Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Wedding: Celebrity Guests, Photos, and Entertainment News

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Sparkle as Wedding Festivities Begin in Venice

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez have officially launched their much-anticipated wedding celebrations, making international headlines with a glamorous event in Venice, Italy. The Amazon founder, 61, and the Emmy-winning journalist, 55, welcomed a host of celebrity friends to kick off a multi-day affair that promises to be as opulent as any royal occasion.

A Venetian Kick-Off: Welcome Party on the Grand Canals

On Thursday evening, the couple set the tone for their wedding weekend by departing from their luxury hotel and boarding a water taxi to their welcome party, held in an exclusive cloister next to the Madonna dell’Orto church. Lauren Sanchez dazzled attendees in a golden, off-the-shoulder dress by Schiaparelli—a show-stopping gown with a corseted waist and baroque floral embroidery that evoked the spirit of Venice’s famed Carnival. Jeff Bezos complemented her look with a classic dark suit and sunglasses, exuding understated elegance as they exchanged a few affectionate kisses captured by waiting photographers.

The guest list read like a who’s who of the entertainment, business, and fashion worlds. Notable celebrities spotted arriving by boat included Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Tom Brady, Kris Jenner, and Orlando Bloom. Their attendance only added to the sense of spectacle as Venice played host to what many are calling the closest thing the United States has to a royal wedding this year. For photos and more coverage of the guest arrivals, Just Jared has compiled exclusive galleries.

Shifting Plans: Venue Changes Amid Local Backlash

While much of the focus has been on the star-studded festivities, the wedding has not proceeded without drama. Originally, one of the main wedding events was to be held at Venice’s historic Scuola Grande della Misericordia. However, local outcry and protests from anti-Bezos groups led to a change in plans. Residents, already concerned about overtourism, questioned the impact of such a lavish event, famously displaying a massive banner that read, “If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax.” The couple ultimately relocated the ceremony to the picturesque Island of San Giorgio Maggiore, transformed for the occasion by the Giorgio Cini Foundation. For more background on the protests and venue changes, Harper’s Bazaar offers an in-depth breakdown.

A Lavish Affair Spanning Days

The wedding week is a testament to the couple’s penchant for luxury. In the days preceding the Venetian celebrations, guests had enjoyed a foam party aboard Bezos’s superyacht, indicating the decidedly lavish tone of the nuptials. Following Saturday’s wedding ceremony, which is now expected to take place on San Giorgio Maggiore, the couple and their guests will enjoy a post-ceremony dinner at Venice’s historic Arsenal, further highlighting the exclusivity of the weekend’s events.

Italy holds special significance for Bezos and Sanchez, who kept their engagement celebrations on the Amalfi Coast in August 2023. Their love story—marked by worldwide travels and high-profile appearances—culminates with this grand celebration along the Venetian canals.

Social Buzz and Cultural Impact

The festivities have not only captured media attention but have sparked widespread conversation across social platforms. Posts and comments on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) have focused on guest sightings, fashion details—particularly Lauren’s Schiaparelli gown—and the sheer spectacle of Venice transformed for this occasion. Details about the wedding invitation, which reportedly featured intricate design and a touch of old-world glamour, quickly went viral, adding to the excitement and curiosity around the couple’s big day.

Explore More About the Venetian Wedding

Readers can follow live updates and explore extensive photo galleries via Just Jared’s Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez tag. For a comprehensive look at the venues and backdrop for this extraordinary event, People and Harper’s Bazaar both offer detailed coverage.

As the celebrations continue, the world remains captivated by every glamorous detail of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s Venice wedding—a star-studded affair that blends romance, luxury, and a hint of controversy in one of Europe’s most storied cities.