Venice, Italy, is buzzing as billionaire Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sánchez kick off their highly anticipated, multi-day wedding celebration this week. The high-profile couple and their esteemed guests have descended upon the historic city for nuptials widely expected to be one of the most talked-about events of the year.
The festivities officially began on Thursday with pre-wedding events following the couple’s arrival in Venice. Sánchez made a notable entrance at one early reception, dressed in a striking Schiaparelli spring 2025 couture gown. The unique strapless design featured a balconette-style neckline, intricate embroidery in shades of green and blue, and a dramatically cinched waist accentuating an hourglass silhouette – a nod to current high-fashion trends. She accessorized minimally with statement studs, allowing the detailed dress and Schiaparelli’s signature eye motifs to take center stage, with her hair pulled back.
While the exact schedule remains private, the main wedding ceremony is anticipated for Friday, June 27. Initial reports suggested the picturesque island of San Giorgio Maggiore would host the main event, with preparations like tent assembly and increased police patrols visible. However, facing significant protests, the venue was reportedly relocated to the secure Arsenale complex, a historic shipyard surrounded by water, making it less accessible to potential disruptions.
A Star-Studded Guest List Descends on the Lagoon City
Approximately 200 guests are expected to attend the lavish affair, creating a celebrity magnet in Venice. A-list arrivals spotted navigating the city’s canals by water taxi include Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Ivanka Trump and her family, NFL legend Tom Brady, Orlando Bloom, Eva Longoria, Katy Perry, Leonardo DiCaprio, Vittoria Ceretti, and even Sánchez’s ex-partner Tony Gonzalez. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy and early investor Bill Miller are also among the attendees.
To accommodate the influx of VIPs, organizers reportedly reserved five of Venice’s most luxurious hotels, including Aman Venice, Cipriani, St. Regis, Danieli, and Gritti Palace. Around 30 private water taxis have been secured for guest transport, with some high-profile attendees opting to stay on luxury superyachts docked in the lagoon.
Lavish Details and a Unique Gift Request
The wedding promises extravagance, with varying estimates placing the cost anywhere from $10 million to over $50 million. Rumors suggest potential performances by global superstars like Elton John and Lady Gaga, along with a possible fireworks display over the Grand Canal. Sánchez is reportedly planning a spectacular wardrobe, with whispers of up to 28 different dresses throughout the weekend designed by top fashion houses.
Despite the immense wealth involved (Forbes estimates Bezos’s net worth around $215 billion), the couple made a unique request regarding gifts. Their wedding invitation, portions of which were obtained by ABC News, asked guests to forgo traditional presents. Instead, Bezos and Sánchez stated they would make donations on behalf of guests to three specified Venetian charities, reportedly allocating around €1 million towards local organizations, including a lagoon research consortium.
The event is also heavily relying on the local Venetian economy, with reports indicating about 80% of vendors and organizations employed for the wedding are based locally. This includes celebrated institutions like the 140-year-old pastry-maker Rosa Salva and the renowned Murano glass firm Laguna B. The wedding is being planned by Lanza and Baucina, the same global events company behind George and Amal Clooney’s high-profile Venice wedding in 2014, who stated their principle has been to minimize disruption and prioritize local employment.
Wedding Sparks Protests Amidst Overtourism Concerns
Despite efforts to involve local businesses and minimize disruption, the wedding has drawn significant protests from some Venetian residents and organizations, including Greenpeace. Under the banner “No Space for Bezos,” protesters voiced concerns about the event exacerbating the city’s severe overtourism issues, disrupting daily life, and highlighting wealth inequality.
One prominent Greenpeace banner unfurled in St. Mark’s Square boldly read, “If you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax.” Protesters like Simona Abbate expressed frustration, stating, “We think that one big billionaire can’t rent a city for his pleasure.” The protests, ongoing for weeks and including threats of disruption, are credited by the Italian campaign group “No Space for Bezos” with successfully forcing the couple to change the venue from the planned Scuola Grande della Misericordia in the Cannaregio district to the more secure Arsenale.
Conversely, the Mayor of Venice has welcomed the event, expressing pride in hosting Bezos, Sánchez, and their guests, while some local tourism workers noted an increase in business and a sense of excitement surrounding the event.
Previous Paths to the Altar
Both Bezos and Sánchez have been married previously. Jeff Bezos divorced his wife of 25 years, MacKenzie Scott, in 2019. They share four children. Lauren Sánchez was married to talent agent Patrick Whitesell for 14 years, with both filing for divorce in 2019. Sánchez and Whitesell share two children. Sánchez also has a son from a previous relationship. Bezos, 61, and Sánchez, 55, reportedly dated for about five years before getting engaged in May 2023 during a trip to Europe, a moment Sánchez described as overwhelming.
As the multi-day celebration unfolds, blending star-studded glamour with local controversy, the world watches Venice host one of the most anticipated weddings of the decade.
