Ellen & Portia's Wedding Album

From the cake to the rings to the reception, take a look inside the couple's romantic big day

AT LAST

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Here come the brides! An ecstatic Ellen DeGeneres, 50, and longtime girlfriend Portia de Rossi, 35 (both in custom-made Zac Posen designs), swapped "I do's" during an intimate candlelit ceremony held at their L.A. home on Aug. 16. Getting married "is not something we've ever taken for granted," says de Rossi. "That we get to do this, it means a lot."

THEIR LUCKY DAY

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"I'm the luckiest girl in the world," says DeGeneres of her "soul mate" de Rossi, as the couple enjoy an intimate moment to themselves. "She's now officially off the market. No one else gets her. And now she'll cook and clean for me."

SHARE & SHARE ALIKE

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DeGeneres and de Rossi share a laugh between bites of a vegan red-velvet wedding cake from baker Sweet Lady Jane. Their big day was filled with sweet moments – and emotion – as the couple exchanged personal vows in front of 19 of their closest friends and relatives. Says de Rossi, "The love we felt from the people surrounding us, and the love we have for each other, made it the most beautiful and emotional day."

STUCK ON HER

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DeGeneres and de Rossi take time out for a newlywed moment before their reception. Following dinner, the couple danced to their favorite love song, Stevie Wonder's "Ribbon in the Sky." DeGeneres also surprised her bride with an acoustic performance by one of her favorite singers, Joshua Radin.

AN INTIMATE SIT-DOWN

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DeGeneres and de Rossi, who exchanged platinum wedding bands designed by Neil Lane (who also designed de Rossi's marquis-cut diamond engagement ring), have eyes only for each other as their guests join them for an intimate sit-down dinner.

THE 21 CLUB

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During the reception, the 19 guests and the couple sat along a long table filled with floral centerpieces of Ecuadorian roses and café au lait dahlias created by L.A. florist Mark's Garden and dined on vegetable spring rolls and miniature "beef" sliders from the all-vegan menu prepared by the couple's personal chef David Silberkleit.

ONE HAPPY FAMILY

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"I feel very, very blessed that both of our families have embraced the two of us together," says de Rossi, with her mother Margaret Rogers (left), who flew in from the actress's native Australia for the occasion. The mother-daughter pair joined DeGeneres and her mom, Betty, for a family portrait with their pooch Wolf.

HOME PRIDE

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The couple enjoy a stroll by the pool while their dog Mabel looks on. After envisioning a big wedding, which "just got to be too big and stressful," says DeGeneres, they decided to marry at home surrounded by close friends, family and their pets. Says de Rossi, "It's where our hearts are."

SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL

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Now that the couple, who began dating in December 2004, have made it official, "it feels different," says DeGeneres, here enjoying an embrace with de Rossi in their home. "I was already planning on spending the rest of my life with her. But until you're married, you just don't know. It feels wonderful."