1 / 6Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder and one of the richest individuals globally, is set to wed Lauren Sanchez, a former news anchor and helicopter pilot, in Venice, Italy. The wedding will unfold over three days, commencing on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at several renowned venues throughout the city. The couple arrived in Venice on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, to finalize preparations for the lavish celebration, which is projected to cost between 40 and 48 million euros, making it one of the priciest weddings on record. (Reuters photo)
2 / 6Event Schedule and Locations: The festivities kick off on Thursday evening at the Madonna dell’Orto church in the Cannaregio district of Venice. This medieval church features a courtyard where the couple will host an outdoor gathering for their guests. On Friday, June 27, 2025, the celebration shifts to San Giorgio Maggiore, a small island adjacent to the main part of Venice, which offers scenic views of St. Mark’s Square and the city’s iconic landmarks. The main wedding ceremony is set for Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the Arsenale, a historic venue once used for shipbuilding in Venice’s naval history. Today, the Arsenale serves as a site for art exhibitions and cultural events. (Reuters photo)
3 / 6Guests and Logistics: Approximately 200 to 250 guests are anticipated to attend, including celebrities such as Katy Perry, Oprah Winfrey, Mick Jagger, Salma Hayek, and Leonardo DiCaprio. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner arrived ahead of time on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. To accommodate everyone, Bezos and Sanchez have booked rooms in five of Venice’s finest hotels, including the Cipriani on Giudecca Island and the Aman along the Grand Canal. Transporting guests throughout the city requires meticulous planning, with around 90 private jets expected to land at Venice’s Marco Polo Airport and nearby airfields, along with 30 water taxis to navigate the canals. (AFP photo)
4 / 6Local Impact and Protests: Venice has been grappling with over-tourism for years, and this wedding has prompted strong reactions from residents. The city’s population has dropped from 175,000 in the 1950s to around 50,000 today, as rising housing costs force locals out and convert homes into vacation rentals. A wedding of this magnitude exacerbates these issues, attracting crowds and consuming local resources. Activists, including some from Greenpeace Italy, have demonstrated in St. Mark’s Square holding signs with messages like, “If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax.” (AP photo)
5 / 6Charitable Efforts: In response to some of these concerns, Bezos has pledged to donate 1 million euros to Corila, an organization dedicated to protecting Venice’s lagoon, an essential yet vulnerable part of the city’s ecosystem. He and Sanchez have also requested their guests to forgo gifts and instead contribute to organizations such as UNESCO’s Venice Office and Venice International University. (Reuters photo)
6 / 6The Couple’s Story: Bezos and Sanchez have been romantically linked since 2019, following his divorce from MacKenzie Scott. Their relationship, which started under the public eye, has evolved into a well-recognized partnership. Sanchez, who is a helicopter pilot, has accompanied Bezos on journeys into space with his company, Blue Origin. This wedding in Venice marks their six-year anniversary and reflects their appreciation for the city, where they have spent time together in the past. (Reuters photo)
