VENICE, ITALY – Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, aged 61, and former television journalist Lauren Sánchez, aged 55, exchanged vows in a magnificent and highly anticipated wedding ceremony held in Venice, Italy, on Friday, June 27, 2025.
The opulent celebration, reportedly spanning three days and estimated to cost approximately $50 million, drew a constellation of global figures to the historic city.
The couple officially tied the knot on the picturesque island of San Giorgio Maggiore, situated directly opposite Venice’s iconic St Mark’s Square. The chosen venue was the Giorgio Cini Foundation, a prominent cultural institution known for its artistic and historical significance.
A Guest List of Global Prominence
The exclusive event saw the attendance of around 200 notable guests from the worlds of entertainment, technology, sports, politics, and royalty. Among the high-profile attendees were actor Leonardo DiCaprio, fellow actor Orlando Bloom, and several prominent members of the Kardashian and Jenner families, including Kim, Khloé, Kendall, Kylie, and Kris Jenner. Media mogul Oprah Winfrey and her close friend Gayle King were also present, alongside former NFL star Tom Brady, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, and musician Usher. Figures from the political sphere included Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, while actress Sydney Sweeney and Queen Rania of Jordan added further international recognition to the list.
The presence of such distinguished guests necessitated stringent security measures throughout the duration of the celebrations to ensure privacy and safety.
Days of Festivity and Fashion
Wedding festivities commenced on Thursday, June 26, with guests arriving in Venice primarily via the city’s traditional water taxis, a nod to the unique local transportation and setting. The multi-day event allowed for various gatherings and parties leading up to the main ceremony.
Lauren Sánchez’s wardrobe for the wedding events garnered significant attention. For the ceremony itself, she wore a custom Dolce & Gabbana wedding gown. The design was reportedly inspired by the style of legendary Italian actress Sophia Loren, reflecting the Venetian setting. Her ensembles for other celebratory occasions included a striking Schiaparelli corset gown and an Oscar de la Renta cocktail dress intricately adorned with 175,000 crystals, showcasing a range of high-fashion choices throughout the weekend.
Following the wedding, Sánchez updated her public online presence, changing her Instagram handle to @laurensanchezbezos, signaling her new marital status.
Local Reactions and Logistical Challenges
Despite the glamour and celebrity surrounding the event, the wedding did not occur without generating local sentiment and logistical adjustments. Reports indicated protests from some Venetian residents under the banner “No Space for Bezos.” These demonstrations highlighted long-standing concerns among locals regarding the impacts of overtourism on the city’s fragile infrastructure, the rising cost of living, and the commercialization of public spaces.
The scale of the event and the influx of high-profile guests reportedly exacerbated these local tensions. This public reaction is understood to have led to a last-minute change in venue for a reception, which was reportedly moved to the historic Arsenale, a complex of former shipyards and armories.
The wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez marks a significant personal milestone for the couple, celebrated on a global stage in a city renowned for its beauty and history, while also drawing attention to the complex dynamics between large-scale private events and the fabric of local communities.
