Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Tie the Knot in Lavish Venice Ceremony
Venice, Italy – June 27, 2025 – Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, 61, and former journalist Lauren Sánchez, 55, have officially married in a star-studded, multi-day wedding extravaganza in Venice, Italy, according to multiple reports. The couple, who got engaged in May 2023 after nearly five years together, exchanged vows on the picturesque San Giorgio Maggiore island, in a ceremony that has drawn both admiration and controversy.
The wedding, described as one of the most luxurious of the decade, kicked off with a series of high-profile events, including a lavish welcome party on June 26, where Sánchez dazzled in a golden strapless Schiaparelli dress adorned with baroque floral embroidery. The couple arrived in Venice on June 25 via Bezos’ yacht support ship, docking at the Aman Hotel, a hub for their celebrity guests. Notable attendees reportedly included Oprah Winfrey, Tom Brady, Kim Kardashian, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Jessica Alba, Eva Longoria, and Orlando Bloom, with Andrea Bocelli’s son, Matteo, slated to perform during the festivities.
However, the opulent celebration has not been without its detractors. Venice locals and activists, frustrated by the city’s ongoing struggles with overtourism, protested the event’s scale, citing disruptions and the prioritization of VIPs over public services. The activist group “No Space for Bezos” claimed a victory after the couple reportedly relocated their main reception from the historic Scuola Grande della Misericordia to the water-surrounded Arsenale, a more secure venue, due to security concerns and threats of protests, including plans to fill canals with inflatable crocodiles. One local sentiment captured the frustration: “Some 100 private jets will fly to Venice for Jeff Bezos’ wedding, and I recycle yogurt cup lids.”
The wedding invitation itself sparked online buzz after a leaked portion revealed a design criticized as lackluster, with one commenter quipping it looked like “something a 15-year-old made on Canva.” Despite the backlash, the couple’s plans remained shrouded in secrecy, with wedding organizers securing multiple venues to adapt to weather and protest risks, according to a source close to Venice City Hall.
Adding intrigue, a Daily Mail report suggested that Bezos and Sánchez may have already legally married in the United States a month prior, with the Venice event serving as a ceremonial celebration. City officials noted no official marriage request was filed in Venice, supporting this claim. Sánchez also subtly updated her Instagram bio to confirm the marriage, a move spotted by eagle-eyed fans.
The three-day event, estimated to cost millions, began with a foam party on Bezos’ $500 million yacht, Koru, in Croatia, setting a festive tone before the couple’s arrival in Venice. While the guest list boasted A-listers, some exes, like Sánchez’s former partner Tony Gonzalez, attended with their son Nikko, though others were notably absent.
Despite the protests and online criticism, the wedding has been hailed as a spectacle of wealth and glamour, with Sánchez’s rise from news anchor to “Mrs. Jeff Bezos” celebrated by supporters. However, the event’s environmental impact, particularly the carbon footprint of private jet travel, drew sharp rebuke, with Oxfam estimating Bezos’ annual jet emissions equal 207 years of an average person’s carbon output.
As the couple embarks on their new chapter, the Venice wedding stands as a testament to their high-profile romance—and a flashpoint for debates about wealth, privilege, and the future of the historic city. For now, Bezos and Sánchez are basking in their newlywed glow, with the canals of Venice as their backdrop.
