The timeless city of canals and romance played host this weekend to one of the most dazzling weddings of 2025, as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, 61, and former TV anchor Lauren Sanchez, 55, exchanged vows in a lavish ceremony that captured global attention.Security was tight at the lavish three-day wedding celebrations in Venice to shield their VIP guests from protesters.A pre-wedding reception was held on Thursday (June 26) at the posh Aman hotel. Against the backdrop of Venice’s enchanting waterways and historic grandeur, the couple’s nuptials were nothing short of a spectacle befitting their stature as one of the world’s most high-profile pairs..Richest Indian-American billionaires in 2025.World’s 10 richest women: Titans of wealth, unstoppable ambition.Richest Indian-American billionaires in 2025.World’s top billionaires in 2023: Latest list.Forbes India reported that the Amazon founder Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez began three days of lavish wedding celebrations in Venice on Thursday (June 26) with A-list guests, including Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey and Kim Kardashian..A love story set to soarFor Bezos and Sánchez, this is the second walk down the aisle for both. Bezos, who was married to philanthropist MacKenzie Scott for 25 years before their 2019 divorce, and Sanchez, formerly wed to talent agent Patrick Whitesell, also divorced in 2019. . Their union, years in the making, has been marked by shared adventures — including a historic trip to space — and now culminates in a Venetian celebration that blends opulence with heartfelt intimacy..The ultimate Venetian affairThe festivities unfolded over three days, with the couple and their glittering guest list ensconced at the ultra-luxe Aman Venice hotel. Rooms here start at €2,456 (about $2,877.00) a night.Bezos’s entourage reportedly occupied some of the hotel’s most sumptuous suites, including the Grand Canal Suite and the Alcova Tiepolo Suite, where 18th-century frescoes by Tiepolo adorn the walls — a fitting setting for a wedding steeped in art and history.Dozens of private jets descended on Venice’s Marco Polo Airport, while sleek yachts glided through the city’s famed canals, ferrying an A-list crowd of celebrities, athletes, influencers, and business magnates. Among the luminaries spotted were Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, Kim Kardashian, and Tom Brady — a veritable who’s who of global stardom.Glamour meets local flavourWhile the event echoed the grandeur of George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin’s 2014 Venetian wedding, this celebration carried its own unique flair. The couple’s team orchestrated a series of exclusive events scattered across the lagoon city, turning Venice itself into a sprawling stage for their love story.Yet, the extravagance was not without controversy. Activists rallied in St. Mark’s Square under the banner “No Space for Bezos,” protesting against overtourism, rising housing costs, and Venice’s ongoing battle with climate change-induced flooding.Despite these voices, the wedding buzz remained undimmed, with paparazzi vying for glimpses and guests reveling in the festivities..A testament to love and legacyBeyond the glitter and glamour, Bezos and Sanchez’s wedding is a testament to new beginnings. Both have navigated high-profile divorces and public scrutiny, and now stand united in a celebration that reflects their shared journey and aspirations.As the sun set over the Venetian lagoon, the city’s timeless beauty melded with the couple’s modern fairy tale, promising a new chapter filled with love, adventure, and perhaps more journeys beyond Earth..Highlights:Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s wedding took place over three days in Venice, Italy, with events spread across the city.The couple stayed at the Aman Venice hotel, occupying some of its most luxurious suites.Approximately 200 guests attended, including Hollywood stars and business titans.The wedding sparked protests in Venice over issues like overtourism and housing prices.This is the second marriage for both Bezos and Sánchez, who divorced in 2019.The event recalled the grandeur of George Clooney’s 2014 Venetian wedding but with a distinct contemporary flair.