Looking Back on George & Amal Clooney's $4.6 Million Italian Vows

As a bystander to their love story, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of admiration and warmth for this extraordinary couple. Their journey together seems nothing short of destiny, a fairy tale unfolding right before our eyes.

In retrospect, it’s quite charming that George Clooney hadn’t anticipated that his wedding to the renowned international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney (born Alamuddin) would create such a stir.

5 months following his proposal amid a homemade pasta meal, when “Why Shouldn’t I?” by his Aunt Rosemary Clooney played – this was his cue to invite Amal to get a lighter from the drawer where she would find a 7-carat diamond he had specially commissioned – they gathered 100 of their closest friends and family for Venetian vows. This romantic event lasted for four days, taking them through the intricate network of Venice’s canals.

Later on, George admitted to The Hollywood Reporter that we hadn’t shared our plans with anyone else. However, somehow, it got uncovered by someone.

When word spread about his plans, it transformed into a significant occasion for him. People traveled four hours by bus from his 18th-century villa on Lake Como to Venice. Upon boarding the boat, they were greeted by numerous photographers and spectators. As we sat in the boat, he expressed, “Why should we hide? Why should we be ashamed?” We stood up and waved instead.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it like this: On September 27, 2014, their wedding was as glamorous as any Hollywood red carpet event, attended by stars such as Emily Blunt and John Krasinski, Matt Damon, Bono, and Anna Wintour. The man who had sworn he’d rather don the Batman suit again than marry, found himself promising forever to a woman he never expected to meet.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie had busy schedules with their respective projects; meanwhile, Ben Affleck was at the premiere of his movie “Gone Girl,” playfully telling TopMob News, “Some of us need to keep working.

I’ve met many wonderful women, but Amal stood out as if I was experiencing something unique on all fronts,” the 63-year-old shared with The New York Times, describing the captivating Oxford graduate, 46, who made an impression at a dinner party in his Italian villa and found a place in his heart.

Suddenly, spending his life with one person, the right person, was the most obvious choice.

He unequivocally stated that welcoming Amal into his life transformed everything for him beyond measure. There wasn’t a shadow of a doubt in his mind, as he emphasized that everything she was and everything she did became infinitely greater in importance compared to himself.

So, no, their vows weren’t going to be casual.

That year, Amal shared with Vogue that she and George desired a wedding that was both romantic and sophisticated. Consequently, she visited Oscar de la Renta’s showroom in New York City approximately two months prior to their grand event.

They had examined numerous evening gowns and wedding dresses together, he shared with the publication. This conversation revealed her preferences, which in turn sparked my idea about what she desired.

The final creation featured multiple layers of ivory tulle adorned with Chantilly lace spanning fourteen yards, intricately hand embroidered with beads and crystals on the bodice, and a matching cathedral-length veil. This stunning ensemble was ideal for her memorable stroll down the aisle in a city famously known as “the most romantic in the world,” a place her future husband affectionately nicknamed.

Initially, there was a lot of festivity to be had in the coastal Italian city, commencing with the separate bachelor and bachelorette parties for the couple on Friday, September 26.

Following their journey eastward, Amal put on a cocktail dress designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen (the creative mind behind Kate Middleton’s wedding gown) and then gathered with her designer sister Tala Alamuddin, editor mother Baria Alamuddin, and some friends at the Aman Canal Grande Venice. It was here where Amal and George were to get married the next evening.

The group on board Rande Gerber’s boat (a close friend and co-founder of Casamigos Tequila), continued towards restaurant Ristorante Da Ivo in Tuscany, where George Clooney had called only moments ago saying, “I want to join you,” as shared by the restaurant owner Giovanni Fracassi with TopMob News. The night turned out to be quite intense.

Eagerly springing into motion, Giovanni skillfully organized guests at the 37-seat canal-side eatery and covered the windows with screens to ensure George’s party could savor their black truffle tortellini and mushroom risotto (accompanied by their three Casamigos bottles!) undisturbed.

According to a fellow diner, he appeared to have been enjoying himself all day, yet there was no trace of the typical chaos common in bachelor parties. Instead, it was pure joy radiating from him.

Without a doubt, that same topic continued to be the focus as everyone reconvened at the luxurious Aman Venice for the primary occasion the following night.

In the luxurious, flower-adorned corridors of a seven-star resort, where candles seemed to stretch endlessly, Walter Veltroni, the ex-Mayor of Rome, presided over a 30-minute ceremony.

There was a performance of Irving Berlin’s “Always,” the song that George’s parents danced to at their wedding, along with heartfelt speeches from family members. Baria, among them, spoke lovingly about her future son-in-law, wearing a Giorgio Armani tux, saying, “‘George, we love you genuinely, profoundly, and sincerely. We appreciate your charm, your intelligence, the sparkle of your conversation, and your generosity. You are just perfect.'” Lastly, they sealed their eternal bond with a long kiss.

Next, they headed for a five-course dinner featuring polenta with wild mushrooms and lobster risotto, followed by the slicing of an impressive four-tier Art Deco cake, and their first dance to “Why Shouldn’t I?”, the tune that sparked it all.

Approximately 250 bottles of champagne and around 100 cases of Casamigos were the key elements keeping the celebration lively until 5 a.m., as the bride switched to her second ensemble by Oscar de la Renta – an extravagant, Gatsby-inspired beaded dress designed for dancing, which she wore during the evening.

According to Baria, George and Amal exuded love throughout the entire evening of their wedding. He described the event as incredibly unique and extraordinary, even calling it a legend.

On Sunday afternoon, the newlyweds continued celebrating by hosting a lively pool party at the Cipriani Hotel, where they raised glasses yet again to honor their friends and family.

Upon George and Amal’s arrival, there was such an uproar of applause that it echoed all the way down the canal, as reported by a source to TopMob News.

A picnic-style buffet of what the source dubbed “hangover food” (think: bacon and egg club sandwiches, fries, burgers, cheesecake) was laid out to fuel another round of drinks and dancing.

As a follower, I couldn’t help but join in on the festive spirit as the champagne bottles burst open, and the music echoed loudly around us. The playlist was a mix of tunes, with funk tracks dominating – James Brown classics were spinning along with lively party songs that had everyone grooving. A DJ manned the decks, and the afternoon was bright, warm, and sunny. People were darting in and out of the pool for a refreshing swim, making it an incredibly enjoyable and spirited gathering.

After a brief interlude for attire adjustments, participants reunited in the hotel’s elegant dining area for a night of continued celebrations, which marked the culmination of the weekend events before people departed on Monday. As one source put it, “It was a fantastic and sophisticated closure to an extraordinary weekend.

Indeed, the Clooneys still needed to take care of one more thing, showing up at the city hall the day after for a quick, five-minute civil ceremony to officially bind their union. Amal picked out a cream suit by Stella McCartney for this special occasion.

Over the course of a thrilling weekend filled with unending festivities and champagne cheers (approximately costing $4.6 million), Baria reflected that “the companionship, the kinship, the ambiance,” would remain etched in his memory forever.

However, what stood out most to guest Bill Murray during his interview with TopMob News at the premiere of “St. Vincent” was quite simple: the heartwarming moment when those two characters found each other. It’s truly astounding that these particular individuals – given their unique traits – managed to connect with one another. It’s almost unreal, and I’m overjoyed for them!

Almost as thrilled as the Clooneys were for themselves.

Shortly after their wedding, the newlyweds started considering the possibility of starting a family, as they felt blessed and wanted to share their good fortune. George shared this sentiment with The Hollywood Reporter, stating, “After getting married, Amal and I realized we were incredibly fortunate, and it didn’t seem right for that luck only to be ours.

Having seen George flip his stance on marriage, friends had expected babies might be next.

For quite some time, the idea wasn’t even worth considering – it was out of the question entirely. However, that all shifted when I encountered Amal.

When George revealed they were expecting twins before their third anniversary, Matt responded, “I wasn’t taken aback. I’m overjoyed for them, but ever since he met her, I had a sense that something like this was likely to happen.

A significant number of people within his close group held this view. As the wife of Rande Gerber, co-founder of Casamigos Tequila with George, Cindy Crawford expressed to TopMob News, “I believe it was Amal who made it happen. She’s simply incredible and they are so content. It appeared as if this was the next logical step for them.

Over time, they’ve continued to move together, this duo passing the pandemic by exchanging heartfelt letters during the lockdown.

George shared with AARP The Magazine in 2021 that he plans to either place a letter on her desk or hide one under the pillow. He is an advocate of the written word, emphasizing his belief in letters.

In his own words, the star of Tomorrowland shared with Hoda Kotb on Today in March 2021, “I never sought after having children as a necessity. I didn’t feel that my life would be incomplete without them. However, meeting Amal and then welcoming our kids into our lives made me realize how much my life had been missing.

The arrival of his 7-year-old twins, Alexander and Ella, made him feel like he truly belonged, had a sense of home, and was showered with unconditional love. He further explained, “These things you were seeking in a fulfilling career and a pet, you come to understand, are worth so much more than that.

2024-09-27 13:19

Looking Back on George & Amal Clooney’s $4.6 Million Italian Vows

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