Andiamo! George Clooney and his fiancee Amal Alamuddin took a glamorous boat ride down the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy, on Friday, Sept. 26. Joining the soon-to-be-married couple were Clooney’s Casamigos business partner and close pal Rande Gerber and his supermodel wife Cindy Crawford.
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An observer tells Us Weekly that the quartet came into Venice on a river bus from Lake Como, where Clooney famously owns an estate. The group took their boat down the famed water passage of the Floating City, past the picturesque Rialto Bridge, which was “packed” with tourists and onlookers.
“They didn’t shy away,” the eyewitness says of Clooney’s crew. Instead, the stars stood on the open deck, waving and smiling at the fans who called their names. Alamuddin looked statuesque in a black and white striped Dolce & Gabbana dress, while Clooney wore a grey suit and an Omega watch.
Gerber and his wife both wore denim, which the supermodel paired with large shades and an Omega timepiece. “They seemed really happy,” the observer tells Us of the group.
The group then set off for the Cipriani Hotel, the luxurious five-star, 19th-Century venue that is hosting the couple’s reception and housing Alamuddin’s family for the weekend. A source at the hotel told Us: “Her mom [Baria] is at the hotel already with a host of family members… They seem excited about the festivities. I heard her mom say, ‘I can’t believe it’s actually here!'” Find out more about the gorgeous wedding venue.
The couple will kick off their wedding weekend on Friday evening, beginning with a rehearsal dinner at The Cipriani. Guests will then be transferred by boat onto the seven-star Aman Canal Grande for the ceremony. As confirmed by Us, Clooney’s pal and the former mayor of Rome, Walter Veltroni, will preside over the wedding.
Once married, the newlyweds and their guests will enjoy a five-course meal by Italian chef Riccardo de Pra. A total of 400 security officers and police personnel will be working on the A-lister’s wedding.? “George and Amal have their own team of 10 bodyguards,” the insider tells Us.
Their wedding will be followed up with a civil ceremony on Monday, Sept. 29, at the Palazzo Ca’ Farsetti.
“Everyone is very excited. It’s going to be quite the party,” one source told Us. “There is a lot of celebrating planned. They will be serving the [Casamigos] tequila at a couple of the parties!”
