Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Tie the Knot in Star-Studded Venice Celebration Amid Protests
Published 27 June 2025
Highlights
- Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez celebrated their wedding in Venice, drawing numerous celebrities and sparking local protests.
- The three-day event included a foam party on Bezos's $500 million yacht and a ceremony on the Grand Canal.
- Guests were asked not to bring gifts; instead, donations were made to local causes, including the Venice International University.
- The festivities faced challenges, including a thunderstorm that disrupted a welcoming party.
- Sanchez wore a Dolce & Gabbana gown, highlighting her long-standing affinity for the brand.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez have officially tied the knot in a lavish wedding ceremony held in Venice, Italy. The three-day celebration, which began on Thursday, attracted a host of celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom, and Ivanka Trump, while also drawing protests from local activists concerned about over-tourism and climate change.
A Grand Celebration on the Grand Canal
The wedding festivities kicked off with a foam party aboard Bezos's $500 million superyacht near the Croatian island of Unije, coinciding with Sanchez's son Evan Whitesell's 19th birthday. The couple, along with their guests, enjoyed the frothy celebration, despite the potential risk of conjunctivitis from the foam.
The main ceremony took place on Friday on Venice's iconic Grand Canal. Sanchez, 55, donned a stunning lace Dolce & Gabbana haute couture gown, a nod to her long-standing admiration for the Italian fashion house. The couple's decision to hold their nuptials in Venice was met with mixed reactions, as local activists staged protests against the influx of tourists and the environmental impact of such high-profile events.
A Thoughtful Gesture and Unexpected Challenges
In a unique twist, Bezos and Sanchez requested that guests refrain from bringing gifts. Instead, they announced that donations would be made on behalf of their guests to several causes, including the Venice International University and an organization dedicated to restoring the city's lagoons. The couple's thoughtful gesture was well-received, although the design of the invitations, featuring whimsical illustrations, sparked curiosity and speculation on social media.
Despite the grandeur of the event, the festivities were not without hiccups. A freak thunderstorm on Thursday night interrupted a welcoming party at the Madonna dell’Orto cloisters, forcing guests to seek shelter from the heavy rain and lightning. The storm added to the challenges faced by the couple, who had already contended with anti-capitalist protests and unsightly scaffolding at one of their chosen venues.
Fashion and Fanfare
Fashion played a significant role in the wedding, with Sanchez's choice of a Dolce & Gabbana gown being a highlight. The event also featured goodie bags for guests, containing treats from the historic Venetian pastry shop Rosa Salva and vibrant glassware from Murano's Laguna~B.
What this might mean
Looking ahead, the high-profile nature of Bezos and Sanchez's wedding could further fuel discussions on the impact of celebrity events on local communities, particularly in tourist-heavy cities like Venice. The protests highlight ongoing tensions between preserving cultural heritage and accommodating global tourism. Additionally, the couple's decision to forgo traditional gifts in favor of charitable donations may inspire similar gestures in future high-profile weddings, potentially setting a new trend in celebrity nuptials. As the couple embarks on their married life, their philanthropic efforts and influence in both business and media will likely continue to draw public interest and scrutiny.
