Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are poised to host one of the most talked-about celebrity weddings of the decade, set against the romantic and historic backdrop of Venice, Italy. The multi-day celebration, anticipated to begin on June 26 and run through June 28, 2025, promises a blend of luxury, intimacy, and global attention, but not without stirring controversy and logistical challenges in the floating city of canals.
Originally, Bezos planned to dock his $500 million superyacht, the Koru, at San Basilio in Venice for the festivities. However, following intense protests and rising global tensions, the couple decided to keep the yacht anchored off the coast of Croatia near Cres, opting instead to helicopter into Venice. This shift reflects the complex balancing act between hosting a high-profile event and respecting the city's delicate environment and public sentiment.
The wedding venue has been confirmed as the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, specifically the amphitheater within the Cini Foundation complex. This location, owned by the Cini Foundation and known for hosting G7 meetings, offers both security and privacy. Given Venice’s limited helicopter infrastructure, the couple is expected to land on the Lido helipad before traveling by water taxi to the wedding site.
Despite the grandeur, the couple and their planners emphasize a scaled-back, family-oriented event rather than a showbusiness spectacle. Less than 200 guests are expected, including Bezos’ close friend Barry Diller and his wife Diane von Furstenburg, film producer Brian Grazer, and notable figures from Sánchez’s social circle. The guest list reportedly includes Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Salma Hayek, Barbra Streisand, and members of Sánchez’s Blue Origin space crew, such as Katy Perry and Gayle King. However, Perry will not attend due to touring commitments.
Lauren Sánchez, an Emmy-winning journalist and licensed helicopter pilot, has kept details of her wedding gown under wraps, though speculation points to a designer like Oscar de la Renta or Dolce & Gabbana, brands she has favored in the past. Anna Wintour is reportedly assisting in the gown selection, underscoring the event’s high fashion credentials.
The event’s planning is managed by Lanza & Baucina Limited, a London-based boutique firm with over two decades of experience in Venice. The company has orchestrated high-profile weddings for the Clooneys and Hayek-Pinaults, and they stress their commitment to minimizing disruption. “From the outset, instructions from our client and our own guiding principles were abundantly clear: the minimizing of any disruption to the city, the respect for its residents and institutions and the overwhelming employment of locals in the crafting of the events,” the firm stated.
Local vendors are prominently involved, with approximately 80% of wedding provisions sourced locally. The Rosa Salva pastry shop, Venice’s oldest, is crafting about 200 goodie bags, while Murano glassware designer Laguna B is preparing special party favors. These efforts highlight the couple’s intent to support Venice’s economy amidst the celebrations.
However, the wedding has sparked significant local opposition and protests. Activists argue that the event symbolizes the commercialization and overtourism plaguing Venice. Demonstrators have hung banners reading “No Space for Bezos” on iconic landmarks like the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Tower. Greenpeace and the UK-based collective Everyone Hates Elon have joined protests, unfurling a banner in St. Mark’s Square stating, “If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax.” Local police swiftly removed the sign.
Protesters have threatened to disrupt the wedding by blocking canals and lining streets with their bodies, aiming to prevent the couple from reaching venues such as the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a 16th-century armory and rumored ceremony site vulnerable to protests. Federica Toninello, an activist, declared, “We will block the canals, line the streets with our bodies, block the canals with inflatables, dinghies, boats.”
Venice’s political leadership, however, supports the nuptials. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro and Veneto regional president Luca Zaia have praised the event, emphasizing its economic benefits, estimated at €20-30 million ($23-34 million) for local businesses. Zaia remarked, “This is a city that handles 150,000 people a day. George Clooney, François-Henri Pinault and Salma Hayek, Alexandre Arnault, Elton John and many others got married here.” Brugnaro assured that the wedding would be “absolutely respectful of the fragility and uniqueness of the city.”
The couple has also pledged charitable donations, including €1 million to Corila, an academic consortium dedicated to studying Venice’s lagoon ecosystem, reflecting an awareness of the environmental concerns tied to such a large-scale event.
Security for the wedding is tight, with a team of former US Marines enlisted to manage safety over the three-day event. Venice’s airspace is closed to unauthorized drones and aircraft, but private helicopters have been granted access, particularly for high-profile guests requiring special security.
Venice’s infrastructure is stretched during the celebrations. Approximately 30 of the city’s 280 water taxis are reserved for the wedding week, and all nine yacht ports are booked, causing some non-celebrity yacht owners to alter their plans. Gondoliers, while iconic to Venice, have distanced themselves from the event, citing their boats’ slower pace as unsuitable for the wedding’s logistics.
Despite the challenges, the festivities have already begun in some form. On June 22, 2025, Bezos and Sánchez were spotted aboard the Koru yacht off the coast of Croatia enjoying a “foam party,” a lighthearted prelude to the formal events in Venice. The couple’s decision to hold the wedding abroad and then travel to Venice by helicopter underscores the delicate balance between grandeur and practicality.
As the wedding approaches, the story of Bezos and Sánchez’s Venetian nuptials encapsulates a modern clash of wealth, tradition, environmental concern, and local identity. The event is not just a union of two individuals but a focal point highlighting Venice’s ongoing struggle with tourism, preservation, and its place on the global stage.
Whether the wedding will proceed smoothly or be marred by protests remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: this celebration will be remembered not only for its opulence but also for the complex dialogue it has sparked about the future of one of the world’s most beloved cities.
