Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s Star-Studded Venice Wedding Begins Amid Glamour and Protests

Kim Kardashian, Oprah, Tom Brady, and other VIPs descend on Venice as the couple’s multi-day celebration unfolds, with heightened security, luxury fashion, and local flare at its heart.

The canals of Venice have transformed into a glittering stage for one of the most anticipated celebrity weddings of the year as Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez prepare to tie the knot. The billionaire Amazon founder and his fiancée, a former broadcast journalist, are hosting a lavish three-day celebration in the iconic Italian city, surrounded by A-list guests, exquisite fashion, and a buzz of intrigue.

The festivities, which run from Thursday to Saturday, are expected to host approximately 200 guests. Among the high-profile attendees spotted arriving: Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Khloe Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and Tom Brady, all making their way via luxury water taxis through Venice’s legendary lagoons.

Sánchez, known for her bold fashion statements, was first seen exiting the five-star Aman Venice hotel in a vintage Alexander McQueen one-shoulder gown—setting the tone for what’s expected to be a week of couture showcases.

Elegance Meets Activism

While the wedding boasts the hallmarks of luxury and exclusivity, it hasn’t been without controversy. Environmental activists from Greenpeace and Extinction Rebellion have voiced their disapproval of Bezos’ presence in the fragile lagoon city, staging protests under the banner “No Space for Bezos”. Their activism has already impacted plans, reportedly forcing a key event to be moved from a central location to a former shipyard on Venice’s outskirts.

A traffic ordinance confirmed that Thursday evening’s formal kick-off will be held at the 14th-century Madonna dell’Orto church, which houses works by Tintoretto, with surrounding foot traffic restricted from late afternoon to midnight.

A Venice Tradition Continues

The event adds to a long list of celebrity unions hosted in Venice, including the weddings of George and Amal Clooney (2014), François-Henri Pinault and Salma Hayek (2009), and Alexandre Arnault and Géraldine Guyot (2021).

Bezos and Sánchez have enlisted Lanza and Baucina, the same planners behind the Clooney wedding, to orchestrate the complex operation. The team has made efforts to reduce the city’s disruption, sourcing 80% of wedding services from local vendors. These include pastries from Rosa Salva, Venice’s oldest pastry shop, and gifts by famed Murano glassmaker Laguna B.

Gondolas and around 30 elite water taxis have been booked exclusively for the celebration. “A big wedding,” one driver said discreetly when asked about the high-profile occasion.

Sartorial Secrets and Hollywood Flair

While Sánchez stunned early in a McQueen gown, all eyes are on her main wedding dress, which remains under tight wraps. Dolce & Gabbana is rumored to be the leading designer, with Oscar de la Renta also in the mix.

The bride’s bachelorette party last month offered a preview of the star-studded tone, featuring a Seine River cruise in Paris with guests like Katy Perry, Eva Longoria, and Kim Kardashian in attendance.

As guests continue to pour into Venice and the city adapts to its temporary transformation into a wedding capital, Bezos and Sánchez’s union is shaping up to be more than a celebration of love—it’s a confluence of celebrity culture, opulence, tradition, and public scrutiny.

Whether cruising the Grand Canal or navigating controversy, the couple is undoubtedly staging a wedding that will be talked about for years to come.