How many women, since he first found fame on ER, have fantasised about marrying George Clooney? Well, it was British-Lebanese human rights lawyer AmalAlamuddin who finally had the honour last week. And the location for the most high-profile wedding since William and Kate? Venice.

The wedding festivities, which spanned a weekend, were spread across Venetian landmarks I remember well from my visits to the city.

• The Belmond Hotel Cipriani: A luxury hotel on the island of Giudecca, opened in 1958 by Giuseppe Cipriani, of Harry’s Bar and the Bellini cocktail fame. Its website proclaims: “Venice: a glorious, theatrical experience that touches all the senses. And if Venice is a theatre, the Belmond Hotel Cipriani is the Royal Box.”
• The Aman Canal Grande Venice:A seven-star resort within the 450-year-old Palazzo Papadopoli, where the couple were married by Walter Veltroni, the former mayor of Rome, on the seafront at sunset under an arch of white roses.

The couple and their guests travelled by boat on the canals to events, creating an exciting spectacle for onlookers (and something of a challenge for women disembarking in tight dresses and high heels!). Here’s a glimpse of George en route to the ceremony:

Of course, Venice was the obvious choice as a sublimely romantic setting – that is why I situated my novel The Echoes of Love there. But it was a brave choice, for it’s hardly a secluded and private destination. And the price tag was certainly a heft one, reported to be $8 million.

Of the many people celebrating the wedding in the city – from the bride and groom’s family and friends to the many fans who flocked to the city– certainly the tourist office was abuzz. Media reports suggest that international coverage of the wedding drove up hotel prices in the city by more than 20 per cent last week, and the increase in visitors is sure to continue with the world’s former most eligible bachelor having secured Venice’s reputation as the city of love. Already several companies specialise in Venice-based weddings for romantics, and no doubt these will do very well from the Clooney connection.

The wedding got me thinking about Venetia and Paolo in The Echoes of Love. They meet in Venice, and begin to fall in love in Venice. Were I writing a sequel to the book incorporating a wedding, would I place it in Venice? I love the thought of a stunning backdrop for their nuptials. But I’m not surethat Venice would entirely suit Venetia and Paolo. The intense quality of their love calls for seclusion, I think, and a view rich in nature more than architecture. Perhaps, instead,the grounds of Paolo’s home in Tuscany, Miraggio, on a cliff top overlooking the sea.

What do you think? Would Venice be the ideal setting for your wedding (past or future)? Do you love the idea of being amid historic buildings and the buzz of people, or do you prefer intimacy and quiet? Has the Clooney wedding got you itching to visit Venice? I would love to know your thoughts.