Newlyweds Bezos and Sanchez gear up for final party at Venice gala

 Newlyweds Bezos and Sanchez gear up for final party at Venice gala

Jeff Bezos, the billionaire Amazon founder, and journalist Lauren Sanchez celebrated the final day of their extravagant wedding festivities in Venice, Italy. The couple held a symbolic wedding ceremony on Friday evening on the picturesque island of San Giorgio, just across the water from Saint Mark’s Square. Although the event held no legal weight under Italian law, reports suggest the couple may have already officially wed in the United States. The romantic celebration featured a vocal performance by Matteo Bocelli, son of famed tenor Andrea Bocelli.

The bride wore a high-necked gown and a tulle lace veil designed by Dolce and Gabbana, inspired by Sophia Loren’s wedding dress from the film Houseboat. Vogue revealed that Sanchez followed tradition by wearing borrowed diamond earrings, also provided by Dolce and Gabbana. Bezos wore a black tuxedo and bow tie for the occasion.

A host of celebrities attended the glamorous affair, with names like Bill Gates, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, Oprah Winfrey, Queen Rania of Jordan, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, and Ivanka Trump among the 200 to 250 invited guests. The three-day celebration is estimated to cost around 50 million dollars and will conclude Saturday evening with a massive party in a former medieval shipyard. Performances by global superstars Lady Gaga and Elton John are expected to headline the closing night.

This wedding marks the next chapter for Bezos and Sanchez, who got engaged in 2023 after dating for four years. Their relationship began shortly after Bezos’s 25-year marriage to MacKenzie Scott ended. The luxurious setting and high-profile guest list highlight the opulence and exclusivity of the wedding in Venice, a city long associated with romance, culture, and grand social events.

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While Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s wedding brought glitz and glamour to Venice, it also drew sharp criticism from local activists. A movement called “No Space for Bezos” organized protests to express anger over what they describe as the city being used as a playground for the ultra-wealthy. Protesters accused Bezos of flaunting wealth in a city where residents face rising costs and inequality. On Saturday, they planned a protest march from the city’s main train station to the iconic Rialto Bridge.

In the days leading up to the wedding, activists hung banners on the Rialto Bridge and unfurled a large canvas in Saint Mark’s Square urging Bezos to pay more taxes. These actions were meant to challenge the presence of billionaires in a city that faces economic and social strain. The protesters believe such extravagant celebrations symbolize inequality and a growing disconnect between elites and everyday citizens.

However, city officials and local businesses have largely welcomed the event. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro defended the wedding and praised Bezos for his economic contribution to Venice. Brugnaro said Bezos represents the spirit of Venice, which has always been a city of commerce and international connection. He noted that Bezos had already donated 3 million euros to local institutions without attaching any conditions, which he called a generous gesture.

The mayor also expressed hope that Bezos would return to Venice for future ventures, possibly involving business or investment. For local authorities, the wedding has brought a significant spotlight and economic boost. But for many residents, the presence of so much wealth only highlights Venice’s deeper problems, such as overtourism and economic disparity.

The wedding, both a lavish celebration and a source of local tension, reflects the complex relationship between wealth, fame, and historic cities in the modern world.