Say what?! George Clooney's fam shocked when he proposed to Beirut-born Amal Alamuddin

George Clooney's family were "surprised" when he got engaged.

The 'Monuments Men' actor - who famously declared he would never marry again - proposed to lawyer Amal Alamuddin in April, and his relatives were as shocked as his fans about the happy news.

George's cousin Miguel Ferrer - who is the son of Oscar-winning actor José Ferrer and singer Rosemary Clooney - told Fance's Tele Star magazine: "At first the family was surprised to learn the happy [engagement] news."

The 59-year-old actor went on to praise Amal as a "wonderful woman" but refused to be drawn on the details of their wedding, which is expected to take place in September.

He said: "I don't know if I can tell you a lot about this marriage. Obviously I'll be there!"

It was recently claimed 53-year-old George - who was previously married to Talia Balsam from 1989 to 1993 - and his British fiancee are planning to marry in Venice, Italy after deciding against holding their wedding at his Lake Como estate because they felt it wasn't private enough.

A source said recently: "George and Amal want to be married in Italy, but they need a location that offers them and their guests privacy."

George - who also didn't want to inconvenience his Lake Como neighbors with the attention his wedding would bring - and Amal were seen dining in Venice a few weeks ago after touring wedding venues and are said to be planning to marry at a palace in the city.