When the world’s most eligible bachelor weds in the world’s most romantic city, you can guarantee a spectacle.
And that’s exactly what Venice got on Friday.
Heralding three days of festivities, George Clooney and his London-based lawyer bride Amal Alamuddin burst into the floating city as if they were stepping on to a film set.
Smiling, kissing and waving to well-wishers, they were treated to the kind of excited welcome normally reserved for royalty. In their designer sunglasses, they looked every inch the star couple.
While Clooney opted for a grey suit and open-necked blue shirt, Alamuddin wore a stunning striped midi dress by Dolce and Gabbana.
Following in their wake along the canals came the supporting cast — Hollywood A-listers who promise to make this wedding one of the most glamorous Italy has ever seen. Actor Matt Damon was one of the first guests seen arriving, as he boarded a taxi boat with his wife Luciana Barroso.
Other guests
They were followed by Cindy Crawford and her entrepreneur husband Rande Gerber, who is widely reported to be Clooney’s best man. But plenty more stars are expected. The guest list — rumoured to number 150 — includes names such as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Bono, Julia Roberts and Sandra Bullock.
Details of the full wedding timetable are shrouded in secrecy. But what is known is that a reception will be held at Hotel Aman — the city’s only seven-star hotel — on Saturday.
Then on Monday, a civil marriage ceremony will take place at the council-owned Ca’Farsetti, a 13th century building overlooking the Grand Canal, which houses the town hall. Under Italian law, civil ceremonies have to take place in council buildings.
The ceremony will be conducted by the former mayor of Rome, Walter Veltroni, a friend of Clooney, who has obtained a licence to be able to officiate.
It is understood that Clooney, 53, is to wear Armani to the wedding, while Alamuddin, 36, will be in an Alexander McQueen dress designed by Sarah Burton — the woman behind the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding gown. Late on Friday, Anna Wintour, the editor of American Vogue, arrived in Venice for the celebrations. Her magazine is believed to have secured an exclusive £1 million (Dh5.96 million) deal for the US picture rights. Negotiations for UK rights are expected to fetch a similar sum. The couple have reportedly told the magazines involved to donate this money to charity.
Strict security
To avoid any unauthorised pictures being leaked to the press, the couple have banned guests from bringing mobiles or tablets into the venues.
Strict security is expected to cause disruption for Venetians over the weekend, with star guests being shadowed by police boat escorts.
Clooney and Alamuddin met at a charity event and began dating in September last year. The actor proposed in April, presenting her with a diamond engagement ring said to be worth £415,000.
His Oxford-educated fiancee has a high-profile client list — she has represented WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and is an advisor to former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Clooney split from first wife Talia Balsam in 1993, describing himself as a “lousy husband”.
