The countdown has begun. No, not to the beginning of the school year, but the much-awaited wedding of George Clooney and his high-flying fiancee, Amal Alamuddin.
The couple posted their wedding banns at Chelsea Town Hall earlier this month, and these must be displayed to the public for 16 days before the big day — meaning that, by our calculations, the nuptials of the century are due to take place any day now.
After Brad and Angelina’s secret wedding last Saturday, we are hoping for better things from a Clooney-Alamuddin bash. But what form will it take? More tasteful than May’s Kim Kardashian/Kanye West extravaganza, undoubtedly — but will there be presidents among the guests, snowmobiles on the wedding list and Nespresso for the toast?
We piece together some of the rumours and reflect that, at the very least, a wedding where Clooney is the groom and Brad Pitt is best man sounds like the beginning of a Hollywood blockbuster in its own right.
The bride
Amal Ramzi Alamuddin, 36, barrister. Born in Beirut, fluent in French and Arabic, she grew up in Britain and currently works at Doughty Street Chambers in London, specialising in human rights, international law and extradition. Famous clients include Julian Assange (the Wikileaks founder) and Yulia Tymoshenko, the former prime minister of Ukraine. She recently turned down membership of a UN commission to look into possible violations of war in the Israel-Gaza conflict — perhaps because she has a wedding to plan.
The groom
George Timothy Clooney, 53, Oscar-winning actor. Born in Kentucky, he rose to fame as Dr Doug Ross in the TV series ER, and made the leap to Hollywood, starring in films such as Ocean’s Eleven and Gravity. He is the only person to have been nominated for Academy Awards in six different categories. His humanitarian work includes focusing on the Darfur conflict.
The in-laws
Clooney’s mother, Nina Bruce, was a beauty pageant queen and city councilwoman. His father, Nick, is a former TV and game-show host. Amal’s mother, Baria, is the foreign editor of Al Hayat, a widely read Arab newspaper, and has made numerous appearances as an analyst on Middle Eastern affairs on the BBC and Sky. Her father, Ramzi, is a former university professor and ex-vice president of the American University of Beirut.
The venue
According to Clooney’s Aunt Starla, the couple considered Cincinatti, and even Highclere Castle (the Downton Abbey set) before plumping for Italy. Clooney’s Lake Como residence, Villa Oleandra, was initially thought likely but more recently rumour has set upon Venice, where Clooney has reportedly secured “an entire island” for the weekend’s festivities.
The dress code
All details of Amal’s dress have been kept under wraps, but the designer is said to be Oscar de la Renta, who dressed actress Katherine Heigl and former First Daughter Jenna Bush for their weddings. According to reports, an entire team from Giorgio Armani’s Milan office flew up to Lake Como recently to fit Clooney and his male attendants.
The best man
Rande Gerber (Mr Cindy Crawford) was the first name mentioned, but it’s likely to be Brad Pitt, according to Aunt Starla. As for bridesmaids, US actress Ellen Barkin threw Amal a hen party a few weeks ago.
The ceremony
Clooney was raised a strict Catholic, but a religious ceremony is unlikely. According to E! News, the happy couple will say “short but meaningful handwritten vows” in front of their loved ones.
The guests
President Obama and First Lady Michelle are said to have been invited, although the White House won’t comment. Newlywed Brangelina should be there, while Brad’s ex-wife, Jennifer Aniston, is also rumoured to be on the list (good luck with that table plan). Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts, Bono and Matt Damon are invited, too, while Vogue’s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour is also said to be going (and featuring the wedding in her magazine).
The food
Clooney told Wine Enthusiast magazine that his favourite food and drink pairings are Italian-inspired — pinot grigio with fish, cooked fillet-style, and Tuscan reds for pastas with rich, heavy sauces. Could this be a clue? As for drinks, Clooney is fond of bellinis, which he drinks at the Harry’s Bar franchise near his villa — though if he wanted to give the toast a personal twist he could use the tequila brand he launched this year, called Casamigos. For that after-dinner drink, however, will Gorgeous George be able to resist serving Nespresso? He’s been the face of the coffee brand for nearly a decade.
The first dance
Brides magazine reports that Clooney has approached Lana Del Rey’s people about the possibility of her performing at the wedding. “Amal is a massive fan of Lana’s, which has made George determined to make this happen,” a source says. Del Rey won’t come cheap, though — she charged £1.5 million (Dh9.1 million) for just three songs at the Kardashian nuptials.
The wedding list
Unlikely to be at Peter Jones, although the Jolie-Pitts have reportedly already bought the Clooneys a £125,000 gold-plated snowmobile as their present.
The honeymoon
If the day is early September, the Clooneys have an exclusion zone around George’s Lake Como villa until the 30th, which might suggest a honeymoon there. It has form: The Help’s Viola Davis had her honeymoon there a couple of years ago (sans Clooney, we should add). Other locations mentioned include the Seychelles.
