George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin Wedding Venue Pictures

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George Clooney and bride-to-be Amal Alamuddin have been taking over Venice before their wedding—and paparazzi have been taking over the canals. It's all leading up to a big ceremony at one of the most opulent palaces in Venice, the Aman Canal Grande.

The hotel entrance is right on Venice's Grand Canal, so guests can arrive on water taxis. According to the Telegraph, that's because in the 16th century, when the palace was built, all the well-to-do Venetians would only travel by gondola. The paparazzi would have to use the boats to get any sight of the festivities, because there's only a very small, hidden entrance on land.

The main reception area has sky-high ceilings and a giant Murando chandelier, with windows looking right onto the canal. There are also several separate dining rooms and another party space upstairs, in case Clooney really went overboard on the number of guests. According to CNN, workers were seen putting up tents at the hotel, ostensibly to protect the party against prying eyes.

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The only downside of the venue? The hotel only has 24 bedrooms. So many guests have reportedly been staying at the five-star Hotel Cipriani on the island of Giudecca. They've been spotted having drinks by the pool, and the hotel has set up several bar areas for guests. Clooney goes way back with the hotel, having stayed there for years during the Venice Film Festival, People reports. He even created some of the hotel's signature cocktails.

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Photo Credits: Aman Grande Canal, Belmond Hotel Cipriani, GC Images

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Megan Friedman is the former managing editor of the Newsroom at Hearst. She's worked at NBC and Time, and is a graduate of Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism.