Billionaire Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez are getting married this week in Venice, Italy. The wedding is expected to be one of the most expensive and star-studded events of the year, with costs reaching up to $48 million.
The couple will host around 200 guests, including Hollywood stars, business leaders, and politicians. The celebrations will last several days, with events planned on Bezos’ $500 million yacht, Koru, and other luxury venues across Venice.
Wedding Details and Extravagant Plans
The wedding will take place from June 24 to June 26, though some reports suggest festivities may extend until June 29. The main ceremony is expected to happen on Bezos’ superyacht, Koru, which features a figurehead of the Norse goddess Freyja. Other possible venues include the historic San Giorgio Maggiore island and Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a 16th-century building.
Local Venetian vendors will supply 80% of the wedding goods. The city’s oldest pastry shop, Rosa Salva, is preparing 200 goody bags for guests. Glassmaker Laguna B is creating custom Murano glassware as wedding favors.
“I don’t see how an event with 200 people can create disruptions. It’s prestigious that a couple like this, who can go anywhere in the world, are getting married in the city,” said Antonio Rosa Salva, owner of Rosa Salva.
Star-Studded Guest List
The guest list includes some of the biggest names in entertainment, business, and politics. Confirmed attendees include:
- Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King
- Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner
- Katy Perry (though her husband Orlando Bloom may attend solo due to her tour schedule)
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Bill Gates
- Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner
- Eva Longoria
Many guests attended Sanchez’s bachelorette party in Paris last month, which included Kris Jenner, Kim Kardashian, and Katy Perry.
Luxury Accommodations and Transport
Bezos has booked multiple five-star hotels for guests, including Hotel Cipriani, Aman Venice, and Gritti Palace. Around 30 water taxis and several gondolas have been reserved for transportation.
Guests were asked not to bring gifts but to donate to Venetian charities instead. The couple has already made significant donations to local causes, including a million-euro contribution to an environmental group studying Venice’s lagoon.
Protests and Controversy
Some Venetians are protesting the wedding, citing concerns about over-tourism and disruption. Activists under the banner “No Space for Bezos” have hung banners across the city, including one in St. Mark’s Square that read:
“If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax.”
However, Venice’s mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, supports the event, calling it an economic boost for local businesses.
Wedding Dress and Fashion
Sanchez’s wedding dress remains a secret, but rumors suggest Dolce & Gabbana or Oscar de la Renta may have designed it. She was seen at a Dolce & Gabbana fitting in Milan earlier this year.
Fashion icon Anna Wintour is reportedly helping Sanchez choose her gown. The bride has also hinted she will take Bezos’ last name, saying, “I am looking forward to being Mrs. Bezos.”
Strict Security and NDAs
Guests must sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to keep wedding details private. Multiple venues have been booked as backups in case protests disrupt plans.
The couple’s wedding planners, Lanza & Baucina, also organized George and Amal Clooney’s 2014 Venice wedding. They assure the event will respect the city’s culture and minimize disruptions.
With just days left, Venice is buzzing with wedding preparations. From luxury yachts to A-list guests, Bezos and Sanchez’s wedding promises to be a historic event.
Credits: Sources include People, LiveMint, The Sun
