Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and author Lauren Sánchez are set to exchange vows in Venice this summer in an extravagant wedding spanning June 24-26. In true billionaire fashion, Bezos is following the lead of Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, who recently booked the entire town of Portofino for his son’s wedding. This time, it’s Venice’s turn to become a billionaire’s playground as Bezos welcomes a star-studded guest list of 250 attendees per day.
Wedding prep worries mayor Luigi Brugnaro
With hundreds of VIP guests set to arrive in Venice, logistics have been carefully orchestrated to prevent disruptions. Bezos has reportedly secured the entire local taxi fleet to guarantee smooth transportation through the city’s canals, raising concerns for the mayor.
The event is being orchestrated by London-based luxury event planners Lanza & Baucina, who specialise in curating high-profile celebrations.
Venice’s mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, is overseeing the preparations, noting that the wedding will have a massive economic impact on the city. As an added touch of prestige, Brugnaro himself, a yacht owner, will likely be mingling with guests aboard his own Ferretti 1,000 yacht. Acknowledging the massive economic impact of Bezos’ wedding, Brugnaro remarked, “This event will bring significant financial benefits to our region and reinforces Venice’s role as a premier destination for luxury and global gatherings. We have major challenges ahead, and Venice can be a key player for Italy.”
A-list guests and exclusive venues
Bezos’s high-profile guest list includes celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Kim Kardashian, and Kris Jenner, many of whom have already celebrated aboard his $500 million megayacht, Koru. Other notable invitees include Bill Gates, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Queen Rania of Jordan.
The couple has spared no expense, reserving some of Venice’s most iconic hotels, including:
The Gritti Palace – A historic property once favored by Ernest Hemingway
Hotel Danieli – A 14th-century palace with breathtaking lagoon views
Aman Venice – A fresco-laden 16th-century mansion that hosted George Clooney’s wedding
Belmond Hotel Cipriani – An ultra-exclusive retreat on Giudecca Island
St. Regis Venice – A newly renovated luxury hotel tailored for the ultra-wealthy.
Megayacht Koru takes center stage
A major part of the festivities will unfold on Koru, Bezos’s 416-foot megayacht, the world’s largest sailing yacht. Since its delivery in May 2023, Koru has been a central feature of the couple’s journey, serving as the backdrop for Bezos’s proposal to Sánchez. The billionaire popped the question with a 30-carat diamond ring during their first voyage on the yacht off the coast of Cannes.
Wedding fit
Lauren Sánchez, a former Emmy-winning journalist and an aspiring astronaut set to embark on a space mission with an all-female crew, will reportedly wear a custom Oscar de la Renta gown. The designer previously crafted her ensemble for President Donald Trump’s inauguration, adding another layer of high fashion to the affair.