Jeff Bezos, the visionary founder of Amazon, and his fiancée, acclaimed Emmy-winning journalist Lauren Sanchez, are set to celebrate their highly anticipated wedding in the romantic city of Venice, Italy. Dubbed by many as the ‘wedding of the century,’ the lavish multi-day festivities have officially begun, attracting global attention.
Before their widely expected ceremony later this week, the power couple was spotted kicking off their pre-wedding events with an elegant Italian dinner date in Venice. They were captured by paparazzi leaving the prestigious Aman Hotel on June 25, 2024, before boarding a luxurious yacht, setting a tone of high glamour and private indulgence against the stunning Venetian backdrop.
A Glimpse at Their Venetian Style
For their romantic evening out, both Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez showcased impeccable style. Bezos looked sharp in a tailored navy blue suit, featuring a classic notch lapel jacket paired with a crisp white crew neck t-shirt and matching straight-fit trousers. He completed his look with aviator sunglasses, embodying understated sophistication.
Lauren Sanchez captivated onlookers in a striking black dress, perfectly complementing Bezos’s refined attire. Her gown boasted a chic one-shoulder neckline and a sleeveless design. What truly made the dress stand out were the shimmering silver mirror embellishments, intricately embroidered in symmetrical lines across the full-length, bodycon silhouette. The dress hugged her form, described as fitting like a second skin.
She accessorized minimally, allowing the dress and her impressive jewelry to take center stage. This included her now-famous, blinding diamond engagement ring (reportedly a stunning 30-carat cushion-cut), paired with dainty diamond earrings and a sleek black clutch. For her beauty look, Sanchez styled her dark blonde hair in soft, blow-dried waves with a side parting. Her makeup featured feathered brows, sharp winged eyeliner, flushed cheeks, glowing highlighter, and glossy pink lips with soft pink eyeshadow, enhancing her glamorous appearance.
More Than a Dinner: The Road to the Altar
While their Venice dinner provided a glamorous arrival, the full scope of Bezos and Sanchez’s pre-wedding celebrations is extensive. Festivities reportedly began days earlier, including a lavish foam party held aboard Bezos’ $500 million superyacht, Koru, off the coast of Croatia around June 22. This fun-filled event reportedly coincided with Sanchez’s son Evan’s 19th birthday, featuring dancing, giant beach balls, and swimwear attire.
The Venetian leg of the celebrations reportedly commenced with a spectacular welcome dinner for around 200 guests at the historic Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a magnificent 14th-century hall adorned with Renaissance frescoes. Guests, including a mix of high-profile figures from Hollywood, politics, and technology like Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Salma Hayek, Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, and members of the Trump family, arrived via a fleet of water taxis. The schedule for guests in Venice has also included scenic cruises aboard the Koru yacht, offering intimate views of the lagoon. Sanchez also reportedly held a star-studded bachelorette party in Paris in May, attended by close friends including Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner.
The “Wedding of the Century”: Scale, Cost, and Logistics
The sheer scale and projected cost are key reasons this event is being dubbed the ‘wedding of the century.’ Estimates for the nuptials range between $46.5 million and $55.6 million (or €40-48 million). Logistically, coordinating an event of this magnitude in a car-free city like Venice is a monumental undertaking, reportedly handled by elite Italian event planners Lanza & Baucina Limited, known for their discretion and aristocratic connections, even operating from an unassuming London base.
Hosting approximately 200 to 250 handpicked guests involves complex transport and accommodation. Reports indicate around 90 private jets ferried attendees to airports near Venice. Hundreds of water taxis have been reserved to navigate the city’s canals, impacting local transport with some gondolas reportedly taken out of commission. Accommodation has been secured across several of Venice’s most opulent five-star hotels, including the Aman Venice (where the couple is staying), the Gritti Palace, Belmond Cipriani, St. Regis, and Hotel Danieli, with nightly rates at these properties reportedly soaring. The couple has also reportedly rented the entire island of San Giorgio Maggiore for six days, ensuring privacy and exclusive access.
Navigating Controversy and Supporting the Community
An event of this scale in the fragile UNESCO World Heritage city of Venice has not been without controversy. Some “irate locals” and activists view the city as “no billionaire’s playground,” leading to planned protests over the event’s disruption and environmental impact, including a visible Greenpeace banner referencing tax fairness.
In response to potential backlash and for heightened security, particularly given the high-profile guest list and “rising global tensions,” the venue for the main Saturday night party has reportedly been moved from the historic Scuola Grande della Misericordia to a more controllable location within the secure Arsenale area.
However, the couple and their planners have also reportedly made efforts to support the local Venetian community. They are reportedly sourcing approximately 80% of the wedding’s amenities and services from local vendors, including the city’s oldest pastry maker Rosa Salva for goody bags and the Murano glass design studio Laguna B for unique favors. Furthermore, guests were reportedly asked to forgo traditional wedding gifts and instead make charitable donations to organizations benefiting the city and its lagoon.
The Countdown to the Altar
With pre-wedding events setting a precedent for luxury and spectacle, anticipation builds for the wedding ceremony itself, expected to take place towards the end of the week in a location shrouded in secrecy. While rumors of a floating ceremony on the Koru yacht surfaced, Venetian regulations made this unlikely. The final venue is now widely reported to be within the Arsenale. Speculation also surrounds Lauren Sanchez’s choice of wedding gown, with rumors of involvement from Vogue’s Anna Wintour and potential designs from couture houses like Oscar de la Renta or Dolce & Gabbana.
As Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez embark on their journey to the altar, their “wedding of the century” in Venice promises to be a dazzling display of wealth, love, and intricate planning, navigating the complexities of hosting a global event in a historically sensitive location while attempting to leave a positive impact on the local community.
