Inside Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s secretive Venice wedding

Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos (Courtesy: Reuters file photo)

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are preparing to tie the knot in what may be the most expensive, star-studded, and secretive wedding of the year. The Amazon founder, 61, and the former TV anchor, 55, are reportedly set to wed in Venice next week, between June 26 and 28. While exact details remain closely guarded, the setting, guest list, and security arrangements have already generated global buzz — and local protests, the New York Times reported.

A Venetian affair cloaked in secrecy

Though the ceremony details are being kept under wraps, several iconic venues have been mentioned in the Italian press. Among them are the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a Renaissance landmark with soaring ceilings and old-world grandeur; the Lido beach pagoda, known for hosting the Venice Film Festival; and the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, which offers a majestic view of the Doge’s Palace.

Unlike George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin, who married at Venice’s City Hall in 2014, the Bezos-Sánchez wedding will likely be nondenominational and ceremonial. Officials say there’s no indication of a civic wedding taking place at municipal venues.

A guest list that reads like a Hollywood credits roll

About 200 guests are expected, including close family and some of the biggest names in entertainment, politics, and tech. While former President Donald Trump is not on the list, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are reportedly attending. The couple’s seven children from previous relationships are also expected to be present.

The list is rumoured to include Oprah Winfrey, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Mick Jagger, Eva Longoria, Gayle King, and singer Jewel. Lauren Sánchez’s bachelorette party — held in Paris with Katy Perry, Kim Kardashian, and Kris Jenner — offers a strong hint about who might be at the main event. Producer Brian Grazer’s wife, Veronica Smiley Grazer, and former NFL star Tony Gonzalez, father of one of Sánchez’s children, are also likely to attend.

Nine yachts reportedly linked to guests are already expected in Venice’s waters. One of them may include Bill Gates, who attended the couple’s earlier engagement celebrations.

The price tag: In the millions, but not the Ambani league

While the exact cost of the wedding is unknown, estimates suggest it will run into the millions — but still fall short of the extravagant Ambani wedding in India. Event planners Lanza & Baucina, a London-based firm known for high-profile weddings on every continent, are managing the ceremony. The company promises discretion and says it is committed to minimizing disruption in the city and employing local vendors.

Nonetheless, Bezos and Sánchez’s team have faced backlash from Venetians, concerned about the strain such events place on a city already burdened by overtourism.

Protests mount amid rising anti-wealth sentiment

Venice has long struggled with over-tourism, and Bezos’s wedding has intensified those tensions. The “No Space for Bezos” movement has vowed to disrupt the event. Protesters are reportedly planning to block canals using boats and even inflatable animals. One organizer said the goal was simple: “They will definitely have to see us.”

City officials, however, insist security measures are in place, with about 30 water taxis reserved and local police prepared to manage the situation.

A glamorous backdrop — and a familiar media frenzy

If the 2014 Clooney wedding is any indication, Venice is bracing for a wave of paparazzi and media coverage. The couple has not indicated how public-facing they plan to be, though Bezos’s yacht Koru and its support vessel Abeona, which includes a helicopter pad, are already stationed nearby. Sánchez, who is a pilot, may find the open Adriatic a useful escape route if needed.

Despite the heavy secrecy, one thing is clear: this wedding will blend global celebrity, astronomical wealth, and Italian opulence — whether Venice likes it or not.