Jeff Bezos, the fourth-richest man in the world and founder of Amazon, is making headlines for his upcoming wedding to journalist Lauren Sánchez in Venice. The wedding is scheduled for the weekend of June 27, with several pre-wedding events reportedly planned for the week leading up to the celebration.
Everything you need to know about Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding — a star-studded guest list, luxurious venues and more
Jeff Bezos (61) and Lauren Sánchez (55), who got engaged in 2023, are set to tie the knot in Venice soon. However, their wedding has been marred by protests and controversies. Due to local opposition, Bezos and his guests were forced to relocate their wedding celebrations from the city center. Although the exact venues have not been disclosed, a BBC report suggests that the couple had originally intended to hold the event at the historic Scuola Grande della Misericordia, an iconic building from the 16th century. However, following pressure from activists, the celebrations will now take place at locations farther from the busy parts of Venice.
The wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez will be celebrated over three days. While specific details about the dates and venues have not been officially released, The Guardian reports that the festivities will begin on Thursday. The couple will exchange vows on Friday at the San Giorgio Maggiore Basilica on the Venetian Island, with the final event scheduled for Saturday.
After the wedding ceremony, the couple and their guests will move to a hall at the Arsenale, a restored maritime site on the edge of Venice, reports USA Today. This large 14th-century complex is surrounded by water and is mostly inaccessible by land.
In March, Sánchez’s older brother, Paul Sánchez told American news tabloid TMZ in an interview: “I think it’s gonna be like a Princess Di thing (Princess Diana’s 1981 wedding to Prince Charles). Just huge, fun, and just a blast.”
About 200 guests, including well-known celebrities and political figures will take part in the celebrations. Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump was seen arriving in Venice on Tuesday. Other big names expected to attend the wedding include Elon Musk, Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, Oprah Winfrey, Salma Hayek, and Leonardo DiCaprio, according to The Guardian, USA Today, and other reports. About 95 private jets are expected to land at Venice airport for Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding.
According to CNN, nearly 80% of the wedding supplies are sourced from local businesses. One of these is Rosa Salva, the oldest pastry shop in Venice, which has been asked to prepare approximately 200 goodie bags for guests. Additionally, around 30 of Venice’s top water taxis have been reserved for the event. Furthermore, all nine yacht ports in the city are reportedly fully booked for the week.
According to People and USA Today, Bezos and Sánchez started their wedding week with a foam party on their yacht, Koru, off the European coast on June 22. They got engaged on this same yacht in 2023.
Regional governor Luca Zaia has supported the wedding, saying it will boost the local economy, reports Reuters. He pointed out that many businesses in Venice will benefit. Zaia also estimated that the overall wedding spending could be between 20 to 30 million euros (Rs 199 crore to Rs 299 crore).
According to Italian media outlets like Corriere della Sera and ANSA, Bezos is also expected to donate to local causes, including Corila, a research group that focuses on protecting Venice’s lagoon environment.