Venice - George Clooney put an end to his status as one of the world's most eligible bachelors on Saturday by tying the knot with British-Lebanese human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin.
The couple exchanged vows during a grand gala dinner at the hotel Aman Canal Grande, Clooney's publicist said in a statement. The wedding was expected to be officially registered at Venice City Hall on Monday.
The Hollywood actor and director, looking impeccable in an Armani dinner jacket, arrived at the Aman aboard the same water taxi called Amore that he used on Friday to make his grand entrance into Venice with his wife-to-be.
His father Nick standing by his side, and flanked by an unruly cortege of 30 boats with police and paparazzi, Clooney smiled and waved at tourists and screaming fans.
He then disappeared into the seven-star hotel that hosted the night's festivities. Privacy was safeguarded by a huge brown tent that enveloped guests as soon as they stepped off their motorboats.
A string of A-list celebrities took part in the celebrations, including actors Bill Murray, Robert De Niro and Matt Damon, as well as U2 singer Bono, former supermodel Cindy Crawford and US Vogue editor Anna Wintour.
Contrary to expectations, Sandra Bullock and newlyweds Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were a no-show.
What happened inside the Aman - a 16th century palace with 24 suites available at rates ranging from 850 to 4 000 euros per night - was kept strictly top secret.
While hundreds of security guards watched over the scene, waiters and other staff were asked to hand in their mobile phones to prevent any leaked images. The no-mobile phone policy also applied to guests.
Alamuddin spent Friday night at the Aman with her bridesmaids, while Clooney and most other guests were hosted at the Belmond Hotel Cipriani - a favourite haunt of the groom that is serving as the main base for the four-day wedding celebrations.
Exclusive pictures of the event are expected to be published by the US edition of Vogue.
According to reports, guests at Saturday's gala were serenaded with romantic jazz standards, including Nat King Cole's When I Fall In Love. - Sapa-dpa