Latest news with #Gilda
Mint
5 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
How Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez celebrated love, luxury in the most public yet private Venetian wedding
Billionaire Jeff Bezos and former journalist Lauren Sanchez celebrated their wedding on Friday with a lavish ceremony on San Giorgio Maggiore, a historic and secluded island in Venice's San Marco district. The event was part of a grand three-day celebration in the city. About 200 high-profile guests, including the Kardashian-Jenner family, Bill Gates, Karlie Kloss, Oprah Winfrey and Usher, were seen boarding water taxis to the island. However, the festivities remained hidden from the public eye, with guests reportedly following a strict social media ban during the celebrations. The ceremony ended quietly, with one notable reveal — Vogue released a digital cover featuring Sanchez in her wedding gown. Designed by Dolce & Gabbana, the dress took over a year to make. It featured a high lace neckline, corseted bodice and 180 silk chiffon-covered priest buttons. According to CNN, she later changed into two more outfits: a sweetheart-neck gown inspired by the 1946 film Gilda for the dinner, and a dazzling cocktail dress by Oscar de la Renta decorated with 175,000 crystals. San Giorgio Maggiore, known for its stunning marble Renaissance architecture designed by Andrea Palladio, was likely chosen for both its beauty and its privacy. Local protests against the wedding reportedly led to last-minute changes in some venues. Demonstrators, critical of what they see as the wealthy taking over the city, used banners, canal blockades and even Bezos mannequins in protest, CNN reported. Despite this, Venice's Ministry of Tourism estimated that the wedding alone could generate nearly 68% of the city's annual tourism revenue in just one weekend, the report further added. It is still unclear whether Bezos and Sanchez are legally married. A city official told CNN that Venice had received no official request to register the marriage, suggesting the ceremony was symbolic. Not long after the Vogue photos went live, Sanchez changed her Instagram handle to Lauren Sanchez Bezos. Sanchez arrived for the ceremony in a white 1960s-style Dior skirt suit, paired with a printed silk scarf wrapped around her head in true Audrey Hepburn fashion, Jimmy Choo heels and a Hermès Kelly handbag. She smiled and blew kisses to photographers as she stepped into her water taxi. Guests were spotted in designer outfits throughout the weekend, wearing labels like Dolce & Gabbana, Oscar de la Renta, Versace and vintage Roberto Cavalli. Kylie Jenner opted for a powder blue corset gown, Kim Kardashian chose a sleek toffee-toned dress, and Oprah wore a pink mermaid-style gown. While official details about the performers were kept under wraps, Italian media reported that Matteo Bocelli, son of famed tenor Andrea Bocelli, opened the night with a performance of 'Can't Help Falling in Love' by Elvis Presley. Bocelli also sang at both Kim and Kourtney Kardashian's weddings. Lady Gaga is expected to close the celebrations on Saturday with a performance at Venice's historic Arsenale — a former shipyard now used as a cultural venue for the Venice Biennale.
The South African
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The South African
Lauren Sánchez's wedding dress steals the show in Venice
Lauren Sánchez dazzled guests and fashion watchers alike when she wed Jeff Bezos in Venice on Friday. The ceremony, held on the historic island of San Giorgio Maggiore, was the centrepiece of a three-day celebration. The ceremony drew in celebrities, royalty, and global attention. Sánchez chose a custom Dolce & Gabbana gown for her wedding. The dress was inspired by the high-necked lace gown worn by Sophia Loren in the 1958 film Houseboat . 'I wanted something that evokes a moment, and where I am right now. I am a different person than I was five years ago,' Sánchez, according to Page Six. Lauren Sánchez added, 'I researched pictures of brides in the 1950s. I saw Sophia Loren, and her hands were in a prayer position. She was in high lace, up to the neck, and I said, 'That's it. That's the dress.' The gown featured: A high turtleneck and long sleeves A corseted waist, accentuating Sánchez's figure 180 silk chiffon-covered buttons running from neck to floor Hand-appliquéd Italian lace throughout A mermaid-style skirt with a dramatic train A lace-trimmed veil, worn over a sleek bun Sánchez completed her look with Dolce & Gabbana Alta Gioielleria Miracolo earrings. The earrings featured four diamonds cut from a single stone and set in white gold as her 'something borrowed'. Sánchez admitted that her choice was unexpected. 'It is a departure from what people expect—from what I expect—but it's very much me,' she said. Lauren Sánchez kept the dress a secret from Bezos until the day of the ceremony. 'As you get a little older, not many things surprise you. I can't wait to see his face,' she told Vogue . The wedding was not just a single-dress affair. For the wedding dinner, Sánchez changed into a second corseted gown inspired by Rita Hayworth's iconic look in Gilda . Later, she donned an Oscar de la Renta cocktail dress adorned with 175,000 crystals for the party. Dolce & Gabbana was a meaningful choice for Sánchez. Her son, Nikko Gonzalez, made his modelling debut for the brand earlier this year. Lauren Sánchez herself has attended their shows, often seated in the front row. The wedding's estimated cost was around $50 million—about R900 million—making it one of the most expensive celebrity weddings in recent memory. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
First look out! Lauren Sanchez marries Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in classic Dolce & Gabbana
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and long-time partner Lauren Sanchez are officially married. The couple said 'I do' in a star-studded ceremony on the secluded island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, Italy, last night. For her big day, Sanchez stunned in a custom high-neck, corseted Italian lace gown by Dolce & Gabbana. The hand-appliqued couture piece was fitted and cosseted, cascading into a tulle-and-lace veil that flowed elegantly down her back. Bezos looked every bit the classic groom in a crisp black tuxedo, bow-tie and white undershirt. 'Not just a gown, a piece of poetry. Thank you @dolcegabbana for the magic you made,' Sanchez, an American journalist, wrote on Instagram, sharing the first pictures of their wedding. For accessories, she chose Dolce & Gabbana Alta Gioielleria Miracolo earrings, four diamonds cut from a single stone and inlaid in white gold –– her 'something borrowed'. The Dolce & Gabbana bridal dress, fitted with its tulle-and-lace veil, took 900 hours of atelier work and was inspired by one worn by Sophia Loren. 'The whole thing was like a dream. I feel like a princess,' Sánchez Bezos told Vogue during the fitting process. She also revealed that it is the first formal dress she's ever worn that is so covered up across the chest. 'It is a departure from what people expect, from what I expect, but it's very much me.' Her hair was left loose, all romantic and swept up, accentuated by make-up that was light and clean. 'Hardly any glam, the least amount of make-up,' she had insisted. 'This is part of the evolution. I want it as natural as you can get it,' she had told the publication. For the wedding dinner, she slipped into a sweetheart neck, corseted gown inspired by the Rita Hayworth film Gilda; and for the party afterwards, a cocktail dress by Oscar de la Renta, featuring 600 yards of hand-sewn chain and 175,000 crystals. The wedding celebration also included two welcome dinners for which she chose a 2003 Alexander McQueen –– one-shouldered black column dress and a Schiaparelli couture off-the-shoulder dress, with hand-embroidered flowers, and a corset covered in gold bugle beads. From A-list Hollywood celebrities to powerful political figures, the guest-list was 200-strong and boasted of the highest level of security. Members from the Kardashian-Jenner family, Bill Gates, Karlie Kloss, Oprah Winfrey and Usher were papped while getting onto to water taxis to reach the island, but that's all we could see of them due to an apparent social media blackout issued by the hosts. Bezos, 61 and Sanchez, 55 had been dating for six years before they decided to settle down together. Previously, Bezos was married to MacKenzie Scott, and Sanchez to Patrick Whitesell. Between the both, the couple share seven children, and had gotten engaged in May 2023 on their three-masted, 417-foot sailing yacht Koru, a Maori symbol for new beginnings. Details about their upcoming wedding had been making waves for a while, with activists trying tooth and nail to sabotage and disturb their plans. Threatening to block guest entry by releasing inflatable crocodiles in the Venetian canals, to swarming streets to prevent cars from moving forward, Bezos and Sanchez had to make last minute plans to shift their nuptials to a remote island for privacy, safety and smooth operations.
Los Angeles Times
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez tie the knot in opulent Venice wedding
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are officially husband and wife. The Amazon founder, who's been linked to Sánchez since 2019, hosted an extravagant, reportedly $50-million celebration in Venice, Italy, stretching three days. From the lavish location to the celebrity guest list, the event has attracted a media frenzy, but also experienced its fair share of hiccups — including a last-minute venue change to the island of San Giorgio Maggiore. Here's what we know about the wedding so far. Sánchez opted for a custom Dolce & Gabbana wedding gown inspired by Sophia Loren's gown in the 1958 film 'Houseboat.' This marks the first time Sánchez has worn such a high-necked formal dress, she told Vogue. 'It is a departure from what people expect,' she said, 'from what I expect — but it's very much me.' The bride shared two images of her dress Friday on Instagram, where she also updated her handle to @laurensanchezbezos. Other ensembles planned for the big day were a corseted gown inspired by the Rita Hayworth film 'Gilda' and an Oscar de la Renta cocktail dress with 175,000 crystals, according to Vogue. Sánchez's 'something borrowed' was a pair of Dolce & Gabbana Alta Gioielleria Miracolo earrings, according to Vogue. And her 'something blue,' she revealed, was a souvenir she brought on her controversial 11-minute Blue Origin spaceflight. 'It was literally one of the most profound experiences I've ever had in my life,' she told Vogue. 'Jeff said, 'It's gonna change you more than you think,' and it completely has, visually, spiritually.' As expected, several A-listers made the 200-person guest list. Notably, Orlando Bloom arrived solo after reportedly ending his engagement with Katy Perry. Sánchez seemed to acknowledge Perry's absence, commenting, 'We miss you Katy,' Friday on the pop star's Instagram. Perry famously joined Sánchez on the Blue Origin space flight and has received a disproportionate amount of the criticism. Though President Trump was not present (despite reports that he received an invitation), his daughter Ivanka Trump and Ivanka's husband, Jared Kushner, were in attendance, along with in-laws Karlie Kloss and Joshua Kushner. Other celebrities in attendance were Kim and Khloé Kardashian; Kris, Kylie and Kendall Jenner; Bill Gates and Paula Hurd; Sydney Sweeney; Tom Brady; Leonardo DiCaprio; Usher; Eva Longoria and José Bastón; Diane von Furstenberg and Barry Diller; Oprah Winfrey; and Gayle King, who was also aboard the Blue Origin spaceflight. The lavish celebration was not without its critics. The No Space for Bezos movement — a combination of anti-cruise ship campaigners, university groups and housing advocates — staged protests throughout Venice leading up to the event, even planning to obstruct canal access to prevent wedding guests from reaching the venue, according to the Associated Press. The newlyweds reportedly had to make an eleventh hour venue change, opting for the more secluded and secure Arsenale for the Saturday reception, according to local media.
UPI
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
Watch: Shari Lewis' life and legacy examined in 'Shari and Lamb Chop'
June 25 (UPI) -- Distributor Kino Lorber has released a trailer for Shari & Lamb Chop, a documentary examining the life, career and legacy of children's entertainer Shari Lewis. The trailer, released Wednesday, charts the rise, fall and rise again of Lewis and her iconic puppets Lamb Chop, Hush Puppy and Charlie Horse. The film, directed by Lisa D'Apolito (Love, Gilda), features interviews with Lewis' family members, friends, business associates and ventriloquists who were inspired by her work in children's entertainment. "There's no shortage of Lamb Chop love in her illuminating film, but Lisa D'Apolito has gone beyond a warm embrace to more deeply investigate Shari Lewis' exceptional gifts and career," Richard Lorber, chairman and CEO of Kino Lorber, said in a news release. "The voices she projected through her beloved critters echo the multiple dimensions of Lewis' own personality and creative challenges as a performer and media pioneer." Shari & Lamb Chop releases in theaters July 18.
