(MENAFN- Arab Times) VENICE Sept 29 (AFP): Newlyweds George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin are on Monday due to wrap up a whirlwind wedding weekend in Venice by holding a civil ceremony to seal their star-studded 'more than perfect' marriage. The pair who have whipped up a frenzy in Italy's floating city with four days of lavish nuptial celebrations are expected to whizz to the grand 13th century Palazzo Cavalli around 12 noon (1000 GMT) in their vintage speed boat 'Amore'.
Boats loaded with onlookers waited outside the couple's luxurious Cipriani hotel in Monday morning sunshine as paparazzi lined the banks of the Grand Canal ready to capture sought-after images of the couple. At city hall the pair will be officially married under Italian law by former mayor of Rome Walter Veltroni a long-time friend of the silver-screen star who was seen getting ready at the Cipriani where the wedding party has been staying. The photogenic pair who share a passion for human rights have spent the weekend celebrating with family and Hollywood chums including Matt Damon Bill Murray Cindy Crawford and her husband Rande Gerber rumoured to be Clooney's best man. It wasn't clear whether they would join the Clooneys at the civil ceremony on Monday but sightings of Murray on a drunken stroll through the city's cobbled streets late Sunday suggested that if they do attend they might be doing so on a hangover. Rumours were rife that the newlyweds may go on a romantic gondola ride through the City of Canals after the ceremony with a possible stop at the historic Bridge of Sighs where legend has it lovers secure themselves eternal bliss with a kiss. After a fairytale weekend of opulent dinners the couple may come face to face with a more stark reality at the town hall where council workers hit by the economic crisis are planning to stage a protest over salary and budget cuts. The cries of those furious over a string of corruption scandals in Venice however are likely to be drowned out by the screams of ecstatic fans who could be seen grabbing the best spots in the morning to get a glimpse of the bewitching pair. The Hollywood heartthrob and his wife cut an elegant pair on Sunday when they led a flotilla of boats down the Grand Canal after dancing nearly till dawn during a star-studded overnight ceremony and party. 'The wedding was more than perfect' Amal's father Ramzi Alamuddin told AFP describing the festivities as both 'grand' and 'simple'. He added that the couple were a great match and 'very happy' about how they were welcomed in Venice. 'It is very good news among the bad news we are living now' he said referring to the unrest in the Middle East and on the borders of Lebanon where the bride was born. Human rights lawyer Alamuddin who moved to Britain when she was a toddler looked effortlessly graceful in a long-sleeved white lace Giambattista Valli dress covered with pink and red flowers in her first public appearance as Mrs Clooney while the US actor was suave as ever in a finely cut grey suit. During their brief public outing 53-year-old Clooney was begged by the crowd to show off his ring a wide band in white gold and jokingly looked at his right hand in surprise. Alamuddin's ring was more delicate and looked like it featured a band of small diamonds. The designer of the thigh-flashing dress with which the new Mrs. Clooney wowed the crowds in Venice at the weekend was revealed Monday as Italian haute couture star Giambattista Valli. Amal Alamuddin spent most of her first full day of married life in a stunning predominately white mini-dress that was intricately decorated with exquisite macrame embroidery in the form of purple and pink flowers. A high round neck and long sleeves helped give the piece a demure bridal feel. But in typical Valli style that initial impression was offset by a high 'drop' (higher at the front than the back) hemline that paired with towering strappy gold stilettoes hinted at a racier side to the 36-year-old human rights specialist. A spokeswoman for Valli revealed the dress that made front pages around the world on Monday to have been crafted from silk the Rome-born Paris-based designer's favourite fabric. The dress was not specifically designed for Alamuddin to wear. She picked it from a previous Valli haute couture collection and had it adapted to her own willowy measurements. 'It was the first time he has dressed Amal and for sure it won't be the last' the spokeswoman said. Valli is a firm favourite among Hollywood A-listers having designed red carpet outfits for the likes of Penelope Cruz Natalie Portman and Halle Berry. He created the much commented upon pink robe that Jessica Biel wore for her 2012 wedding to Justin Timberlake. The global buzz generated by Alamuddin's showcase of his skill could help promote his new more affordable line. The new Giamba collection unveiled in Milan earlier this month is meant to complement his haute couture and ready-to-wear collections and features mini-dresses in the same vein as the one sported by Alamuddin. Models are due in shops in early 2015. For Monday's official civil service at the Venice city hall she sported a cream trouser ensemble with navy blue trim at the waist and around a wide-brimmed hat.
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