Nicole's Wedding Photos In German Magazine

Nicole Richie's hard work in the gym paid off as she glammed it up to say 'I do' to longtime beau Joel Madden. Good thing because she was having a hard time selling those wedding photos.

Gracing the cover of German Magazine in, Lionel Richie's daughter can be seeing posing alongside her dad ... who transformed his Beverly Hills estate into a French country garden. Also in the photos, a curly-haired Harlow striking a pose with a veiled mommy. But wait, no picture of Nicole on the back of an elephant?

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Nicole's Big Suprise For Joel On Wedding Day

Though the bride usually makes most of the wedding arrangements, the groom is usually looped in on the big things. But for Joel Madden and Nicole Richie’s wedding, one very large part of the wedding was a surprise to the Good Charlotte Rocker: the elephant!

“I was like, ‘what?’” Madden told People Magazine about the 47-year old animal which greeted their guests.

“Then I just laughed- Nicole getting an elephant and not telling me is typical of our relationship.”

Madden added that he is usually the “no guy” but let the massive shocker roll off his back out of love for his bride.

“But if there’s one time I want her to have the craziest thing she wants, it’s the day we marry.”

Credit: Radar Online

Nicole Richie's 'Magical' Wedding Night

Ever since she was a little girl, there were two things Nicole Richie wanted on the day she married: a show-stopper dress inspired by Grace Kelly's iconic wedding gown, and a real live elephant for good luck.

Both her wishes came true as she married Good Charlotte rocker Joel Madden at her father Lionel Richie's home on Dec. 11.

They tied the knot in front of their children – Harlow, 2, was the flower girl, while 15-month-old Sparrow was the ring-bearer – under a tent transformed to resemble a French garden.

"It was magical," Richie, 29, tells PEOPLE. Adds Madden, 31: "It was the best night of my life."

For her big day, Richie wore three stunning Marchesa dresses, including one featuring a ball-gown skirt crafted from more than 100 yards of hand-draped silk organza and tulle petals. 

Credit: People

Nicole Richie's Wedding Elephant Explained!

Why in the world was there an elephant at Nicole Richie and Joel Madden's wedding?

Folks were baffled Saturday when an elephant with an elaborate headdress was seen entering the premises of Lionel Richie's Beverly Hills estate -- where 150 guests watched his daughter and Madden exchange vows.

The answer lies in an interview Richie, 29, gave way back in November 2005, when she was then engaged to marry the late DJ A.M. (real name: Adam Goldstein).

On Larry King Live! she told guest host Ryan Seacrest all about her wedding plans. "I want to have a very, very big wedding. I want it to be very extravagant. I want like hundreds of people and elephants...and a horse and carriage."

Befuddled, Seacrest asked about the inclusion of elephants. "Because elephants are really good luck," Richie explained. "And they're beautiful animals. You don't think?"

To illustrate, she added: "You know, the movie Coming to America," in which Eddie Murphy plays an African prince who has a beyond-lavish wedding with elephants and many other creatures.

"I want it bigger than that," she said.

Elephant or not, Richie's actual nuptials were slightly more low-key. Richie wore three different Marchesa outfits for the black-tie, winter-themed event, attended by celeb pals like Khloe Kardashian and Samantha Ronson. Rapper-minister Rev. Run officiated the ceremony, and guests dined on goodies like homemade butternut squash ravioli, filet mignon and a dessert buffet.

"It was awesome!" a guest told Us.

Credit: Us Magazine

Nicole Richie and Joel Madden Tie the Knot!

Making their love for one another official, Nicole Richie has tied the knot with longtime mate Joel Madden during a sunset ceremony in Bel Air, California on Saturday (December 11).

The former "Simple Life" star was clad in Marchesa as she and her Good Charlotte rocker beau said their "I Do's" during an intimate celebration held at Nicole's dad Lionel Richie's spectacular estate.

As for the setup, sprawling tents were erected in Lionel's backyard to host while the pool was covered up and transformed into a dancefloor for guests to get their groove on.

With celebs such as Gwen Stefani, Gavin Rossdale, Kris Jenner and Samantha Ronson there to support Miss Richie, Mr Madden made the expected decision to have brother Benji act as his best man.

Capping off the extravagant affair, Nicole and Joel also enlisted the services of a well-known trained elephant named Tai to add a special touch to the lively proceedings.

Credit: Celebrity Gossip