George Clooney married Lebanese-British lawyer Amal Alamuddin at a spectacular wedding party in a 16th century Venetian palazzo on Saturday night attended by celebrity friends including Matt Damon, Cindy Crawford, Bono and Bill Murray.
The announcement that the couple had tied the knot was made when the party was underway by Clooney’s spokesman Stan Rosenfield. 'George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin were married today (September 27) in a private ceremony in Venice, Italy,' Rosenfield said from Los Angeles. And that's amore!
The announcement came as a surprise since the couple were officially due to wed in a civil ceremony in Venice on Monday. Venice city council had previously said it would block off streets around the municipal building due to host the ceremony to keep onlookers away. Italian media suggested on Saturday that the Monday ceremony would go ahead to render the marriage legal in Italy.
News that an official ceremony took place on Saturday means that former Rome mayor Walter Veltroni – who Clooney had asked to officiate – was on hand on Saturday to perform his duties.
Observers had previously commented it was unusual that Clooney appeared intent on holding his wedding party before he was actually married. The announcement late Saturday indicated that had never been his intention.
If Clooney was hoping to avoid the limelight on Saturday, the ploy did not work. Reporters and photographers were out in force, as well as tourists and well wishers who crowded Venice’s Grand Canal as the actor and his guests travelled by motor launches to reach Palazzo Papadopoli shortly before 7pm.
A flotilla of around 20 boats of photographers and police frantically kept pace with Clooney’s launch as it ferried him from Venice’s Cipriani hotel to reach the palazzo, which is now a seven star hotel. Clooney’s launch was held up by a passing cruise ship, giving time for chasing boats to catch up.
As a drone hovered overhead, apparently operated by paparazzi, a passing water bus crammed with tourists tilted perilously as passengers rushed to one side to catch a glimpse as Clooney overtook on the Grand Canal. He was riding in a launch called Amore, the same he and Alamuddin used to enter Venice on Friday.
Inside the palazzo, guests reportedly dined on lemon risotto with lobster and a sea bass main course followed by wedding cake. Local sources suggested the evening might end the evening with a quick gondola ride around Venice.
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