Story highlights George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin are married in Venice

Italians cheer Clooney as he arrives by motorboat for star-studded bash

They were photographed Friday on a motor launch cruising Venice's canals

Actor Clooney and Alamuddin, a human rights lawyer, got engaged in the spring

George Clooney, long considered Hollywood's most eligible bachelor, married British human rights attorney Amal Alamuddin Saturday in a private ceremony in Venice, Italy, his publicist, Stan Rosenfield, told CNN.

Clooney arrived by motorboat at a star-studded bash at the Aman Canal Grande Venice resort, housed in the 16th-century Palazzo Papadopoli.

"George, auguri!" Venetians could be heard offering their best wishes as Clooney waved. "Auguri!"

Celebrities, paparazzi and the world's media have been congregating in Venice for the widely anticipated nuptials.

The actor and his then-fiancée were photographed Friday cruising the sun-dappled canals of Venice ahead of their big day.

Clooney, 53, and Alamuddin, 36, looked happy and impeccably glamorous as they were carried around the city in a motorboat appropriately named "Amore," or "Love," passing bemused tourists in gondolas as they went.

Photos: Photos: George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin Photos: Photos: George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin – Actor George Clooney and his wife, attorney Amal Alamuddin, stand on a taxi boat on the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy, on Sunday, September 28. Clooney and Alamuddin married in Venice the previous day at a private ceremony attended by celebrities. Hide Caption 1 of 11 Photos: Photos: George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin – Clooney climbs aboard a taxi boat as he leaves the Hotel Cipriani in Venice on the day of his wedding, Saturday, September 27. Hide Caption 2 of 11 Photos: Photos: George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin – Anna Wintour, Vogue magazine's editor-in-chief, and Bruce Bozzi Jr., the executive vice president of the Palm Restaurant Group, arrive to the private ceremony on September 27. The wedding was marked with a star-studded bash at the Aman Canal Grande Venice resort, housed in the 16th-century Palazzo Papadopoli. Guests arrived via taxi boat. Hide Caption 3 of 11 Photos: Photos: George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin – Actor Richard Kind arrives for the wedding. Hide Caption 4 of 11 Photos: Photos: George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin – Actor Bill Murray and Samantha Barry, CNN's senior director of social news, arrive for the wedding. Hide Caption 5 of 11 Photos: Photos: George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin – Model Cindy Crawford, right, boards a taxi boat with her husband, Rande Gerber, and other guests. Hide Caption 6 of 11 Photos: Photos: George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin – Actor Matt Damon boards a taxi boat at the Hotel Cipriani. Hide Caption 7 of 11 Photos: Photos: George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin – Guests attend a cocktail party at the Hotel Cipriani before the wedding. Hide Caption 8 of 11 Photos: Photos: George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin – U2 frontman Bono arrives at the Hotel Cipriani. Hide Caption 9 of 11 Photos: Photos: George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin – The former mayor of Rome, Walter Veltroni, and his wife, Flavia Prisco, arrive for the wedding. Hide Caption 10 of 11 Photos: Photos: George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin George Clooney marries Amal Alamuddin – Clooney and Alamuddin arrive in Venice on Friday, September 26. Hide Caption 11 of 11

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The bride-to-be was dressed in a stylish black-and-white dress, while Clooney wore a sharply tailored gray suit and white shirt with dark sunglasses.

The first celebrity guests to arrive were also caught on camera in the city famed for romance, notably actor Matt Damon, American Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and supermodel Cindy Crawford.

"I guess this is, as Dean Martin put it, 'That's Amore,' the land of love," said a tourist visiting Venice from Canada, referring to the late crooner's signature song.

"Yes, my heart is broken but I'm excited," his partner said with a smile.

"He has made the right choice," an Italian woman said. "Because Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in the world."

It's not been confirmed exactly how the wedding weekend will play out.

But a notice from the city authorities said that because of George Clooney's marriage the city hall area will be closed on Monday from 12 p.m to 2 p.m. local or later if necessary -- presumably for a civil ceremony.

Paparazzi throng canal side

Clooney revealed earlier this month at a celebrity charity event in Tuscany, Italy, that he and Alamuddin would be tying the knot in Venice.

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According to People magazine , Clooney was receiving a humanitarian award at the black-tie gala, and said during his acceptance speech, "I met my lovely bride-to-be here in Italy, whom I will be marrying, in a couple of weeks, in Venice, of all places."

Plenty of paparazzi, cameramen and photographers were on the docks facing the Aman Canal Grande . Others were going up and down the Grand Canal on taxi boats.

Power couple

The nuptials of Clooney and Alamuddin come hot on the heels of the long-awaited marriage of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie last month.

The Hollywood power couple went for a low-key ceremony at their estate in France, in which each of their six children had a part to play.

Photos: George Clooney's love life Photos: George Clooney's love life George Clooney's love life – It looks like George Clooney's found the one. The actor has said he plans to marry British human rights attorney Amal Alamuddin in Italy this fall. Before Alamuddin, the debonair actor had an illustrious dating history -- just take a look: Hide Caption 1 of 10 Photos: George Clooney's love life George Clooney's love life – Stacy Keibler: Clooney dated reality TV and WWE star Stacy Keibler from 2011 to 2013. He was hesitant to discuss his romance with Keibler, as he told the Clooney dated reality TV and WWE star Stacy Keibler from 2011 to 2013. He was hesitant to discuss his romance with Keibler, as he told the Hollywood Reporter in 2012 , "there is so little in my life that is private." News spread in July that the two had broken up for an undisclosed reason. Keibler went on to marry entrepreneur Jared Pobre in Mexico in March. Hide Caption 2 of 10 Photos: George Clooney's love life George Clooney's love life – Elisabetta Canalis: Clooney dated Italian actress and TV personality Elisabetta Canalis from 2009 to 2011 (we're sensing a pattern here). Their relationship was closely watched, and Clooney dated Italian actress and TV personality Elisabetta Canalis from 2009 to 2011 (we're sensing a pattern here). Their relationship was closely watched, and some thought Clooney had popped the question in 2010 when Canalis was photographed with a bauble on her finger. But it was actually a napkin ring she'd placed there as a joke. Hide Caption 3 of 10 Photos: George Clooney's love life George Clooney's love life – Sarah Larson: Clooney and Sarah Larson started dating in 2007, but the romance was comparatively short-lived. Although their affair : Clooney and Sarah Larson started dating in 2007, but the romance was comparatively short-lived. Although their affair survived a motorcycle accident and a walk down the red carpet at the 2008 Academy Awards -- Larson being the first lady love of Clooney's to do so -- their relationship ended that May. Hide Caption 4 of 10 Photos: George Clooney's love life George Clooney's love life – Krista Allen: Clooney fell for "Baywatch" actress Krista Allen in 2002. They met on the set of Clooney's directorial debut, "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," and reportedly dated on and off until around 2008. Hide Caption 5 of 10 Photos: George Clooney's love life George Clooney's love life – Lisa Snowdon: Clooney dated British model and media personality Lisa Snowdon on and off for about five years after reportedly meeting her on the set of a commercial in 2000. Hide Caption 6 of 10 Photos: George Clooney's love life George Clooney's love life – Celine Balitran: The actor's affinity for international amour has a long history. He met Parisian law student and waitress Celine Balitran in 1996 while filming "The Peacemaker" in the City of Light. The two were an item until 1999. Hide Caption 7 of 10 Photos: George Clooney's love life George Clooney's love life – Karen Duffy: Former MTV VJ Karen Duffy hooked Clooney in 1995, and while their romance didn't last, the friendship did. Duffy was spotted on a boat ride with Former MTV VJ Karen Duffy hooked Clooney in 1995, and while their romance didn't last, the friendship did. Duffy was spotted on a boat ride with Clooney and then-girlfriend Canalis in 2010. Hide Caption 8 of 10 Photos: George Clooney's love life George Clooney's love life – Kelly Preston: Before Kelly Preston wed John Travolta, she was attached to Clooney. The actress lived with the actor during their courtship, which began in 1987. Clooney gave Preston a pet pig as a gesture of love, which he ended up keeping after they broke up in 1989. Hide Caption 9 of 10 Photos: George Clooney's love life George Clooney's love life – Talia Balsam: The only woman who can claim to be an ex-wife and not just an ex-girlfriend is Talia Balsam, whom Clooney wed in 1989 after his relationship with Preston ended. The couple's history dated to 1984, but it wasn't enough to sustain the marriage. They divorced after three years of matrimony. Hide Caption 10 of 10

Clooney and Alamuddin seem set to make more of a public splash with their event, although since they became engaged in the spring , they've been largely protective of their relationship.