Inside Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s lavish Venice wedding

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez will exchange vows in a lavish three‑day celebration in Venice, Italy this week. Celebrations run from June 24 to 26, centring on his 417‑foot superyacht, Koru, anchored in the Venetian Lagoon.

The yacht, rumoured to cost around $500 million, boasts a swimming pool, jacuzzis, luxury suites for 18 guests and 36 crew, and a Freyja-shaped figurehead. Beyond the yacht, extra celebrations may incorporate iconic Venetian sites like San Giorgio Maggiore or the 14th-century Scuola della Misericordia.

Guest list

Around 200–250 guests, including A-listers such as Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Karlie Kloss, Katy Perry, Kim Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Beyoncé, are expected. Guests have been sworn to secrecy about their attendance.

Cost and local economy

The estimated cost ranges between $10–20 million, with mentions as high as $15 million to $20 million in premier coverage. Organisers aim to source 80% of services from local vendors, including pastries by Rosa Salva, Murano‑glass décor by Laguna B, and other artisan suppliers.

City officials highlight potential economic upside: reserved water taxis, hotel bookings, and local job creation.

City protests

But despite the glamour, the celebrations have ignited fierce backlash.

Venetians have organised under the banner “No Space for Bezos”, hanging banners from the Rialto Bridge to San Giorgio Maggiore, plastering posters, and threatening to block waterways during the wedding.

Protesters argue that the extravagance symbolises rampant overtourism, unfair privilege, and strain on public spaces, housing, and environment.

Activist groups plan canal blockades using boats and inflatables, declaring, “Bezos will never get to the Misericordia”.

Greenpeace added pressure, linking the event to broader inequity and climate concerns. Activists argue the wedding exemplifies broader failures in municipal governance, particularly the prioritisation of tourism over resident needs

Official response and logistics

Wedding planners Lanza & Baucina Limited, veterans of high‑profile nuptials like Clooney’s, have promised a respectful and sustainable event, collaborating with local nonprofits.

Mayor Luigi Brugnaro has defended the wedding, saying it’s an honour, promising apologies to Bezos for disruptive protesters, and arguing the event boosts local revenue.

Authorities have guaranteed reserved water taxis and unhindered daily transit for Venetians.

Around 30 of the city’s elite water taxis, out of 280 total, are thought to be reserved, according to CNN. The city’s nine yacht ports have been booked for the week leading up to the main event.

Meet the bride and groom

Lauren Sánchez

Lauren Wendy Sánchez, age 55, is a successful American journalist, licensed helicopter pilot, and founder of Black Ops Aviation. Her career spans local news to media production. In April 2025, she flew aboard Blue Origin NS‑31, becoming one of the first female journalists in space. A dyslexia advocate and children’s author, Sanchez brings advocacy and ambition to the couple’s public image.

The couple has been planning for almost two years: engagement parties on Koru near Amalfi Coast and at Beverly Hills. They aim for a stylish, celebrity-laden celebration that blends luxury with local culture — and perhaps makes a statement on modern philanthropy and visibility.

Jeff Bezos

Jeff Bezos, aged 61, is the creator of Amazon and Blue Origin, with an estimated net worth of approximately $220–226 billion. He proposed in May 2023 aboard the Koru, presenting a 30‑carat pink diamond ring ($3–5 million). Bezos has four children from his previous marriage to MacKenzie Scott.