On a sunlit island in Venice’s storied lagoon, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former news anchor Lauren Sanchez exchanged vows Friday, sealing their relationship in a lavish celebration that gathered some of the world’s richest and most famous people in one of Italy’s most fragile cities.
For Bezos, who was spotted gliding through the canals before the ceremony, Venice seemed to cast its own spell. “This city seems impossible! It can't exist and yet, here it is!” he told a La Repubblica journalist on Thursday, marveling at the centuries-old waterways that became the backdrop for his second marriage.
Behind the canals and the grand palazzos, though, many Venetians saw a different story playing out. As luxury yachts docked and private jets landed, local activists projected “No Kings, No Bezos” in green neon across St Mark’s Campanile tower, a protest against what they see as an unchecked invasion of wealth at the cost of a sinking city and its displaced residents.
Away from the protests, the celebration unfolded like a modern fairy tale. Sanchez, who now uses the name @laurensanchezbezos on Instagram, shared a glimpse of the moment, posting a photo of herself in a flowing white dress beside Bezos in black tie. The couple and their A-list guests, including Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom and Tom Brady, were staying in some of Venice’s most exclusive hotels such as the Aman and the Gritti Palace.
Italian media reported that Bezos and Sanchez said “I do” in an open-air amphitheater on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, overlooking the iconic St Mark’s Square. Guests were treated to a performance by Matteo Bocelli, son of opera star Andrea Bocelli. Their dinner came from Michelin-starred chef Fabrizio Mellino, and the wedding cake was crafted by acclaimed pastry chef Cedric Grolet.
Paparazzi boats captured glimpses of high-profile attendees like Jordan’s Queen Rania, Francois-Henri Pinault, Usher and Ivanka Trump with husband Jared Kushner as they cruised through the canals and lunched in hidden gardens. Sanchez reportedly prepared 27 different outfits for the multi-day festivities.
The celebration is expected to wrap up with a grand party, likely at Venice’s historic Arsenale shipyard, once the heart of the city’s maritime power. Beyond the glamour, the wedding also brought business for local artisans. The couple is donating three million euros to the city and employing heritage craftspeople. Historic pastry shop Rosa Salva is baking 19th-century “fishermen’s biscuits” for gift bags alongside Murano glass pieces from Laguna B.
Some locals welcome the spectacle. “Over-tourism is caused by those people who come with a backpack and their own food, and contribute very little,” said Samuel Silvestri, a Venetian salesman. “Not those who transform Venice into a mini-Monte Carlo. This marriage helps the image of the city.”
Italy’s tourism ministry estimates the wedding could bring Venice close to one billion euros in value, mostly through global media exposure.
Yet for others, the lavish ceremony raises uncomfortable questions about privilege and sustainability. Protesters held signs reading “Tax Billionaires” and reminded passersby in both English and Italian, “In the time it takes you to read this, Jeff Bezos's wealth has increased by more than your monthly salary.”
Environmental activists also criticized the carbon footprint of the mega yachts and the dozens of private jets, at least 95, that brought the couple’s celebrity circle to the lagoon.