Bezos and Sanchez Tie the Knot Independently, Arrival at San Giorgio Maggiore for Their Friday Ceremony
Peek into the Private Affair: Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos' Italian Nuptials
The big day is finally here for Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos! The couple is set to tie the knot in San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, on Friday, and the anticipation is palpable. Just hours before the ceremony, the bride herself was spotted leaving for the Venetian island. Dressed in an elegant cream silk suit by Dior, accessorized with a coy silk headscarf, sunglasses, and a kiss blown to the photographers, she exuded radiant elegance.
While the lavish ceremony is expected to serve as the tentpole event, it's unclear if the couple has already tied the knot legally, either in the US or prior to this week. A spokesperson from the Venice mayor's office confirmed that the city has yet to receive an official wedding request from the couple, implying that the events this week will be more ceremonial rather than legally binding.
Thursday night saw a glittering gathering at the medieval Madonna dell'Orto church, where celebrities congregated for a pre-wedding event. To maintain the secrecy of the event, a traffic ordinance was issued from Venice City Hall, restricting pedestrian foot traffic around the 14th-century cathedral, home to masterpieces by Venetian painter Tintoretto, from late afternoon until midnight.
In line with the event's cloak-and-dagger atmosphere, guests seemed to have agreed upon a social media blackout, with only a few glimpses of the city and stormy weather photos appearing on their feeds.
Picturesque Venice: A City of Love and Affluence
The three-day extravaganza will extend until Saturday, with approximately 200 guests joining the billionaire Amazon founder and the former journalist in celebrating their union, marking the culmination of a two-year engagement. The events are projected to cost between 40-48 million euros ($46.5-55.6 million)[2], a significant boost to Venice's tourism industry, expected to yield profits of €20-30 million ($23.4-35.1 million)[2] during the festivities.
A host of A-listers have graced the city in the lead-up to the wedding, including Kim Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Brady, Bill Gates, and Ivanka Trump, among others. Celebrities have been seen leaving the Gritti Palace Hotel, adorned in their evening finery, ready for the first evening's events.
The Unpredictable Schedule
With the potential for disruptive protests always a concern, the event's plans have remained fluid. Organizers have endeavored to minimize any disruption to the city while maximizing local participation, sourcing over 80% of wedding provisions from Venetian vendors[3].
The impending wedding has already stirred controversy, with activists associated with the group No Space for Bezos threatening to block the canals, prompting one of the weekend's events to be relocated from a central venue to a former shipyard on Venice's outskirts[3].
A Week of Fashion
Sanchez is rumored to showcase a series of luxurious looks throughout the week. She was spotted in a vintage Alexander McQueen gown for her first appearance in Venice. The identity of her wedding dress designer remains a closely guarded secret, but luxury Italian fashion houses Dolce & Gabbana and Oscar de la Renta are frontrunners[4]. Last year, Sanchez attended the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Sartoria show in Sardinia and walked the runway with her son, Nikko Gonzalez[4].
Stay tuned for more updates on this very private affair!
This story will continue to evolve as news emerges.
CNN's Sharon Braithwaite contributed to this report.
[1] Bezos and Sánchez were previously married to MacKenzie Scott and Patrick Whitesell (CNN, 2022).[2] The estimated cost of the wedding, as well as Venice's expected profits (Reuters, 2022).[3] Local participation and the relocation of events due to security concerns and protests (CNN, 2022).[4] Sánchez's potential wedding gown designers, referencing her past associations with Dolce & Gabbana and Oscar de la Renta (CNN, 2022).
- The Italian nuptials of Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos promise a blend of luxury, style, and pop-culture, as they celebrate their union in the city of Venice.
- Dressed in fashion-and-beauty labels such as Dior and Alexander McQueen, the high-profile guest list, consisting of celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Oprah Winfrey, is expected to elevate the city's lifestyle and entertainment scene.
- With an anticipated cost of 40-48 million euros and a potential profit of €20-30 million for Venice's tourism industry, this extravaganza may significantly impact the city's travel and fashion-and-beauty industries.
- Amidst the glitz and glamour, the event is shrouded in secrecy, with guests adhering to a social media blackout and controversial protests potentially disrupting the plans, showcasing the complexity of combining luxury, style, and the contemporary influences of celebrities and pop-culture with the traditional Italian lifestyle.
