Jeff in Venice: seven takeaways from the Bezos-Sánchez wedding
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sánchez held their wedding ceremony in Venice's Grand canal on Friday, the centrepiece of a three-day gala that drew dozens of stars but also protests by local activists. Here are seven takeaways.
The couple kicked off celebrations with a foam party on their $500m (£364m) super yacht moored near the Croatian island of Unije. Coinciding with Sánchez's son Evan Whitesell's 19th birthday, paparazzi photos showed the couple wearing swimwear and sunhats covered in frothy suds as they partied alongside Whitesell and his friends. Foam parties can cause conjunctivitis, so the decision to hold one just days before their nuptials was somewhat surprising but maybe billionaire foam hits different.
What do you get for the fourth richest person in the world? Apparently nothing. A portion of the official invitation obtained by ABC News stipulated an early request from the couple; 'please, no gifts'. Instead it stated that Bezos and Sánchez would be making donations 'with gratitude' on their guests' behalf to causes including the Venice International University and an organisation dedicated to restoring the city's lagoons. On social media, the biggest question users had was: who had designed the invite? Featuring doodle-like illustrations of butterflies, shooting stars, feathers and the Rialto Bridge, some argued the invitations had been generated by AI or, perhaps, bulk bought via Amazon.
Alongside donations on their behalf, each guest will receive a goodie bag. We are still waiting for one of the Kardashian clan to do an official unboxing on YouTube but so far it has been revealed that they feature sweet treats from the historic Venetian pastry shop Rosa Salva and vibrant coloured glassware from the Murano specialist Laguna~B.
First came the anti-capitalist public protests. Then it turned out one of Bezos and Sánchez's three chosen venues was covered by unsightly scaffolding. The next disaster to hit? A freak thunderstorm on Thursday night during a welcoming party at the Madonna dell'Orto cloisters. Heavy lightning and rain reportedly left many guests soaked, forcing the event to end early. Perhaps Bezos and Sánchez should have followed fashion week's lead and hired a rain shaman.
The biggest hint that Sánchez will at some point wear a dress by Dolce & Gabbana stems from a photo of Domenico Dolce enjoying aperitivo hour at the Gritti Palace, a five-star hotel on Venice's Grand canal. Sánchez is a long-time fan of the Italian label but, saying that, she isn't particularly loyal to any brand, and it's thought that Anna Wintour – who is likely attending – is supportive of the idea. As she recently told Vogue after decades of dressing in tailoring during her TV presenting days, she is now focusing on 'having fun' with fashion. Plus, she has the budget to buy whatever she wants rather than rely on designers to approve her wearing a loan.
Sánchez appeared to whizz off to the ceremony in an Audrey Hepburn cosplay in a headscarf and dark glasses.
Getting lost in Venice is part of the charm. Not so if you have a staged paparazzi shot to get to. As anyone who's been in a city tour group will know, ensuring all parties are dressed in the same garb is the easiest way to stay with the party. Literal dressing, where you pay homage to the place, is one thing. The fetishisation of postwar Italian cultural icons such as Monica Vitti or Sophia Loren in some archive Cavalli (Kendall and Kylie) or vintage Versace snakeskin (Kim) is another. Still, it's probably the simplest way to stay with the crowd while reminding people you're in Italy. In case anyone had forgotten.
With the ceremony not taking place until Friday evening, many guests found themselves with time to kill. With a personal art collection valued at $127mn, it came as no surprise that Bill Gates and a friend popped into the Gallerie dell'Accademia that houses the Pietà by Titian.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Rihanna shows off her growing baby bump in an unbuttoned shirt as she joins partner A$AP Rocky and their one-year-old son Riot at AWGE show during Paris Fashion Week
Rihanna showed off her growing baby bump in an unbuttoned shirt as she joined her partner A$AP Rocky and their son Riot at the AWGE show during Paris Fashion Week. The pregnant hitmaker, 37, arrived for her rapper boyfriend's creative agency's menswear Spring/Summer 2026 show in the French capital on Friday. Rihanna looked effortlessly chic for the show as she arrived in an unbuttoned blue and white striped shirt - which displayed her growing bump. She paired the shirt with a low-rise navy pleated mini-skirt, strappy white stilettos and grey slouch socks, as well as a Dracula tote bag. The singer made her entrance carrying her one-year-old son Riot, who she shares with A$AP, 36, along with their other son RZA, three. Meanwhile A$AP sported a striking black leather zip-up jacket complete with a bright orange inside lining, as well as a baseball cap and a chain. Earlier in the day, the couple put on a stylish display on Friday as they attended the Dior show. Rihanna wore a plunging white shirt and lime green waistcoat, which highlighted her baby bump. She paired the base of her outfit with a brown and blue patterned coat and grey trousers, adding a further splash of colour with brown sunglasses with a clear frame. The star kept it cool by wearing her hair up in a messy up-do, emphasising her extravagant choice of jewellery, which included a striking Marlo Laz pearl necklace - worth a staggering $70,000 (£51,015). A$AP, 36, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, wore a blue shirt and jeans, similarly adding a splash of colour with a red, blue and green Dior tie. The couple's casually stylish outfits were very much in keeping with the theme of the Dior Homme Menswear Ready-to-wear Spring-Summer 2026 show, which took inspiration from the designer's New Look and the tailored suits that characterised it in the 1950s. Rihanna's current pregnancy will see her welcome her third child with the rapper, who she has been in a relationship with since late 2019. The couple welcomed their first son, RZA Athelston Mayers, in May 2022, and their second, Riot Rose Mayers, in August 2023. Meanwhile A$AP sported a striking black leather zip-up jacket complete with a bright orange inside lining, as well as a baseball cap and a chain Rihanna's appearance at the Paris Fashion Week event comes after her father's cause of death was tragically revealed on Thursday. Ronald Fenty died on May 30 at the age of 70 from a combination of acute respiratory failure, pancreatic cancer, and aspiration pneumonia, according to TMZ. Additional causes listed include acute renal failure and acute tubular necrosis, both indicating severe kidney damage. The cause of death comes after reported that the Umbrella singer, who is currently pregnant with her third child, is struggling with the abrupt and heart-wrenching loss of Ronald. Although the pair had a complex relationship, which included periods of both reconciliation and estrangement, an insider told exclusively that the death of the superstar's dad has taken a heavy toll on the superstar (born Robyn Rihanna Fenty). 'Robyn has had a very difficult relationship with her father over the years but his death has hit her like a ton of bricks,' the source said. 'Being pregnant and dealing with A$AP's legal woes have been an emotional roller coaster for her the last few months, and to add to it all, her dad was getting sick, and it started to become too much,' they added. They continued: 'As much as you realise that something like this is occurring, it is still completely heartbreaking and that is where she is right now.' The insider also noted that she 'has forgiven her father and, in death, they got back to a loving father and daughter relationship.' 'But, she is in pain, especially being a mother herself and there being a chance that her kids would have lost their dad to jail a few months back, she feels how important family is,' the source explained. 'This is going to take a long time, and maybe even forever to get over. Sad time in her world right now.' Over the weekend, news broke that Fenty died at age 70 in Los Angeles following a 'brief illness,' according to Starcom Network, a local outlet from Barbados.
The Sun
38 minutes ago
- The Sun
Boris Johnson's wife Carrie treated in hospital for ‘severe dehydration' just a month after giving birth to fourth child
CARRIE Johnson has been treated in hospital for "severe dehydration". The former Prime Minister's wife spent two nights in hospital, a little over a month since welcoming her fourth child. Carrie revealed on Friday how she had been rushed in for treatment and warned fellow mums to "eat and drink enough in this heat". 'Being hospitalised for two nights for my severe dehydration was not on my postpartum bingo card," she wrote in an Instagram post. "Breastfeeding mums make sure you eat and drink enough in this heat. Especially if your babe is clusterfeeding.' The 37-year-old added: 'This week has honestly been brutal. Mastitis (me), reflux (her), dehydration (me). "What a pair we are! But thank you for all the kindest messages, especially all the brilliant advice on reflux. "Really appreciate it and made me feel way less alone going thru it all.' This is an inflammation of breast tissue, common in women who are breastfeeding. announced the latest member of their brood on Instagram with a sweet post in May. Carrie said in her baby post: "Welcome to the world Poppy Eliza Josephine Johnson born on 21st May." She went on to refer to her baby as "Pops" and "Pop Tart" as an adorable nickname. "Aka Pops, Pop Tart. "I can't believe how pretty and tiny you are. Feel so incredibly lucky. We are all totally smitten. "I can't believe how pretty and tiny you are. Feel so incredibly lucky. We are all totally smitten. "Not sure I've slept a minute since you were born as can't stop looking at how completely lovely you are. "Thank you so much to the amazing maternity team at UCLH and particularly to Asma and Patrick who have looked after me so well through all my pregnancies. I really cannot thank you guys enough. "Wilf, Romy and Frank are utterly delighted, particularly Romy who was desperate for a little sister. Bring on the matching dresses. "A final gang member. Back from hospital now and time for cocktails and pizza with my tiny baby snoozing on my lap. Life doesn't get any better." Boris also has four children with his ex wife Marina Wheeler and one with art adviser Helen Macintyre. Baby Poppy was born on May 21 and is Boris' ninth child. He and Carrie married in July 2021, and already share sons Wilfred, five, and Frank, one, and daughter Romy, three. is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
The 1975, Glastonbury Festival, review: If you find it hard to like Matty Healy, watch this
The 1975 confused rather than commanded Glastonbury Festival, although that might well have been their intention. They are a post-modern pop group, so aware of the ironies, showbiz tropes and rock star hypocrisies of the celebrity business that they want you to know they don't take any of it too seriously… apart, that is, from their seriously impressive songcraft. Frontman, main songwriter and conceptualiser Matty Healy knows he is a divisive character: a mouthy, hyperactive, oversensitive contrarian constantly on the verge of being cancelled, and he chooses to lean into that persona. 'I have this thing where it's difficult to tell when I'm being sincere,' he announced early on in their spectacular, artfully designed set, before he then made a series of ludicrously pompous statements about being the greatest songwriter of his generation. 'These words I bleed for you,' he proclaimed, smoking a cigarette and swigging a Guinness. I'm pretty sure there would have been people watching the BBC broadcast at home ready to throw things at the screen, as the super slick band launched into early hit Chocolate with nonsense soundalike lyrics emblazoned on the big screens. The 1975's own fans grasp the joke, and sang along unperturbed by their complicated hero's displays of comedy ego. The first half of the show found Healy playing a kind of caricature of his controversial persona, dressed like a classic rock rebel in skinny jeans and a leather jacket. A short interlude commenced with a screen emblazoned with the legend 'MATTY IS CHANGING HIS TROUSERS'. He returned in a slick suit and tie, banging out big hits as if he genuinely wanted the crowd with him rather than against him. But even his sincerity is not to be trusted. He made a speech hoping that people wouldn't be disappointed by the lack of politics in their set, perhaps referring to several other Glastonbury performers leading Free Palestine chants. 'There's enough politics in the world, we want our legacy to be one of love and friendship,' he said. I think he means it, too. But I suspect the BBC won't have been too pleased with flashing images of riots, 9/11, dead children, flayed dogs and Kanye West during their fierce rock protest anthem Love It If We Made It. The 1975 formed at school in Manchester in 2002. The quartet have been together a long time and play like it, locking into slick grooves expanded with colour and scope by additional keyboards, horns and percussion. It's a very lush, hyperactive, mobile, richly melodious form of modern pop: big and daring songs full of challenging ideas but peppered with hooks. That the challenge extends to their artful presentation is to be applauded, albeit it can make them hard for the casual onlooker to love. It was a Glastonbury set that wobbled precariously between triumph and disaster, which I suspect might be exactly where Matty Healy and his loyal crew feel most comfortable.
