A string of A-list celebrities are expected to gather in Venice over the weekend for one of the most exclusive jet set events of the year - the wedding of US actor George Clooney to Lebanese-born human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin.
Due to privacy concerns, no official information is available about the four-day fest, which starts on Friday night. But unconfirmed reports suggest that Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Bono, Cindy Crawford, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are among the guests.
The 36-year-old Alamuddin, who is normally based in London, was spotted at Milan airport on Wednesday, while the daily Corriere del Veneto wrote that Clooney arrived at the lagoon city on Thursday "in splendid form."
At the airport, the bride-to-be held a garment bag from the Stella McCartney fashion label, possibly containing her wedding dress. Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and US pop star Lana Del Rey are expected to provide musical entertainment, Corriere del Veneto said, adding that most of the celebrations will take place in the five-star Belmond Hotel Cipriani. However, guests will be moved to the seven-star Aman Canal Grande - a 16th century palazzo overlooking Venice's main waterway - for dinner on Saturday, partly because the Cipriani had already been booked for another wedding, Corriere del Veneto said.
It will be Clooney's second wedding, after his 1989-1993 union with actress Talia Balsam.
He is often seen in Venice - usually to attend the lagoon city's film festival. He also owns a villa overlooking Lake Como, near Milan.
The 53-year-old is said to have asked former Rome mayor and ex centre-left leader Walter Veltroni to officiate at a civil wedding ceremony on Monday. Crawford's husband Rande Gerber is expected to be the best man, while Alamuddin's sister Tala will be the maid of honour.
The Municipality of Venice was not available for comment. Clooney had announced plans to tie the knot in Venice earlier this month.
By Alvise Armellini
