside house, giving them direct access to the venue and the castle.
One was seen carrying in drone equipment which is sure to create a dramatic images as the couple celebrate their union.
At one stage, a gangway with rails erected to help people stepping off the pontoon style jetty collapsed into the water, but it is not believed that anyone was hurt.
MailOnline witnessed staff diving into the sea to manhandle the gangway back into position.
Fit for royalty: Regal furniture is seen throughout the yacht, with leopard skin throws scattered about
Necessities: The yacht is equipped with extensive entertainment equipment and a state of the art gym for the on-board guests
Afloat: The ship’s bold silver metallic hull is 51 metres long, with the yacht’s superstructure made from flight-weight aluminium while the hull is made of steel
Efforts were then made to tie it more securely into position to stop it collapsing again and causing potential disaster by spilling guests into the sea.
Red roses were put up overnight to decorate the landing point around the jetty for some guests who might arrive at the spot
Staff have been sworn to secrecy and made to sign legal agreements, forbidding them from talking about the wedding.
Wild PDAs, IVF struggles, and THREE weddings: A look back at Kravis’ whirlwind romance history
They’re saying ‘I do’ for a third time this weekend in Portofino, Italy in front of a close circle of family and friends. Here, DailyMail.com takes a look back at the three weddings, wild PDAs, IVF struggles and whirlwind romance of Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker…
Travis’ first Kardashian crush on Kim
Having been a friend of the family for years, Travis Barker first showed his interest in the KarJenner clan when he confessed to first being attracted to Kim Kardashian – not Kourtney – back when she was an assistant to Paris Hilton around 2006.
‘How could you not stare at Kim? Mind you, I enjoyed hanging out with Paris, but I love curvy girls,’ Travis admitted in 2015. ‘Kim was eye candy. I was no way disrespectful to Paris, but I couldn’t keep my eyes off Kim!’
Travis went on to say he spent time with Kim in their Calabasas neighborhood and while he had a ‘crush’ on her, he said ‘nothing ever happened.’
Eyes for someone else? Travis is seen looking away in a 2018 flashback photo that Kourtney recently posted
Getting to know the family
Travis then made several appearances on Keeping Up with the Kardashians while he was still married to ex-wife Shanna Moakler, cementing his status as a true Kardashian family friend.
His daughter Alabama revealed in October 2017 that she had been bonding with the Kardashians, along with her father, though she did not specifically mention Kourtney.
‘Actually, the other night I had dinner with all of them and they were really sweet,’ she said at the time. Travis shares Alabama and a son Landon with his ex Moakler, who he was married to from 2004 to 2008.
A look of love? Travis is seen in an old episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Dating rumors
Kourtney and Travis first sparked romance rumors when they were spotted on what appeared to be a date together in 2018 Los Angeles.
For their evening out, the duo attended an evening service at the famed celebrity Hillsong Church, and then later went out for a vegan dinner at Crossroads where they dined with Kourtney’s pal Larsa Pippen.
At the time, Kourtney had broken up with French model Younes Bendjima just a few months before.
Getting close: Kourtney and Travis are spotted out together in 2018 heading for dinner
From friends to lovers
Their relationship was confirmed in January 2021 after growing closer during the pandemic, as Kourtney recently revealed she made the first move while the pair were enjoying a friendly movie night together.
‘I was definitely always attracted to Travis. I think it was just the right time in my life,’ she said on the show this year, adding: ‘We were texting and I put it out there, like flirtatious conversation.’
After Travis failed to make a move and went to put on a second movie for them to watch, Kourtney took action: ‘I was like, “I don’t have time for this movie marathon,’” so I made the first move.’
Getting closer: The pair are seen together in another episode of KUWTK
PDA power couple
‘Kravis’ became Instagram official for Valentines in February 2021 with Kourtney posting a picture of the pair holding hands, but that was just the start of the wild PDAs that followed. By April, Travis posted a blurry snap of them making out, while they later revealed their signature move on Kourtney straddling the Blink 182 drummer in the Utah desert.
Their PDAs reached a fever pitch in August last year, when Scott Disick reached out to her ex Younes Bendjima on Instagram after seeing Kourtney straddle Travis on a gondola. He later apologized.
They made their red carpet debut at the VMAs in September last year, and their display of tongue-kissing for the cameras set the tone for many more PDA-heavy events including this year’s Met Gala.
Wow! Kourtney and Travis show off their signature straddle pose in Utah
The first of many: Kravis made their red carpet debut at the MTV VMAs in September last year
IVF struggles
While the couple’s romance has seen many highs, Kourtney has revealed they’ve also faced heartbreak as she’s struggled to have a child with Travis.
In an episode of the Kardashians, Kourt confessed their doctor had taken them down ‘this road of doing IVF’ saying ‘it hasn’t been the most amazing experience.’
The reality star is mother to Mason, 12; Penelope, nine; and Reign, seven — with her former partner Scott Disick, whom she dated from 2005 until 2015.
A romantic proposal
Travis popped the question in October to Kourtney, whisking her away to a beach in Montecito, California, as the special moment was captured for the Kardashians Hulu reality show.
Later, it was revealed there was drama as Kris Jenner made the call not to include Kourtney’s children in the happy moment – which resulted in her daughter Penelope becoming upset.
‘I woke up all night thinking it was a dream,’ Kourtney gushed on Instagram at the time.
‘I woke up all night thinking it was a dream,’ Kourtney penned on Instagram about her proposal from Travis
Three weddings
Not content with just one ceremony, Kravis kicked things off with a drunken Las Vegas wedding in April this year after partying at the Grammy Awards. But the wedding was void as it was revealed the loved-up couple did not have the correct paperwork.
In the run up to their big wedding in Italy, Kravis legally tied the knot in Santa Barbara in May with her grandmother Mary Jo “MJ” Campbell present, as well as Travis’ father Randy Barker. The pair drove off in a vintage lowrider convertible with a ‘Just Married’ sign.
However, the couple really pulled out the stops for their big bash in Portofino renting out an entire castle for their family and friends. The pair chose the historic house museum Castello Brown located on a hill above Portofino harbour for their official big celebration.
First wedding: Kravis tied the knot in Vegas, though it was not legally binding
Second: They officially got hitched in Santa Barbara in May with her grandmother Mary Jo “MJ” Campbell present
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