Reality stars, Hollywood actors, global royals, and tech moguls descended on Venice, Italy, for the extravagant wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Emmy-winning journalist Lauren Sánchez.
Among the celebrity guests spotted navigating the canals and cobblestone streets were Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom, Kylie Jenner, and Ivanka Trump.
The wedding festivities spanned three days, culminating in a grand celebration on Saturday, June 29.
But the event also sparked local protests from Venetian residents and environmental groups over issues such as over-tourism and climate disruption.
Venetian ceremony and designer elegance
The wedding ceremony was held on Friday, June 27, on the serene island of San Giorgio Maggiore.
Sánchez, 55, wore a lace Dolce & Gabbana haute couture gown, posing joyfully alongside a beaming Bezos, 61, in a photo she later posted on Instagram.
The bride’s corseted, mermaid-style gown was custom-designed with hand-appliquéd Italian lace.
She complemented her look with borrowed Dolce earrings and a “something blue” souvenir from her Blue Origin spaceflight. Matteo Bocelli, son of tenor Andrea Bocelli, serenaded the couple and their guests with Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” as the ceremony began.
Star-studded guest list
An estimated 200–250 guests attended the wedding.
The couple welcomed a glittering array of famous faces including Kim and Khloé Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Leonardo DiCaprio, Usher, Tom Brady, Karlie Kloss, Jared Kushner, and Gayle King.
Also present were Queen Rania of Jordan, Bill Gates with his partner Paula Hurd, fashion titans Diane von Fürstenberg, Domenico Dolce, and Tommy Hilfiger, as well as French billionaire François-Henri Pinault.
Jets, yachts, and iconic hotels
Ahead of the wedding, the couple arrived in Venice by helicopter on Wednesday, June 25, smiling as they walked hand-in-hand. That night, they hosted a welcome dinner at a closed cloister near the Madonna dell’Orto church.
Guests were treated to an Italian feast, including pizza cooked on-site by a renowned Neapolitan chef, fried zucchini flowers, arancini, octopus, cod, pastries, and lemon cakes.
By Saturday, over 90 private jets had touched down at Venice and nearby airports including Treviso and Verona.
Around 30 water taxis transported VIP guests across the canals. Five of Venice’s most prestigious hotels, including Hotel Cipriani on Giudecca and the Aman on the Grand Canal, were fully booked to accommodate the wedding party.
Last-minute venue change amid protests
Originally planned for the historic Scuola Grande della Misericordia, the wedding venue was shifted to San Giorgio Maggiore due to security concerns triggered by protests.
Activists and residents expressed outrage at the disruption and scale of the event, citing concerns over Venice’s fragile ecosystem and cultural integrity.
Giving back to Venice
In response to local sentiment, Bezos and Sánchez made a deliberate effort to honor the city.
Around 80% of wedding provisions were sourced from Venetian vendors, including the famed pastry shop Rosa Salva and artisanal glass studio Laguna B.
The couple also declined traditional wedding gifts, instead requesting donations to three local organizations: the UNESCO Venice Office, CORILA, and Venice International University.
Their wedding invitations included a message explaining their emotional connection to the Floating City.
From professional partnership to blended family
Bezos and Sánchez were engaged in May 2023, four years after their relationship became public.
Their connection reportedly began through professional collaboration on various projects before evolving into a romance.
Their relationship was first revealed in January 2019, the same month Bezos announced his divorce from MacKenzie Scott after 25 years of marriage.
Sánchez, at the time, was also divorcing her husband of 13 years, Hollywood talent agent Patrick Whitesell.
In a 2023 interview, Sánchez described their relationship as deeply committed, saying they were “together all the time.”
She also shared a heartfelt birthday tribute to Bezos when he turned 60.
With this wedding, the couple have officially blended their families.
Bezos shares four children with MacKenzie Scott, while Sánchez has three children: son Nikko, 24, with ex-NFL star Tony Gonzalez; and son Evan, 19, and daughter Ella, 17, with Whitesell.
