Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are already legally married in the United States, according to Page Six, ahead of their extravagant wedding celebration in Venice, Italy. The couple, who reportedly signed a multi-million-dollar prenuptial agreement, will host a three-day, $10 million wedding extravaganza beginning Friday on the picturesque island of San Giorgio Maggiore.
Despite Venice being the chosen backdrop for the couple’s celebration, Italian officials confirmed that no civil ceremony will take place under Italian law. “I can totally rule out that they will have a civil ceremony in Venice,” a city official told The Times of London. No official request for a wedding license was filed with the city, and no municipal authority is involved in the event, further supporting reports that the legal marriage already occurred in the US
Marriage abroad often not valid in the US
Legal experts suggest it’s standard practice for high-profile Americans marrying abroad to tie the knot at home first due to the complexity of international marriage laws. Often a marriage in a foreign country is not valid in the USA, or creates other issues.
Prenup secured in advance
Three prominent divorce lawyers confirmed that Bezos, 61, and Sánchez, 55, have signed a comprehensive prenuptial agreement, a common move for high-net-worth individuals. One attorney explained, “They can get married anywhere as their prenup would generally be drafted to include its enforceability everywhere.”
However, in the event of a divorce, jurisdiction would be determined by residency, not the marriage location. “If they live in Florida, no matter where they marry or what the prenup says, they would have to divorce in Florida,” another attorney clarified.
To legally marry in Italy as American citizens, the couple would have needed to complete several bureaucratic steps, including signing a sworn affidavit, known as a Dichiarazione Giurata, before a U.S. consular officer, and obtaining an Atto Notorio. There is no evidence they completed these requirements.
“By law, civil weddings in Italy must typically be officiated at the town hall,” said an Italian source. While exceptions can be made to designate alternate venues, local officials confirmed no such arrangements had been made. Though the wedding itself may not be legally binding in Italy, the celebration is set to be a glamorous affair. Bezos and Sánchez were seen Thursday night attending a welcome dinner in Venice alongside a glittering lineup of A-list guests, including Kim Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Brady, and Orlando Bloom. Also in attendance are Miami neighbors Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, who arrived in Venice earlier this week with their children.