As wedding celebrations commence in Venice for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, the billionaire couple has unexpectedly found themselves at the center of online ridicule, not over the extravagant venue or the guest list, but for their wedding invitation design.

The couple, who have been together for six years, are set to tie the knot in a multi-day celebration, culminating in a formal ceremony on Friday, June 27, on the scenic island of San Giorgio Maggiore. However, attention has been diverted from the romantic setting to a surprising detail, the wedding invitation. A copy of the invitation, obtained by ABC News, has gone viral, leading to a wave of mockery across social media platforms.

No Gifts, just giving back

Despite the criticism, the invitation carried a meaningful message. Guests were politely asked not to bring gifts. Instead, the couple announced charitable donations would be made on behalf of attendees. The invite read, “We are excited for you to join us! We have one early request: please, no gifts.” Bezos and Sanchez pledged contributions to three Venice-based organisations, UNESCO Venice Office, to protect the city’s cultural heritage, CORILA, which focuses on restoring Venice’s lagoon ecosystems, The city of Venice itself. “This magical place has gifted us unforgettable memories. Our hope is that through these efforts and by you joining us, Venice will continue to inspire wonder for generations to come,” the couple wrote.

ALSO READ

‘Tackiest design ever’

Rather than reflecting the opulence associated with a billionaire’s wedding, the invite features a collage of butterflies, birds, feathers, and shooting stars in soft shades of pink and blue, all set against a stark white background. Many social media users were quick to slam the design as “atrocious,” “tacky,” and lacking the sophistication expected from one of the world’s richest individuals. A user said, “Graphic designer’s opinion: It looks like Lauren saved some of Jeff’s money and had her bestie’s cousin’s 14 year old daughter design these on Canva. This weird half-greyscale is not it. Where are the greeting & salutation in the copy?.” “Tacky was the first word that popped into my head. On second look, it reminds me of something an uninspired and immature girl would create,” another noted. “Is this a joke? Looks like an elementary school project,” claimed a user. “It looks homemade,” roasted a netizen. “Basic. Certainly not an elegant invitation,” added a user.