Latest news with #SanGiorgioMaggiore
CNN
43 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
What happened on Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's big wedding day
It's been both the most public and secretive wedding of the year. On Friday, the main event of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's three-day-long Venetian extravaganza culminated in a private ceremony held on the secluded, historic San Giorgio Maggiore island in the San Marco sestiere. In the afternoon, the some 200 members of the celebrity guest list, including the Kardashian-Jenner family, Bill Gates, Karlie Kloss, Oprah Winfrey and Usher were all photographed stepping onto water taxis to ferry them to the festivities, but their visibility ended there, with guests seemingly adhering to an apparent social media blackout once inside each of the weekend's events. The ceremony ended discreetly, except for a signal from the fashion world — a Vogue digital cover offering a first look at Sanchez's gown. After much speculation (and not-so-subtle sightings of designer Domenico Dolce in Venice), it revealed her dress was a custom design by Dolce & Gabbana and was a year and a half in the making. The high-necked lace corseted gown had 180 silk chiffon-covered priest buttons dotting the front. Over the course of the night, per Vogue, she had two more outfit changes: a sweetheart-neck dress — another reference, this time to the 1946 film 'Gilda' — for the wedding dinner, and an intricate cocktail dress featuring 175,000 crystals by Oscar de la Renta. San Giorgio Maggiore is known for its gleaming marble Renaissance-era basilicas, designed by the Italian architect Andrea Palladio. But there may have been another, more pragmatic reason the couple opted for the island: privacy. After ongoing protests in the city — including the threat of canal blockades, guerilla-style banners and uncanny Bezos mannequins — allegedly forced Sanchez and Bezos to change one of the weekend's locations at the last minute, the security and inaccessibility of the island was reportedly a key factor in their decision. Venice's Ministry of Tourism has estimated the celebrations will generate almost 68% of the city's annual tourism turnover in just one weekend — but protestors have rallied against what they perceive to be a takeover of the idyllic Italian archipelago city by some of the world's wealthiest people. During the ceremony, the Amazon-founder billionaire and the former journalist likely exchanged rings symbolically. It remains unclear when the couple legally wed (or if they already have, prior to this week, in the US). A spokesperson for the mayor's office in Venice had told CNN on Thursday that the city did not receive an official request from the couple, meaning the events this week are ceremonial and will not be legally binding. Shortly after the Vogue photos were released, Sanchez changed her Instagram account handle to Lauren Sanchez Bezos. Prev Next Before the celebration, Sanchez herself made her way to San Giorgio Maggiore dressed in a '60s-inspired tailored white skirt suit from Dior with a printed silk scarf wrapped Hepburn-style around her head, Jimmy Choo heels and an Hermès Kelly handbag. She blew kisses to photographers as she stepped into a water taxi. Guests have mingled all weekend wearing an array of luxury designers, including vintage Roberto Cavalli, Dolce & Gabbana, Oscar de la Renta and Versace. On the way to San Giorgio Maggiore, Kylie Jenner wore a powder blue long lace-up corset gown, Kim Kardashian chose a slick dark toffee-colored dress and Oprah opted for a draped pink mermaid silhouette. Though details of the wedding performers, like much else, were largely kept under wraps, Italian media reported that Matteo Bocelli — son of Andrea Bocelli, the revered Italian tenor who performed at both Kim and Kourtney Kardashian's weddings in 2014 and 2022, respectively — began the evening by singing 'Can't Help Falling in Love' by Elvis Presley. And if Bocelli made guests misty-eyed, then Lady Gaga — reportedly set to close out the final day of festivities on Saturday — will no doubt bring the party. The pop mega-star is expected to perform at Venice's former medieval shipyard, the Arsenale — which has been modernized with cultural spaces and hosts the annual Venice Biennale. This story will be updated.
CNN
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
What happened on Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's big wedding day
It's been both the most public and secretive wedding of the year. On Friday, the main event of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's three-day-long Venetian extravaganza culminated in a private ceremony held on the secluded, historic San Giorgio Maggiore island in the San Marco sestiere. In the afternoon, the some 200 members of the celebrity guest list, including the Kardashian-Jenner family, Bill Gates, Karlie Kloss, Oprah Winfrey and Usher were all photographed stepping onto water taxis to ferry them to the festivities, but their visibility ended there, with guests seemingly adhering to an apparent social media blackout once inside each of the weekend's events. The ceremony ended discreetly, except for a signal from the fashion world — a Vogue digital cover offering a first look at Sanchez's gown. After much speculation (and not-so-subtle sightings of designer Domenico Dolce in Venice), it revealed her dress was a custom design by Dolce & Gabbana and was a year and a half in the making. The high-necked lace corseted gown had 180 silk chiffon-covered priest buttons dotting the front. Over the course of the night, per Vogue, she had two more outfit changes: a sweetheart-neck dress — another reference, this time to the 1946 film 'Gilda' — for the wedding dinner, and an intricate cocktail dress featuring 175,000 crystals by Oscar de la Renta. San Giorgio Maggiore is known for its gleaming marble Renaissance-era basilicas, designed by the Italian architect Andrea Palladio. But there may have been another, more pragmatic reason the couple opted for the island: privacy. After ongoing protests in the city — including the threat of canal blockades, guerilla-style banners and uncanny Bezos mannequins — allegedly forced Sanchez and Bezos to change one of the weekend's locations at the last minute, the security and inaccessibility of the island was reportedly a key factor in their decision. Venice's Ministry of Tourism has estimated the celebrations will generate almost 68% of the city's annual tourism turnover in just one weekend — but protestors have rallied against what they perceive to be a takeover of the idyllic Italian archipelago city by some of the world's wealthiest people. During the ceremony, the Amazon-founder billionaire and the former journalist likely exchanged rings symbolically. It remains unclear when the couple legally wed (or if they already have, prior to this week, in the US). A spokesperson for the mayor's office in Venice had told CNN on Thursday that the city did not receive an official request from the couple, meaning the events this week are ceremonial and will not be legally binding. Shortly after the Vogue photos were released, Sanchez changed her Instagram account handle to Lauren Sanchez Bezos. Prev Next Before the celebration, Sanchez herself made her way to San Giorgio Maggiore dressed in a '60s-inspired tailored white skirt suit from Dior with a printed silk scarf wrapped Hepburn-style around her head, Jimmy Choo heels and an Hermès Kelly handbag. She blew kisses to photographers as she stepped into a water taxi. Guests have mingled all weekend wearing an array of luxury designers, including vintage Roberto Cavalli, Dolce & Gabbana, Oscar de la Renta and Versace. On the way to San Giorgio Maggiore, Kylie Jenner wore a powder blue long lace-up corset gown, Kim Kardashian chose a slick dark toffee-colored dress and Oprah opted for a draped pink mermaid silhouette. Though details of the wedding performers, like much else, were largely kept under wraps, Italian media reported that Matteo Bocelli — son of Andrea Bocelli, the revered Italian tenor who performed at both Kim and Kourtney Kardashian's weddings in 2014 and 2022, respectively — began the evening by singing 'Can't Help Falling in Love' by Elvis Presley. And if Bocelli made guests misty-eyed, then Lady Gaga — reportedly set to close out the final day of festivities on Saturday — will no doubt bring the party. The pop mega-star is expected to perform at Venice's former medieval shipyard, the Arsenale — which has been modernized with cultural spaces and hosts the annual Venice Biennale. This story will be updated.
CNN
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
What happened at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's big wedding day
It's been both the most public and secretive wedding of the year. On Friday, the main event of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's three-day-long Venetian extravaganza culminated in a private ceremony held on the secluded, historic San Giorgio Maggiore island in the San Marco sestiere. In the afternoon, the some 200 members of the celebrity guest list, including the Kardashian-Jenner family, Bill Gates, Karlie Kloss, Oprah Winfrey and Usher were all photographed stepping onto water taxis to ferry them to the festivities, but their visibility ended there, with guests seemingly adhering to an apparent social media blackout once inside each of the weekend's events. The ceremony ended discreetly, except for a signal from the fashion world — a Vogue digital cover offering a first look at Sanchez's gown. After much speculation (and not-so-subtle sightings of designer Domenico Dolce in Venice), it revealed her dress was a custom design by Dolce & Gabbana and was a year and a half in the making. The high-necked lace corseted gown had 180 silk chiffon-covered priest buttons dotting the front. Over the course of the night, per Vogue, she had two more outfit changes: a sweetheart-neck dress — another reference, this time to the 1946 film 'Gilda' — for the wedding dinner, and an intricate cocktail dress featuring 175,000 crystals by Oscar de la Renta. San Giorgio Maggiore is known for its gleaming marble Renaissance-era basilicas, designed by the Italian architect Andrea Palladio. But there may have been another, more pragmatic reason the couple opted for the island: privacy. After ongoing protests in the city — including the threat of canal blockades, guerilla-style banners and uncanny Bezos mannequins — allegedly forced Sanchez and Bezos to change one of the weekend's locations at the last minute, the security and inaccessibility of the island was reportedly a key factor in their decision. Venice's Ministry of Tourism has estimated the celebrations will generate almost 68% of the city's annual tourism turnover in just one weekend — but protestors have rallied against what they perceive to be a takeover of the idyllic Italian archipelago city by some of the world's wealthiest people. During the ceremony, the Amazon-founder billionaire and the former journalist likely exchanged rings symbolically. It remains unclear when the couple legally wed (or if they already have, prior to this week, in the US). A spokesperson for the mayor's office in Venice had told CNN on Thursday that the city did not receive an official request from the couple, meaning the events this week are ceremonial and will not be legally binding. Shortly after the Vogue photos were released, Sanchez changed her Instagram account handle to Lauren Sanchez Bezos. Prev Next Before the celebration, Sanchez herself made her way to San Giorgio Maggiore dressed in a '60s-inspired tailored white skirt suit from Dior with a printed silk scarf wrapped Hepburn-style around her head, Jimmy Choo heels and an Hermès Kelly handbag. She blew kisses to photographers as she stepped into a water taxi. Guests have mingled all weekend wearing an array of luxury designers, including vintage Roberto Cavalli, Dolce & Gabbana, Oscar de la Renta and Versace. On the way to San Giorgio Maggiore, Kylie Jenner wore a powder blue long lace-up corset gown, Kim Kardashian chose a slick dark toffee-colored dress and Oprah opted for a draped pink mermaid silhouette. Though details of the wedding performers, like much else, were largely kept under wraps, Italian media reported that Matteo Bocelli — son of Andrea Bocelli, the revered Italian tenor who performed at both Kim and Kourtney Kardashian's weddings in 2014 and 2022, respectively — began the evening by singing 'Can't Help Falling in Love' by Elvis Presley. And if Bocelli made guests misty-eyed, then Lady Gaga — reportedly set to close out the final day of festivities on Saturday — will no doubt bring the party. The pop mega-star is expected to perform at Venice's former medieval shipyard, the Arsenale — which has been modernized with cultural spaces and hosts the annual Venice Biennale. This story will be updated.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Crowds Are Following a Fake 'Jeff Bezos' Around Venice
A Jeff Bezos lookalike was spotted in Venice as the real billionaire celebrates his marriage to Lauren Sánchez this week 'The only thing I do is shave my head and regularly apply Nivea cream," the doppelganger told What's The Jam? Other notable celebrities including Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, Sydney Sweeney and Kim Kardashian were also spotted in Venice ahead of the eventDespite a slew of celebrities being spotted in Venice this week ahead of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's wedding, a crowd is following a man who is definitely not want of footage captured on the ground in Italy's City of Canals shows crowds and a professional camera crew following closely behind a Jeff Bezos lookalike. His bald head, white button-down and black dress pants closely resemble the 61-year-old Amazon founder. The clips surfaced while the real Bezos prepared to marry journalist Lauren Sánchez, 55. The pair officially tied the kno on Friday, June 27, on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, PEOPLE confirms.'Hi guys, I am Jeff Bezos lookalike from Germany,' the man says in a clip obtained by Reuters. In the video, he takes selfies with onlookers eager to get a though it wasn't the real tech billionaire, people were still excited to see him.'I know he is not the real one, but it is exciting, you know, to find him,' one woman says in the video. 'I was telling my husband, 'Look, look, look he's right there.' And he's like, 'No, I don't see any bodyguards.'' 'I don't care, just take me a picture,' the woman says. The doppelganger, Cagdas Halicilar, a former electrician, started embracing the similarities after he was constantly compared to Bezos by friends. He left his job and signed with a doppelganger agency — leading to German TV gigs and an appearance on German Netflix's King of Stonks.'My partner sometimes gets annoyed when people come to me and want selfies, but many don't dare to speak to me,' Halicilar told What's The Jam? last year. 'The only thing I do is shave my head and regularly apply Nivea cream.'He added: 'My wish is to drink a whiskey with Jeff Bezos on his yacht, he is just as much of a yacht fanatic as I am.' On June 5, Halicilar posted a video on Instagram with on screen text reading 'Geschenk für Jeff Bezos,' which translates to 'Gift for Jeff Bezos.' In the clip, he shows off a bottle of whiskey and a box of cigars from Laura Chavin, a German company. Bezos and Sánchez celebrated their wedding in Venice this week with a glamorous welcome party on Thursday, June 26. Several of the couple's celebrity guests were spotted making their way to the soirée including Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, Kris Jenner, and Kim and Khloé Kardashian. The couple has worked hard to keep the details surrounding their extravagant nuptials under wraps. They tapped event planners Lanza & Baucina Limited to help stage this week's events. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro confirmed that Bezos and Sánchez would act responsibly while hosting their nuptials in the historic Italian city. "The many speculations and fake news circulating about Jeff Bezos' wedding are completely unfounded,' the mayor wrote in a statement obtained by PEOPLE, adding that only 200 guests will be invited and that the event wouldn't disrupt the city. 'We are mutually working and supporting the organizers, to ensure that the event will be absolutely respectful of the fragility and uniqueness of the city,' the statement continued. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lauren Sánchez Shares First Photo with Husband Jeff Bezos from the Couple's Starry Venice Wedding
Lauren Sánchez and Jeff Bezos' star-studded wedding took place on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, Italy, on Friday, June 27 Sánchez walked down the aisle wearing a high-necked, hand-appliquéd Italian lace wedding dress designed by Dolce&Gabbana 'It went from 'I want a simple, sexy modern dress' to 'I want something that evokes a moment,' and where I am right now. I am a different person than I was five years ago," Sánchez told VogueLauren Sánchez has shared the first photo from her Venice wedding to husband Jeff Bezos. Shortly after tying the knot with Bezos on Friday, June 27, Sánchez — who officially confirmed her marriage by changing her Instagram handle and name in bio to "Lauren Sánchez Bezos" just hours after the ceremony— posted her first wedding photo with the billionaire Amazon founder. "06/27/2025 ♥️," the bride wrote in the caption of her post. She shared a photo from the outdoor garden ceremony, which PEOPLE confirmed took place on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, Italy. Sánchez smiled beside Bezos wearing a lace wedding dress featuring sheer lace sleeves, a mermaid-style silhouette and 180 silk chiffon-covered priest buttons running down the front. Just minutes after Sánchez posted, Vogue shared all the wedding dress details in its June 2025 digital cover story. More than a year and a half ago, Sánchez met with Domenico Dolce in New York to start crafting her dream Dolce&Gabbana gown. '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 told the outlet. "I am a different person than I was five years ago." She added that it would be the first formal dress she's ever worn that is so covered up across the chest. 'It is a departure from what people expect,' she said, 'from what I expect—but it's very much me.' She topped the look with a tulle-and-lace veil, "inspired by the one Sophia Loren wore in the 1958 film Houseboat," per Vogue. The nuptials come after a source confirmed to PEOPLE that Sánchez and Bezos were engaged in May 2023. The pair were on vacation in the South of France when Bezos proposed. They first went public with their relationship in January 2019. Bezos popped the question with a ring estimated to be about 30 carats set on a four-prong platinum mounting. Jeweler and expert Briony Raymond told PEOPLE at the time that because of the ring's high color grade and clarity, it was estimated to have cost "anywhere from $3 million to upwards of $5 million depending on the exact specifications of the diamond." Following news of their engagement, a source told PEOPLE they were "on cloud nine" and "so happy and madly in love." In a profile for Vogue's December issue that year, Sánchez said they were taking wedding planning slow and making every decision step-by-step. 'We're still thinking about the wedding, what it's going to be. Is it going to be big? Is it going to be overseas? We don't know yet," she said. "We've only been engaged five months!" Sánchez also told the outlet at the time that she was not rushing to make a decision about her wedding dress, noting, "There's so many incredible designers." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. A source told PEOPLE that the Emmy-winning journalist hosted a bachelorette party at Lafayette's in Paris on Thursday, May 15. "The atmosphere was very relaxed and very Parisian. It was a pre-wedding all-girl party for 13," an insider told PEOPLE about the event that was attended by the likes of Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Katy Perry and Eva Longoria. Read the original article on People
