ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty ImagesIntroducing Mr. and Mrs. Clooney!
George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin could not look happier as they made their first public appearance as husband and wife on Sunday, a day after they tied the knot in a lavish hotel in Venice, Italy, in front of family and friends, including celebrities such as Matt Damon, Bill Murray and Bono (check out details).
The newlyweds were photographed leaving the Aman Canal Grande and standing on a pier while holding hands and smiling. Alamuddin wore a boatneck, long sleeve white Giambattista Valli Couture mini dress with colorful floral accents and a flared skirt as well as her wedding ring, which appears to be a slim, diamond eternity band.
The 53-year-old Oscar-winning actor and his bride, a 36-year-old British-Lebanese human rights lawyer, left the hotel in a boat on the Grand Canal, the same way he and many of the guests had arrived at the wedding. Ever the gentleman, Clooney allowed his wife to board first. They then smiled and posed for the armada of paparazzi. Alamuddin turned back to the hotel staff and waved goodbye and they waved back enthusiastically.
The wedding has attracted scores of photographers, tourists and curious locals, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man who used to be one of Hollywood's most sought-after bachelors and his ladylove.
"The crowds waiting cheered and it was so cute!" an onlooker told E! News. "Everyone in Venice feels so privileged they did this here. What a wonderful moment to see. We all say she's like Jackie [Kennedy] Onassis. We love her and George does too. It's lovely."
A beaming Clooney draped his arm around Alamuddin as they traveled to the equally as luxurious Hotel Cipriani, located about 10 minutes away down the canal, to continue celebrating with their loved ones. The two were escorted by two police boats as an armada of paparazzi followed. Sirens wailed and a helicopter buzzed overhead.
"George and Amal could NOT have been happier," another onlooker told E! News. "They were smiling and hugging and he helped her in and out of the boat like a true gentleman. They are clearly on top of the world and are just thrilled to be enjoying their wedding weekend."
"He held her hand at one point during the journey to the Cipriani Hotel and it looked as if he was asking her if she was alright and not intimidated by all the paparazzi boats," the person added. "She shook her head and was obviously loving sharing their excitement at getting married with the entire world."
The couple's wedding ceremony was symbolic. The two plan to make their marriage official after the weekend.
Clooney often spends time in Italy, as he has a villa overlooking Lake Como, located about three hours away from Venice.
"On behalf of myself, the local authorities and all the citizens of Laglio, we would like to wish Mr. George Clooney and his wife all the very best and all the happiness in the world," Roberto Pozzi, mayor of nearby Laglio, said in a telephone interview. "We have been very close to them with our thoughts in this very special moment and look forward to receiving them back here in Laglio, where we look forward to give them our best wishes, together with a wedding present, in person."
—Reporting by Senta Scarborough, Jen Paul and Ken Baker