As the summer sun bathes Venice in golden light, the city is bracing itself for what many are calling the "wedding of the century." Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée, former television journalist Lauren Sanchez, are set to exchange vows in a lavish three-day celebration starting June 24, 2025. The festivities, steeped in opulence and star power, are unfolding against a backdrop of local protests and environmental concerns, underscoring the complex intersection of wealth, culture, and community in this historic city.
After a two-year engagement, the couple is poised to cement their union in a grand spectacle that has captured global attention. The guest list, reportedly under 200, boasts an array of A-listers, including Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mick Jagger, and even political figures such as Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. The event is not just a private affair but a high-profile convergence of celebrities, business leaders, and philanthropists, reflecting the couple's influential social circles.
The wedding's centerpiece is expected to be Bezos' $500 million superyacht, Koru, anchored off the coast of San Giorgio Maggiore island, a serene spot known for its iconic 16th-century Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore. The island itself has been entirely rented out for six days, from June 24 to June 29, and is off-limits to the public during this period. This exclusivity extends to the city's waterways, with around 60 water taxis reserved and some 400 gondolas temporarily out of commission to accommodate the influx of guests.
Venice's mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, has expressed pride in hosting the event, emphasizing the city's readiness to accommodate the celebrations without disrupting daily life. "Venice once again reveals itself to be a global stage," he remarked, underscoring the city's historical role as a hub for grand events. City officials have assured that the event will respect the city's fragility and uniqueness, with only about 200 guests invited to minimize impact.
Yet, the wedding has ignited significant local backlash. Protest groups like "No Space for Bezos" have rallied against what they see as an emblem of exploitation and overtourism. Activists have displayed banners on landmarks like the Rialto Bridge and the bell tower of the San Giorgio Maggiore basilica, decrying the event's environmental footprint and its strain on Venice's infrastructure. "Venice is being treated like a showcase, a stage," activist Federica Toninelli told the BBC. "This wedding is the symbol of the exploitation of the city by outsiders. Venice is now just an asset."
Concerns extend beyond environmental impact to the social fabric of Venice. Locals worry about the co-opting of water taxis and luxury hotels, which have been fully booked for the occasion, including the Aman Venice—where rooms can cost upwards of $2,700 per night—and the Hotel Cipriani. Protestor Marta Sottoriva lamented that such events benefit only a small segment of the economy, primarily luxury hotel owners, taxi drivers, and catering services, while offering little to the broader community.
Behind the scenes, the wedding's orchestration is a feat of meticulous planning and grandeur. The London-based event planning firm Lanza & Baucina, known for organizing high-profile weddings including those of George and Amal Clooney and Salma Hayek, is at the helm. The couple is sourcing 80% of their vendors locally, a nod to Venetian craftsmanship and tradition. Historic companies like Rosa Salva, the city's oldest pastry maker dating back to 1876, are preparing traditional treats such as bussola buttery biscuits and zaletti cookies for guest goody bags, though the bakery is not responsible for the wedding cake itself. Laguna B, a renowned artisanal glassmaker famous for its handblown Murano glass, is also contributing to the decor and gifts.
The ceremony's exact location remains shrouded in secrecy, with possibilities including Bezos' yacht Koru, the Scuola Grande della Misericordia—a Renaissance building with a storied history—and the Fondazione Cini monastery on San Giorgio Maggiore island. Each venue carries its own symbolic weight, blending art, history, and luxury. The wedding flotilla itself includes Koru and its $75 million support vessel Abeona, both too large for Venice's canals and thus anchored in the lagoon.
Lauren Sanchez, who has a deep connection to Dolce & Gabbana—with her son Nikko Gonzalez having walked their Milan Fashion Week runway—has been spotted having fittings at the brand's Milan store. While Sanchez has not revealed her wedding dress designer, insiders suggest the gown will be nothing short of spectacular. Meanwhile, Jeff Bezos has publicly distanced himself from the wedding planning, telling Vogue in 2023, "Oh, God, no. Do I look that dumb?"
The estimated cost of the wedding ranges from $15 million to $20 million, encompassing venue rentals, transportation, catering, and Sanchez's wardrobe. This figure dwarfs many previous celebrity weddings, underscoring the scale and extravagance of the event.
Despite the glamour, not all predictions for the marriage's longevity are optimistic. Athos Salomé, a Brazilian psychic dubbed the "Living Nostradamus," recently told the Daily Mail that he expects the couple to divorce by 2029. He described the marriage as "more of a contract for image, power and legacy perpetuation than a celebration of affection," predicting a "clean divorce, without scandal," protected by confidentiality and image strategies.
Tracing their journey, Bezos and Sanchez's relationship became public in 2019 amid rumors of an affair, following Bezos' divorce from MacKenzie Scott and Sanchez's separation from Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell. By 2023, Bezos proposed with a 30-carat pink diamond ring valued between $3 million and $5 million, marking a new chapter for the couple.
As Venice prepares for this unprecedented event, the city stands at a crossroads—balancing its rich heritage and fragile environment against the allure and disruption of global celebrity. For some, the wedding symbolizes glamour and celebration; for others, it epitomizes the challenges of preserving a treasured city in the face of modern excess.
