George Clooney Amal Alamuddin joined by family celebs on Venice private ...

Splash News George Clooney's fianc e Amal Alamuddin smiles in Venice surrounded by family the night before their wedding.

Love conquers all even the heart of confirmed bachelor George Clooney.

Hollywood s most eligible leading man beamed alongside his glowing bride Amal Alamuddin in Venice on Friday as the duo welcomed family and friends on the eve of their wedding.

The legendary lady killer appeared thrilled to be surrendering his single status as he raised a glass with best buddies Matt Damon Rande Gerber and several other celebrities.

The 53 year old looked overjoyed as he watched Alamuddin gingerly step aboard a luxury mahogany water taxi that was apparently almost as tipsy as the men.

Clooney holding a nearly empty glass of spirits appeared to shout some advice to Alamuddin as she carefully navigated her way in a stunning red gown that accentuated her beautiful dark hair and dramatic red lipped smile.

XPOS/Xposure/AKM GSI Clooney raises a glass aboard a gondola at the luxurious Hotel Cipriani on a private island in Venice s lagoon where everyone reportedly gathered for the couple's rehearsal dinner Friday.

Alamuddin 36 a British Lebanese human rights lawyer was joined on the boat by her smiling mother and sister and other friends.

The setting was the luxurious Hotel Cipriani on a private island in Venice s lagoon where many of the guests are believed to be staying. Clooney escorted his fianc e to a restaurant where she and the ladies had a girls only meal according to E News.

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George Clooney Cindy Crawford and her husband Rande Gerber leaving their table Saturday at the Cipriani Hotel in Venice on the day of the actor's wedding to Amal Alamuddin in Venice.

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U2's Bono and his wife Ali Hewson arriving by taxi boat for the wedding of actor George Clooney and his fiancee Amal Alamuddin in Venice Saturday.

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The A list movie star and his fellas continued on solo to Da Ivo for a sedate last hurrah the network reported.

After their big night out the groom was spotted having a meal with Cindy Crawford and Gerber the morning of his wedding and U2's Bono finally arrived in Venice Saturday to see his pal tie the knot.

Splash News Alamuddin is stunning in red on the eve of her wedding.

Clooney whose colorful love life has been tabloid fodder for decades had vowed never to marry again after a disastrous trip down the aisle as a young man. His first marriage to actress Talia Balsam ended in divorce four years later in 1993.

He was so avowedly anti marriage that he once bet actress Michelle Pfeiffer $100 000 that he would never get hitched again.

XPOS/Xposure/AKM GSI Alamuddin 36 a British Lebanese human rights lawyer is joined by her smiling mother and sister and other friends.

Clooney watchers were mesmerized and many female hearts broken when he announced his engagement to the striking and brainy Alamuddin five months ago.

It s not yet clear if Pfeiffer was among the stampede of Hollywood heavy hitters who flew to Venice on Friday ahead of the rehearsal dinner.

Splash News Clooney is surrounded by buddies as he and his bride float on matching gondolas.

Matt Damon a member of Clooney s Ocean s Eleven posse was among the first to arrive with his wife Luciana.

There was no sight of Mr. and Mrs. Jolie Pitt in the crowd but Angelina and Brad were both expected to attend the glitz filled wedding ceremony Saturday.

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Anna Wintour arrives in Venice on Friday ahead of the star studded nuptials.

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Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso are seen ahead of George Clooney's wedding.

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Vogue editor Anna Wintour (left) arrives in Venice ahead of the star studded nuptials. (Right) Matt Damon Clooney's 'Ocean's Eleven' co star is seen with his wife Luciana Barroso Friday night at the rehearsal.

Gerber bar owner husband of model Cindy Crawford was rumored to be Clooney s best man. He and his stunning wife were all smiles as they were ferried through Venice s famous canals in the Clooney water taxi appropriately named Amore.

Gerber was recently spotted loading 50 crates of tequila onto a private plane bound for Italy according to media reports.

Luigi Costantini/AP Clooney (right) is flanked by Alamuddin Cindy Crawford (bottom right) and her husband Rande Gerber.

Other famous faces glimpsed Friday amid the gorgeous Byzantine and Renaissance architecture of Venice included Clooney s cousin Miguel Ferrer actress Ellen Barkin and Vogue editor Anna Wintour.

While some of the festivities were planned at the Hotel Cipriani the wedding was reportedly set for the opulent seven star Hotel Aman on Saturday. Formerly a Renaissance palace the Aman s 24 rooms were fully booked for this weekend months in advance.

Venice city officials have said a 50 yard length of pedestrian way along the Grand Canal will be closed Monday for two hours.

That s where the 16th century Cavalli Palace is located leading many to believe Clooney and his bride will have a formal ceremony Saturday and then a civil ceremony Monday.

With News Wire Services

gotis nydailynews.com

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