Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, was married to Lauren Sánchez in a grand ceremony that took place on San Giorgio Maggiore, an island in Venice. This event attracted attention from both the media and protesters.
Sánchez, dressed in a skirt suit, left the luxury Aman hotel where the couple was staying, two hours ahead of Bezos. Her wedding dress, created by Dolce & Gabbana, was kept secret until she unveiled it on her Instagram page, which she had recently rebranded to Lauren Sánchez Bezos.
The former journalist reportedly have prepped 27 outfits for the festivities spanning over three days. In contrast, Bezos wore a black tuxedo and bow tie over a white shirt.
The couple exchanged their vows on San Giorgio Maggiore island and had various celebrities, including Bill Gates, Kim Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom, and Ivanka Trump, among the guests.
However, the event garnered opposition from environmentalists, housing advocates, and anti-cruise ship campaigners, due to Venice’s vulnerability to climate change, overtourism, and the billionaire tech mogul’s tax payments. They protested under the banner “No space for Bezos.”
Greenpeace also joined the protest by unfurling a banner in Saint Mark’s Square, criticizing Bezos.
Bezos and Sánchez have pledged €3 million ($3.5 million) to Venice and are utilizing local artisans for the event. The festivities are to conclude on Saturday with a party at the Arsenale, a former shipyard now used for events like the Venice Biennale.
The celebration, reportedly costing between €40 and €48 million (up to $56 million), is significantly more than the average cost of a US wedding, which is around $36,000 in 2025.
This led protestant to accuses Bezos of excessive spending at the event despite addressing some concerns of the protest by donating to the city and hiring local craftsmen. This has caused friction between the couple and some of the city’s residents.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/jeff-bezos-and-lauren-sanchez-marry-in-venice/a-73057745?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
