Bezos-Sanchez Wedding: A Lavish Celebration on San Giorgio Maggiore

Venice, Italy - June 27, 2025 - On the picturesque Venetian island of San Giorgio Maggiore, Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos celebrated their union in a lavish ceremony amid a star-studded guest list. The couple arrived separately for the wedding festivities, which have garnered significant media attention and local investment due to their opulence.

The festivities began on Thursday evening with a pre-wedding event at the historic Madonna dell’Orto church, attended by a host of celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, and Bill Gates. The lavish celebration, reportedly costing between €40-48 million (approximately $46.5-55.6 million), is poised to boost Venice's economy by an estimated €20-30 million ($23.4-35.1 million) throughout the events, according to Simone Venturini, Venice’s tourism councillor.

Lauren Sanchez, dressed in a cream silk Dior suit, was photographed taking a water taxi to the venue, where she changed into a stunning Dolce & Gabbana gown for the ceremony. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, followed hours later in a classic black tuxedo. Although high-profile, it was confirmed by a spokesperson from the Venice mayor’s office that the couple had not submitted a request for a legally binding wedding, suggesting the ceremony may be more symbolic than official.

The wedding planners, Lanza and Baucina, known for their orchestration of high-profile events, ensured that 80% of the wedding provisions were sourced from local vendors, including pastries from Rosa Salva, Venice’s oldest pastry shop, and Murano glassware from designer Laguna B. The couple has also reserved around 30 local water taxis to accommodate their guests, highlighting a concerted effort to minimize disruption to the city’s daily life.

Despite the grandeur, the event was met with protests from the activist group No Space for Bezos, which aimed to draw attention to issues of wealth disparity and environmental concerns. The group threatened to disrupt the wedding ceremonies, prompting the relocation of some events to less central locations.

This three-day celebration culminates a two-year engagement and showcases the couple’s commitment to not just their personal union, but also to the local economy and culture of Venice. As the event unfolds, many are left to speculate on the couple's future plans and whether they will formalize their legal marriage back in the United States.

In the context of high-profile weddings in Venice, this event joins the ranks of other notable celebrations such as those of George and Amal Clooney and François-Henri Pinault and Salma Hayek-Pinault, underscoring the city’s reputation as a coveted wedding destination. As the festivities continue, observers will be keen to see how the local community and economy react to such a significant influx of wealth and attention.