VENICE (Reuters) – The world’s most famous bachelor, George Clooney, broke a vow to remain single yesterday and married human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin during a weekend of lavish celebrations in Venice.
The Italian city of gondolas and palazzi looked like Hollywood on the Adriatic as A-list guests cruised between luxury hotels for the extravaganza, billed as the party of the year even as details were kept largely secret.
Clooney’s representative, Stan Rosenfield, broke a long silence about the actor’s personal life yesterday, issuing a statement confirming the marriage.
“George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin were married today in a private ceremony in Venice, Italy,” People magazine quoted Rosenfield as saying.
The pair had been expected to wed officially tomorrow in a civil ceremony at Venice’s 14th-century town hall. It was not clear if that would still take place.
Venice’s Grand Canal turned into an aquatic red carpet as the tuxedo-clad actor and his guests crossed the lagoon from the Cipriani hotel for dinner at the seven-star Aman Canal Grande Venice, housed in the 16th-century Palazzo Papadopoli.
Actors Matt Damon and Bill Murray mingled with model Cindy Crawford, Vogue editor Anna Wintour and singer Bono at a reception on the terrace of the plush Cipriani before embarking.
Passing “vaporetti” public boats tilted sideways as passengers crowded to see two-time Oscar winner Clooney, who waved to onlookers and rubbed his hands together on arrival at the Aman, as if to show he was looking forward to a good meal.