Tying The Knot

George Clooney said arrivederci to freedom with the boys Friday night in Italy ... the day before he ties the knot with Amal Alamuddin.

Clooney and Amal starred at a rehearsal dinner with family and friends in Venice ... and it looks like they went on separate journeys afterward with their respective genders.

Clooney hit up a restaurant with all the other dudes -- it's unclear where Amal went.

Most of George's famous friends are also in Venice for the wedding ... including Bono, Bill Murray, Matt Damon and Ellen Barkin.

Now it's only a matter of time.

George Clooney and fiancée Amal Alamuddin arrived in Venice, Italy Friday as they prepare to get married this weekend, and they brought a fleet of friends along for the ride ... as in, the paparazzi!

As Clooney and Alamuddin cruised through the canals (with pals Rande Gerber and Cindy Crawford on board) they were surrounded by more than half a dozen boats filled with multiple photogs.

They won't be hurting for wedding photos.

FUN FACT: Clooney looks genuinely happy. And they said it wouldn't happen.

Jason Aldean is engaged to former "American Idol" contestant Brittany Kerr ... TMZ has learned.

We're told the country star sealed the deal during the West Coast leg of his current tour.

No word on how he asked ... but it looks like Jason arranged a private tour of the San Diego Zoo Wednesday -- possibly to pop the question.

As we previously reported ... Aldean and his ex-wife split after make-out pics of Jason and Brittany surfaced in 2012.

George Clooney’s BFF and business partner Rande Gerber knows how to make an entrance. Dude loaded up a private jet with case after case of their own primo tequila ... and made a beeline for the Cloons' Italian wedding.

Having his wife Cindy Crawford on his arm won't hurt either.

George Clooney is getting a big discount on booze for his wedding, with the help of best friend Rande Gerber ... who's flying more than 50 cases of tequila to Italy for the big shindig a week from Saturday.

TMZ got video Monday of Randy leaving L.A. for Italy in a private jet ... loaded with at least 50 cases of Casamigos tequila ... the company owned by George and Rande.

The video is fantastic ... Rande drives up in a blacked-out black Mercedes right to his jet, where he inspects the precious cargo ... then has one of the guys cut open 2 boxes. Cindy Crawford's hubby then removes one bottle of Reposado and one bottle of Blanco ... then proudly fist pumps them as he boards the jet.

There are numerous reports in Italy ... the wedding is set for a week from Monday at Cipriani hotel in Venice.

Arrivederci ... and recuerdos a todos.

George Clooney's potential wedding has paparazzi swarming around a London church, but church leaders swear on their boss ... it ain't going down there.

The Chelsea Old Town Hall finally had to address the buzz about a possible London ceremony -- posting a note on it's door, writing ... "We are not conducting the wedding of Mr. Clooney at this office today (Friday 12 September) and a film crew and press photographers would only cause possible disruption to other couples getting married on this day."

Clooney has said he plans to marry his fiancee, Amal Alamuddin in Italy, but rumors persist they will also do it in London ... where she lives.

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova is finally gonna make an honest woman out of her girlfriend ... dropping down to one knee Saturday at the U.S. Open and popping the big question.

The 57-year-old proposed in between the men's semi-final games to Julia Lemigova -- her GF of 6 years -- and people in attendance cheered on as they watched the proposal on the big screen.

Martina told the AP she was super nervous ... describing it as an "out of body experience."

Billy Bob Thornton is still on good terms with his ex-wife Angelina Jolie ... but that doesn't mean he went out of his way to get her and Brad Pitt a wedding present.

It's not that that he doesn't want to get them something -- it's just that ... well, watch ... he explained it at LAX on Friday.

Gilbert Arenas' lady Laura Govan is serving notice to all basketball wives -- there's only one (engagement) ring to rule them all ... and it's the MILLION DOLLAR stone she rocks on her hand.

Laura was out in Calabasas when our camera guy asked her about Russell Westbrook's endearing display of love to his fiancee -- a sick $700k engagement ring.

That's when the bombshell was dropped -- Laura told us she thinks the Westbrook ring is "cute" ... but can't touch the million dollar MONSTER on her ring finger!!

10:06 AM PT -- IT'S A $700,000 RING!!!!

We've learned ... it was made by Jason of Beverly Hills ... who's made engagement rings for all sorts of stars including Gabrielle Union and Evelyn Lozada.

As for Russell's ring -- we're told it's a 6-piece elongated cushion cut ring with VVS clarity ... and in total, the whole thing is worth $700k.

We're told Russell knew exactly what he wanted when he hit up Jason's shop. It was very important to him that he got a ring with the highest quality possible.

Dude did a helluva job.

Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook is the next NBA star in line for a wedding -- 'cause he popped the question last night ... with a massive diamond ring ... and his GF said yes!

Westbrook and longtime GF Nina Earl made the announcement on social media Wednesday night ... showing off the gargantuan rock with a caption that read, "Nothing even matters..@ninamri3_ forever my lady! LOVE YOU!!!!"

Earl is a former UCLA basketball player -- and the two met during their college days ... before Westbrook signed his $80 MILLION contract extension.

Mystery solved ... LeBron James and his wife were DEFINITELY present at Dwyane Wade's wedding this weekend ... multiple sources tell TMZ Sports.

So far, no photos of The King have surfaced ... probably due to the fact Wade forced his guests to sign confidentiality agreements and banned everyone from using cell phone ... but we're told James was absolutely on hand to watch his former teammate tie the knot to Gabrielle Union.

Nothing says you love your brother and approve of his marriage like sending him a 15-second video on Instagram congratulating him on his wedding ... instead of, ya know ... actually going to the wedding.

As TMZ first reported, Mark Wahlberg did not go to his brother Donnie's wedding to Jenny McCarthy because -- like many people -- he and his wife have issues with some comments Jenny's made.

Instead, Mark was at his 11-year-old daughter's birthday party and wished the couple well from 3,000 miles away.

If you're looking for Mark Wahlberg this weekend, don't go to Donnie Wahlberg and Jenny McCarthy's wedding -- TMZ has learned he won't be there, and we're told it's because he and his wife aren't fans of the bride.

According to multiple Wahlberg sources, Mark is not as close with Donnie and Jenny as Jenny has made it seem. Or at least, not with Jenny. We're told Mark's wife Rhea did not like a recent interview Jenny gave with Howard Stern where she talked about her relationship with Mark.

We're told brother Bobby won't be at the wedding either ... and ditto for mama W, but that's because she doesn't fly.

We contacted Mark, and one of his reps told us he wasn't attending because he needs to be at a birthday party for his daughter Ella today in L.A. Her 11th b-day is actually Tuesday, but Mark will be filming that day in Boston.

Our sources say there's absolutely bad blood with Jenny.

For what it's worth ... brother Paul will be in attendance. More cake for him.

Here ye, here ye ... Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union are swapping "I dos" today in a famous MOATED CASTLE hidden away in Miami, FL ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The place is called "Chateau Artisan" -- considered one of the coolest pieces of property in the country ... and it's also where Birdman shot his 2010 music video for "Fire Flame."

Dwyane and Gabby have been going to extreme lengths to make sure their wedding is super private ... which is why this ultra-guarded estate PROTECTED BY A MOAT appealed to the couple.

We broke the story ... the couple is making their guests sign confidentiality agreements -- and have also banned social media from the event.

As for the property -- we're talkin' 19,000 square feet, 8 bedrooms, 7.5 baths ... and sits on 14 acres.

Sources tell us workers have been on the property for the past couple of weeks making sure the place looks PERFECT for the couple's big day.

Dwyane Wade's wedding will be classical ... with a hint of Michael Jordan ... because he hired the famous hip hop violinist that MJ signed to Jordan Brand back in 2009 .... TMZ Sports has learned.

We've learned ... D-Wade and Gabby reached out to Lee England Jr. -- the very first non-athlete to sign with Jordan Brand -- and asked him to perform at some point in the evening.

England Jr. -- known as the "Michael Jordan of the Violin" -- is no stranger to celebrity events ... he performed at Donald Trump's NYC penthouse 3 times last year and is a regular at NBA games.

No word on what songs are on England Jr.'s set list -- but if the Wade's dig Beyonce, dude does a killer version of "Drunk In Love."

Jon Voight says he's delighted Brad Pitt finally made an honest woman of his daughter Angelina Jolie ... even though they didn't invite him to the wedding.

The father of the bride was leaving breakfast in L.A. when he told a photog he's anxious to catch up with the newlyweds and celebrate their wedding.

JV doesn't seem the least bit bitter about not getting an invitation -- but things did get a little awkward when the photog asked when he'd be raising a glass to Brad and Angie.

Watch, ya gotta feel for Jon a little.