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Times
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Jeff Bezos wedding: guests watch on as vows exchanged
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos have exchanged vows at their extravagant wedding ceremony, to the applause of their star-studded guests in Venice. The bride wore a long Dolce & Gabbana gown with button embellishments and lace sleeves inspired by the dress Sophia Loren wore in the 1958 film Houseboat. Guests had been welcomed to the Venetian island of San Giorgio Maggiore, where the ceremony took place, to the sound of Matteo Bocelli, the son of the Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli, singing Elvis Presley's Can't Help Falling in Love. To applause from partygoers, a female singer followed up with gospel-tinged version of Steve Winwood's Higher Love and Candi Staton's You've Got the Love. Sánchez Bezos had earlier left the luxury Aman hotel on Venice's Grand Canal to head for the wedding wearing a headscarf and large sunglasses which again bore a striking resemblance to Loren. She was followed by Bezos who stepped into a motor launch in which champagne in an ice bucket had been placed minutes earlier by staff at the hotel. Earlier in the evening, the couple's guests, enjoying a drink in the garden of the St Regis hotel before heading to the weekend's main event, were joined by a falconer and a falcon to ward off seagulls, which are known to steal snacks in Venice. After Ivanka Trump and Queen Rania of Jordan left the hotel to head for the party, Leonardo DiCaprio was seen leaving the Gritti Palace hotel with a baseball cap pulled down over his face, prompting groans from photographers positioned on boats on the Grand Canal. Soon after the newlyweds exchanged vows, Vogue's front digital cover was released with Sánchez Bezos featured in her wedding dress. The Italian designer Domenico Dolce had been seen arriving at the Aman on Thursday afternoon, fueling speculation that the fashion duo Dolce & Gabbana had dressed Sánchez Bezos for the wedding. It later emerged that Sánchez Bezos had been dreaming up the wedding dress design with Dolce & Gabbana a year and a half ago. 'It went from, 'I want a simple, sexy modern dress' to 'I want something that evokes a moment, and where I am right now',' Sánchez Bezos told the magazine. 'It is a departure from what people expect… but it's very much me.' Her public Instagram was then left with only three posts remaining on her feed — a picture of Sánchez Bezos in her pre-wedding dress, a post from her bachelorette party and a quote reading: 'It's never too late to be what you might have been.' She also changed her Instagram name, adding the second surname 'Bezos'. Venice town hall officials have said the wedding will have no legal status under Italian law since a marriage application was not registered in the city, raising speculation the couple have previously married in a private ceremony in the US. Around 30 riot police with shields were stationed in the small, walled-off public section of the island in case protesters arrived to disrupt the wedding. • Gallery: the wedding in pictures Bezos arrived in Venice on Thursday night and lavished praise on the lagoon city that has been blighted by days of protest over his star-studded, three-day wedding party. 'We love Venice, look at this!' he told The Times, waving his arms around him as he sped down the Grand Canal in a water taxi beside his bride-to-be. 'It can't exist and yet here it is!' the Amazon tycoon added as he passed The Times's boat. ANTONIO CALANNI/AP Bezos, 61, and Sánchez Bezos, 55, a journalist, were on their way to the first party of their nuptials — an event dubbed 'Jeff in Venice' by locals. Throughout the day on Friday, A-list invitees were seen out and about in Venice. Khloé Kardashian and her mother, Kris Jenner, were spotted shopping in Chanel as Khloé celebrated her 41st birthday. Orlando Bloom, the actor, was seen sharing a water taxi with Tom Brady, the former NFL player, after eating breakfast on the terrace of the luxury Gritti Palace hotel — where earlier Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King, the CBS anchor, had been seen eating. Sydney Sweeney, the Euphoria actress, was also pictured roaming the streets of Venice hours before the wedding was due to begin. Other guests to have arrived on Thursday include Bill Gates, Kim Kardashian and the singer Usher. Tom Brady GUGLIELMO MANGIAPANE/REUTERS Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner LUIGI COSTANTINI/AP Before Bezos and Sánchez Bezos left the Aman Hotel on the Grand Canal for the Madonna dell'Orto cloister on Thursday — the location of the first party — two well-dressed women in a water taxi came alongside a boat containing photographers and handed over ice creams and cold water. 'From Jeff and Lauren,' said one of the women. The following day, a camera crew and group of tourists thought they had lucked out by spotting the Amazon boss roaming the streets, with social media users sharing footage of who they thought was Bezos. It was later revealed the sighting was of Cagdas Halicilar, who quit his job last year to become a full-time Bezos lookalike, and who has since secured a role in a Netflix show. The couple will round off the weekend with a party on Saturday at Venice's former shipyard — the Arsenale, which is set to be filled with 80,000 roses, according to Italian media. San Giorgio Maggiore is ideal for a wedding party. When the Vatican decided to enter Venice's architecture Biennale exhibition, it commissioned ten architects to build avant garde chapels among the trees, including one by the British architect Norman Foster. The weather, the one thing even one of the world's richest men cannot plan for, has been far from ideal. A-listers were forced to take cover during Thursday's pre-wedding party as a thunderstorm struck the lavish event at the Madonna dell'Orto, ultimately bringing the party to an early end. For the rest of the weekend, a red alert for extreme weather has been issued with temperatures expected to hit close to 40C. Anti-Bezos protesters are also looking to rain on the wedding's parade, with campaigners No Space For Bezos planning a flash mob protest over the next two days, while a march is scheduled for Saturday at the main Santa Lucia railway station. Extinction Rebellion staged a protest in St Mark's Square on Thursday afternoon, in which an activist unfurled a banner stating 'The One Per Cent Ruins The World', a reference to Bezos's estimated $224 billion fortune. The activist was later detained by police. Over at the supporters' club of local football team Venezia, a group of men enjoying mid-morning glasses of white wine with ice said they did not agree with the protests. 'Why shouldn't they get married? For us it's meant more police, less rubbish and fewer pickpockets,' said gondolier Roberto Orio, 63. 'My only gripe is I wasn't invited,' said retired postman Livio Cappello, 68.
ABC News
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Venice wedding in pictures
The sky itself is no limit for billionaire Jeff Bezos and fiancée Lauren Sánchez, who have travelled into space — and expectations were about as high ahead of their wedding in Venice. One of the world's most enchanting cities as a backdrop? Check. Star-studded guest list and tabloid buzz? Of course. Local flavour? You bet. And then, time to tie the knot. The couple held their wedding ceremony on Friday night, local time, and the now Mrs Sánchez Bezos posted to Instagram a photo of herself beaming in a white gown as she stood alongside a tuxedo-clad Mr Bezos, the world's fourth-richest man. Before the nuptials, Ms Sanchez, 55, wearing short-sleeved, cream, fitted skirt suit, with shades and a head scarf to protect her from the blistering summer sun, boarded a motor boat for the small island of San Giorgio where the couple would exchange rings. About two hours later, Mr Bezos, 61, wearing a black tuxedo and bow tie over a white shirt, made the same short trip across the lagoon, accompanied by singing from Matteo Bocelli, son of Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. Businesses have welcomed the glitz and glamour but it is opposed by a local protest movement whose members resent what they see as Venice being gift-wrapped for ultra-rich outsiders. Mr Bezos is No 4 on Forbes' global billionaires list. The anti-Bezos front is planning a march on Saturday, and its activities have already led authorities to step up security and move the location of the closing party to a more secluded part of Venice, the Arsenale former shipyard. But politicians, hoteliers and some other Venice residents are happy about the wedding, saying such events do more to support the local economy than the multitudes of day-trippers who normally overrun the city. Bill Gates, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, the queen of Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Kris Jenner and Kim and Khloe Kardashian as well as Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, and Domenico Dolce from Dolce & Gabbana, are among the 200-250 guests. Amid tight security, there have been glimpses of the celebrities moving around town, the women in summer dresses and high heels stepping somewhat gingerly off boats ferrying them around the city's canals. Celebrations began on Thursday evening in the cloisters of Madonna dell'Orto, a medieval church in the central district of Cannaregio that hosts masterpieces by 16th-century painter Tintoretto. "This magical place has gifted us unforgettable memories," the bride and groom said on their wedding invitation, in which they asked for "no gifts" and pledged charity donations for three Venetian institutions. Their donations are worth 3 million euros ($5.8 million). AP/Reuters
India Today
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos ties knot with Lauren Sanchez in Italy
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez officially tied the knot during an opulent celebration in Venice, Italy. Sanchez confirmed their marriage on Instagram late Friday night, sharing a joyful photo of the couple. She was wearing a white lace gown, and Bezos was seen in a classic tuxedo. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lauren Snchez Bezos (@laurensanchezbezos)advertisementThe ceremony was held on the green island of San Giorgio Maggiore, overlooking the Doge's Palace across the Venetian lagoon. Guests, estimated at around 200, arrived by motorboat for the intimate yet glamorous wedding was part of a grand three-day celebration that turned Venice into a hotspot of celebrity sightings and high fashion. On Friday evening, cheers echoed across the lagoon, followed by a romantic performance by Matteo Bocelli, son of famed tenor Andrea Bocelli. The wedding was a three-day extravaganza that transformed Venice into a hub of celebrity spotting and high-style fashion. On Friday evening, cheers echoed across the lagoon, followed by a romantic performance by Matteo Bocelli, son of famed tenor Andrea magazine Vogue confirmed the union, revealing Sanchez's wedding gown was custom-designed by Dolce & guest list comprised a combination of world power brokers and entertainment moguls, who came in ahead of time in private planes and those on the guest list, according to The New York Times, were a plethora of high-profile names across multiple industries. Oprah Winfrey, Barry Diller, Orlando Bloom, Leonardo DiCaprio, and musical performers Usher and Jewel were all among those present. Additionally, former NFL quarterback Tom Brady and tech moguls like Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman were also US President Donald Trump did not attend the ceremony, his daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner did show up, accompanied by Josh Kushner and his wife, model Karlie Kloss.- EndsTrending Reel
Forbes
9 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Jeff Bezos And Lauren Sanchez Married Today: What We Know About Venice Extravaganza
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former journalist Lauren Sánchez exchanged vows on a small Venetian island Friday, the centerpiece of what has become a star-studded, and controversial, multi-day ceremony hosted in Venice, Italy. (Related: All the photos of the celebrity attendees.) VENICE, ITALY - JUNE 27: Jeff Bezos leaves the Aman Hotel during the Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez ... More Wedding on June 27, 2025 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Ernesto Ruscio/GC Images) Where: Bezos and Sánchez tied the knot on San Giorgio Island on Friday, multiple outlets reported, a small locale off the coast of Venice's St. Mark's Square which contains a centuries-old church known for its bell tower. Is it official? Though the couple held their wedding in Italy, city officials told CNN they have not received an official marriage request from the couple, indicating their celebrations are ceremonial and that they may already have married in the United States. Who is performing? Friday's wedding celebration featured a performance by Matteo Bocelli, the son of opera singer Andrea Bocelli, Reuters reported. How long—and how much? The wedding began its 'multi-day celebration' Thursday and is expected to last until Saturday, costing the billionaire tech mogul and his wife tens of millions of dollars, according to multiple outlets. Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, who has spoken out against protesters demonstrating against the wedding, told Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera the wedding 'will have economic repercussions worth millions of euros for our city.' Protests by locals, who are upset with overtourism and Bezos' links to President Donald Trump, threatened the festivities, and sources told Reuters the threat of protests prompted Bezos to move a wedding party from a central nightlife area to the more secluded Arsenale, which is surrounded by water and impossible to reach by land when bridges are raised. Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts : We're launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day's headlines. Text 'Alerts' to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here . Who Is On The Guest List For The Bezos-Sanchez Wedding? Venice officials have said the guest list for Bezos and Sánchez's wedding is limited to 200 people. On Tuesday afternoon, Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner, who were rumored to attend, were photographed arriving in Venice. Other celebrities so far spotted in Venice for the festivities include Kylie and Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Brady, Gayle King, Orlando Bloom, Leonardo DiCaprio and Sydney Sweeney. Investor Michael Kives has also been seen in Venice in addition to Dolce & Gabbana founder and billionaire Domenico Dolce and Queen Rania of Jordan, wife of the country's King Abdullah II. Bezos invited President Donald Trump to the wedding, the Journal reported, though Trump will not make the trip due to scheduling conflicts. Festivities kicked off Thursday night, after many of Bezos and Sánchez's celebrity guests arrived, with a party at the Madonna dell'Orto, a 14th-century cathedral, CNN reported. Guests appear to be adhering to strict social media rules, CNN reported, as some of the most social media-savvy guests, like the Kardashians, have not posted any pictures from inside the venue. After Friday's wedding ceremony, celebrations are expected to conclude with a wedding reception Saturday at the Arsenale, a shipyard and armory that is now the site of an annual Venetian cultural festival. The Saturday reception was initially set to take place at the Scuola Grande Della Misericordia, a 14th-century building, but the event was moved because of concerns over protests, the Wall Street Journal reported, though protests are still planned for the new location. Reuters reported Lady Gaga and Elton John may perform at Saturday's party, though The Hollywood Reporter said this week Gaga was not asked to perform. Bezos and Sánchez first appeared in Venice on Wednesday, where they had dinner at the home of billionaire Barry Diller and his wife, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, the New York Times reported. Who Is Protesting The Wedding And Why? Some locals in Venice, which has dealt with overtourism that has strained the city's infrastructure and services for years, have staged protests under the name 'No Space for Bezos' over concerns the wedding's scale will worsen some of the issues created by excessive tourist crowds, with more demonstrations planned to disrupt this week's festivities. Protesters are planning a march on Saturday, according to posts by the 'No Space for Bezos' group on Instagram, which will start at the Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia train station, located roughly 1.5 miles away from the Arsenale venue. The group has already held multiple demonstrations. On Monday, the Greenpeace environmental activist organization joined 'No Space for Bezos' in Venice's St. Mark's Square, unveiling a banner with Bezos' face that read: 'IF YOU CAN RENT VENICE FOR YOUR WEDDING YOU CAN PAY MORE TAX.' Police quickly took the banner away, the Associated Press reported. They previously hoisted a banner that says 'Bezos' with an 'X' through it on the San Giorgio Maggiore church's bell tower. Federica Toninelli, a Venetian activist with 'No Space for Bezos,' told Reuters the wedding is also a 'symbol of the exploitation of the city by outsiders.' Protesters have threatened to block access to canals and city streets in an effort to block wedding attendees from reaching party venues in the city, according to Variety. Oliviero Cassarà, a lead organizer and activist, said in a statement 'No Space for Bezos' has zero issue with Americans or people getting married in Venice, instead criticizing Bezos for his links to Trump and blasting the president's controversial trade policies. 'Bezos supported Trump economically and politically and is consequently co-responsible for this drift against us Italian and European citizens,' Cassarà said. Brugnaro has spoken out against the protesters and tried to reassure them the city is capable of handling the event, citing its hosting of the Venice Film Festival and G7 Summit. Brugnaro said he was 'ashamed of those who behave like this,' Variety reported. How Much Will The Wedding Cost? Multiple reports have said the wedding will predictably cost millions of dollars. Reuters reported an estimated total cost of $46.5 million to $55.6 million. The Journal reported a luxury wedding with 200 guests such as Bezos' costs about $4 million, citing Jamie Simon, director of events at luxury planning firm Banana Split, which organized the multiday wedding between Sofia Richie Grainge and Atlantic Records CEO Elliot Grainge in 2023. Who Is Organizing The Bezos-Sánchez Wedding? The Journal reported Lanza & Baucina, a London-based group that planned George and Amal Clooney's 2014 wedding in Venice, was hired by Bezos and Sánchez. A representative for the group told the Journal its principles and the instructions of Bezos call for the 'minimizing of any disruption to the city, the respect for its residents and institutions and the overwhelming employment of locals in the crafting of the events.' The 2014 wedding had a generally positive perception, with locals lauding Clooney for his consideration and respect for Venice. Cassará even compared Bezos to Clooney in his statement, saying Bezos 'is not George Clooney with his romantic aura.' We estimate Bezos' net worth at $237 billion as of Friday, making him the fourth-wealthiest person in the world behind Mark Zuckerberg ($253.1 billion), Larry Ellison ($253.4 billion) and Elon Musk ($409.8 billion). Key Background Bezos and Sánchez met almost 10 years ago and began making public appearances together around 2019, when the two began dating. They became engaged in 2023 aboard the Koru superyacht, with Bezos offering Sánchez a 30-carat cushion cut pink diamond set in platinum, according to Vanity Fair. Venice Residents Protest Entry Fee For Tourists Amid Concerns City Will Turn Into A 'Theme Park' (Forbes)
Telegraph
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Lauren Sanchez blows kisses on way to Bezos wedding
Lauren Sánchez blew a kiss at onlookers as she left the Aman Venice hotel to head to the tiny lagoon island where she will exchange vows and rings with Jeff Bezos. The 55-year-old American journalist and helicopter pilot took a water taxi along the Grand Canal before stepping onto a wooden pier on San Giorgio Island at the mouth of the channel. Mr Bezos, 61, was soon after seen heading to the island in a black tuxedo and sunglasses. 'She looked very Jackie O,' said one photographer, referring to the headscarf and large sunglasses Ms Sánchez was wearing. The island, home to a cluster of historic churches and cloisters, has sweeping views of Venice's lagoon. There will be a performance by Matteo Bocelli, the son of the Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, followed by a fireworks display. The ceremony will have no legal status under Italian law and it is thought the couple, who are both divorcees, may have already legally married in the US. The lavish three-day extravaganza, estimated to have cost tens of millions of euros, would bring an economic boost of €957 million euros (£817 million) to Venice, said Daniela Santanchè, Italy's tourism minister. The figure is based on a study carried out by the statistics office of the Italian tourism ministry. It would represent 68 per cent of the annual revenue that Venice normally takes from tourism, she added. The claim was made as it was reported that Lady Gaga and Sir Elton John will perform for the couple at a party on Saturday night. It will be held in the Arsenal, the centuries-old shipyard where Venetians built timber merchant vessels and warships that helped them forge a trading empire in the Adriatic Sea and beyond. It is a vast complex of warehouses, shipyards and workshops surrounded by crenellated walls, which are guarded by imposing towers and carved stone lions. Lady Gaga and Sir Elton are known to be friends, have performed together in the past and collaborated on the song Sine From Above. A guest list that includes the Kardashian sisters, Queen Rania of Jordan, Orlando Bloom, Leonardo DiCaprio, Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates has ensured that the wedding has made headlines and been broadcasted around the world. Khloé Kardashian and Kris Jenner, her mother, were photographed shopping in Venice's luxury boutiques on Friday. 'Events like this reinforce Italy's global image, generate jobs, promote the country and attract new influxes of discerning tourists,' said Ms Santanchè. 'The media exposure also reinforces Italy's part in the wedding tourism sector. I want to thank Jeff Bezos and everyone who chooses Italy as the place to celebrate the most important moments of their lives.' Critics say Venice is already straining under the pressure of millions of tourists, and the last thing the area needs is for its profile to be raised further. Activists have staged a number of protests against the wedding. Demonstrators used lasers on Thursday night to project the words 'No Space for Bezos' and 'Fck Bzs' on the bell tower in St Mark's Square. Opinion is sharply divided in the city. Some Venetians have welcomed the economic benefits the wedding will bring, while others have said it reinforces the impression that Venice is turning into a cultural Disneyland where tourism reigns supreme and inhabitants are driven out by exorbitant rents. Eliza Daidone, 79-year-old resident who lives in a house overlooking a canal in the Cannaregio district, said: 'It will bring in money to a small minority like hotels and restaurants. It will bring work for the water taxis and the gondoliers. 'But for a lot of other people, it feels like a slap in the face. Young people work 12 hours a day and are lucky if they earn 1,500 euros a month. And here's Bezos coming to Venice for three days and spending millions.' Across the piazza, Angela, a bar owner, said: 'We've got bigger things to worry about than Bezos' wedding. The number-one problem here is the housing crisis, the fact that locals can't afford somewhere to live. Everything has become an Airbnb. That's the real issue. All this stuff about Bezos is just words – and envy.' But Marco, who owns a tourist shop at one end of the Rialto Bridge, said the Amazon founder and his wealthy guests should be warmly welcomed. 'At least they will bring some revenue to the city. Not like the day-trippers we get. They arrive for a few hours, use all the services, clog up the alleyways, spend a few euros and then leave. 'They create chaos and inconvenience every day. I think the protesters are hypocritical – I bet they all have Amazon accounts.'
