As the woman to finally tame the world’s most eligible bachelor, Amal Alamuddin has been the subject of much discussion among George Clooney’s family.
But his relatives were left disappointed when work commitments kept the stunning human rights lawyer in the UK when the Oscar winner, 53, made his annual trip to Augusta, Kentucky last week – while his parents Nick and Nina had even painted their house in preparation.
However, many of the Clooney clan will soon have their chance to meet Amal, 36, as the star’s aunt Starla Clooney today exclusively confirms to MailOnline the couple WILL wed in Italy in September.
Mrs Clooney revealed the actor’s parents are now planning a trip to Italy in the next week or two to ‘scope out some stuff’ – as she revealed it’s likely that A lister Brad Pitt will be Clooney’s best man.
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Family ties: George Clooney joins his parents Nina and Nick, to the left of him, and sister Adelia, next to him, as he donates costumes from his hit movies to the Rosemary Clooney House Museum in his hometown of Augusta, Kentuc
Kind: Clooney has donated his costume from The Monuments Men and Leatherheads to the museum dedicated to his aunt, singer Rosemary Clooney. His dad, Nick, stands by holding the family dog in his arms
Starla lives in Hamilton, Ohio, with her husband Joe, 60, who is George’s uncle, where she works as a non-denominational minister, officiating events including weddings in prisons at the nearby Lebanon and Warren Correctional Institutions.
And asked about the wedding, she said: ‘I did hear Cincinnati, since it’s not that far from Kentucky – that’s one of the places they were considering – but apparently Cincinnati didn’t win, it’s not going to be the place.
‘I do know that Nick and Nina are planning a trip over to Italy in the next week or so to, I guess, scope out some stuff.’
Starla also thinks the actor and producer will choose one of his Hollywood friends over a family member when it comes to picking a best man, saying: ‘I would say he’d choose Brad Pitt for his best man. They are good friends, I would think that’s who he’d choose.’
But she offered her services to preside over a local service if Clooney and Amal decided to have another ceremony in case family can’t travel to Italy, adding: ‘Sure, I’d do it in a heartbeat!’
Around 200 of the star’s extended family descended on the town and nearby Maysville for a weekend of get-togethers – eager to meet the newest member of the clan.
However, Amal was in London where days later she attended the global summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict in London, alongside Clooney’s good pal Brad Pitt, his fiancée Angelina Jolie and British Foreign Secretary William Hague.
Ben Breslin, 55, a cousin of George’s, who hosted a big party on Saturday night, told MailOnline: ‘When he came in the front door, I was looking around asking ‘Where is she?’
‘He explained she’s a lawyer and apparently she’s across the sea somewhere working on a case, off saving the world. It was a shame because I would have liked to have met her.’
When asked if he was looking forward to welcoming a Brit into the family, Ben laughed: ‘Not a problem – if she can put up with us, we can put up with her. Nina say she’s a lovely girl and if she likes her, she’s in.’
George’s parents, retired broadcaster Nick, 80, and Nina, 74 – who runs her own shop in the town – had even had their house REPAINTED ahead of the occasion.
It’s love: The first glimpse of Clooney and Amal as they dined together in London last October
Happy hug: Oscar winner Clooney cheerfully hugs a woman at his family reunion last week
Reunited: George Clooney was happy to see his relatives in Augusta, Kentucky
