Venice: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former journalist-turned-philanthropist Lauren Sánchez have kicked off their extravagant ₹460-crore wedding celebrations in the historic city of Venice, Italy. The three-day affair, which began on Thursday, June 26, is being described as one of the most lavish celebrity weddings in recent memory.
The guest list includes Hollywood royalty, global billionaires, and powerful political figures, with the festivities unfolding at some of Venice’s most iconic landmarks under tight security arrangements.
High-profile guest list and Italian charm
Bezos, 61, and Sánchez, 55, reportedly invited around 250 guests to the opulent affair. Among the prominent names spotted arriving in Venice were actor Leonardo DiCaprio, Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom, Katy Perry, Eva Longoria, Tom Brady, and members of the Kardashian-Jenner family, including Kim, Khloé, and Kris.
Royal and political figures such as Queen Rania of Jordan and former U.S. presidential advisor Ivanka Trump were also invited, although Donald Trump himself was not present.
Venetian landmarks and wedding venues
Celebrations began with a pre-wedding event at the Madonna dell’Orto cloister in the Cannaregio district. The main ceremony is expected to take place on Friday on the scenic San Giorgio Maggiore island, followed by a grand reception at the historic Arsenale shipyard on Saturday.
Multiple luxury hotels, including the Aman, Cipriani, Gritti Palace, and Hotel Danieli, have been fully booked for the event.
Security, secrecy, and style
To ensure privacy, guests arrived in tinted water taxis. Local authorities imposed drone bans and limited access to some areas to control crowds and paparazzi. Dozens of bodyguards and private security personnel were seen escorting high-profile attendees.
Reports suggest that nearly 90 private jets and over 30 boats have been chartered for the occasion.
The ₹460 crore bill and charitable donations
The wedding is estimated to cost between ₹388 and ₹460 crore (US $46.5M–$56M). Sources revealed that Bezos is also making substantial charitable contributions as part of the celebration.
A €1 million donation is being made to CORILA, a local lagoon-restoration institute, along with additional grants to UNESCO’s Venice office and the Venice International University, in lieu of traditional wedding gifts.
Over 80% of the vendors and suppliers are reportedly local, with artisans from Murano supplying glassware and famed Venetian caterers like Rosa Salva curating the menus.
Protests amid celebrations
Despite the glamour, the event has attracted criticism from local activists. Protestors, under the banner “No Space for Bezos”, unfurled banners across landmarks like the Rialto Bridge, criticising the event as a symbol of wealth inequality and overtourism.
However, Venetian officials, including Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, defended the event, citing its potential to boost the local economy by an estimated €20–30 million.
From engagement to vows
Bezos and Sánchez have been together since 2019 and got engaged in 2023. The couple has consistently remained in the public eye, frequently appearing together at high-profile events, space launches, and philanthropic missions.
With global attention on their Venetian wedding, the couple appears to have struck a delicate balance between personal celebration and public spectacle.
