From June 26 to 28, the ancient canal city of Venice became the focus of global media attention when it hosted the “wedding of the century” between billionaire and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former journalist Lauren Sánchez. The three-day event not only stunned with its extreme luxury but also turned the peaceful canals here into a true “floating red carpet” as a series of A-list stars flocked to congratulate, creating an unprecedented scene.
From the very first days of the event, the atmosphere in Venice was hotter than ever with the dense presence of famous names in the entertainment, political and financial world. From television legend Oprah Winfrey, "media queen" Kim Kardashian and the powerful Jenner-Kardashian family (Kris Jenner, Khloe Kardashian), to Hollywood superstar Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, and many other billionaires and influential figures such as Ivanka Trump, Barry Diller and designers Diane Von Furstenberg, Katy Perry... The gathering of about 200-250 VIP guests turned every water taxi ride and every corner of the ancient streets into an involuntary fashion show.
Many big stars gathered at the "wedding of the century"
Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner
Ivanka Trump and her husband also appeared at the wedding.
The bride, Lauren Sánchez, was particularly eye-catching as she waved in a stunning metallic brocade corset dress from Schiaparelli’s Spring/Summer 2025 Haute Couture collection. The power couple were whisked away by private water taxi to the luxurious Aman hotel, where they stayed and enjoyed three days of love.
The bride "leads the race" in fashion with a luxurious dress
Exclusive wedding venue chain
Although details of the wedding were kept secret until the last minute, the little information revealed by Reuters and local authorities has partly shown the unprecedented scale of the event. Luca Zaia, president of the Veneto region, estimated the cost of the entire three-day wedding could be up to 40-48 million euros (about 1,223 - 1,468 billion VND), a huge number that affirms the status of the super-rich.
The venues and accommodations for guests are all extremely luxurious.
Cruise ships flock to Venice for this huge event
The venues were also carefully chosen to ensure exclusivity and historical beauty. The first party took place at the Madonna dell'Orto convent – an ancient church bearing the imprint of Tintoretto's 16th-century art. The official wedding ceremony was scheduled for June 28 at the Arsenale, a historic area that served as a military shipyard for the Venetian Republic since the 15th century, with a special meaning of heritage and power. Another party was also held on Saturday, with the location kept secret until the last minute.
Accordingly, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez will hold their first party at the Madonna dell'Orto monastery.
To accommodate the huge number of guests, at least five of Venice’s most luxurious hotels were booked, including Cipriani – the venue for the wedding of George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin. Logistics were also pushed to the maximum: more than 90 private jets landed at Venice, Treviso and Verona airports during the wedding week, and around 30 luxury water taxis were deployed to pick up and drop off guests, completely replacing public transport.
Panoramic view of the Aman hotel in Venice during pre-wedding preparations
However, amid the lavish festive atmosphere, not all Venetians welcomed the event. Some residents and activists spoke out against the wedding, saying it was a clear symbol of the super-rich "occupying public space" and "manipulating" the city for their own purposes.
Activists from the international environmental organization Greenpeace unfurled a giant banner in St. Mark's Square in Venice on June 23 that read "If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can also pay more taxes"
One activist climbed a column in St. Mark's Square, holding a banner that read, "The 1% is destroying the world." A dummy of Jeff Bezos holding the familiar Amazon box was even floated in the middle of the canal as a subtle and satirical protest. Another group stretched a large tarp across the square with Bezos's face and the scathing message: "If you could rent Venice for your wedding, you could pay more taxes." These actions not only expressed discontent, but also raised questions about the impact of this ultra-luxury event on the local community and larger social issues.
Before this famous wedding, the love story between Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez began in 2016 when they met through Sánchez's ex-husband, Patrick Whitesell. However, their relationship was only officially made public in January 2019, after both announced their separation from their spouses.
