Final Party Concludes Bezos-Sánchez Wedding in Venice

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sánchez concluded their wedding celebrations in Venice with a final event on Saturday evening. The couple exchanged rings on Friday on the island of San Giorgio, accompanied by a performance from Matteo Bocelli, son of Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. Attendees included Bill Gates, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, Queen Rania of Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Kris Jenner, Kim and Khloé Kardashian, Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner. The concluding event took place at the Arsenale, a former medieval shipyard in Venice. Approximately 1,000 individuals protested the event, expressing concerns over the city's use for private events by wealthy individuals. Some guests departed the Gritti Palace hotel in central Venice wearing casual attire before boarding boats to the party. Bezos and Sánchez were dressed in formal attire, with Bezos in a black shirt and suit, and Sánchez in a soft-pink off-the-shoulder dress. During the ceremony, Sánchez wore a high-necked dress and a tulle and lace veil by Dolce & Gabbana, inspired by Sophia Loren's attire in the 1958 film 'Houseboat.' She also wore diamond earrings by Dolce & Gabbana, in line with the tradition of wearing something borrowed. Bezos wore a black tuxedo and bow tie over a white shirt. The Friday ceremony did not have legal status under Italian law, suggesting the couple may have legally married in the United States prior to the event. While some residents and activists criticized the event as a symbol of inequality, Venetian businesses and political leaders viewed it as beneficial for the local economy. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro stated that the event aligned with Venice's history of hosting significant events and expressed hope that Bezos would return to the city for business. Bezos, who is ranked fourth on Forbes' global billionaires list, became engaged to Sánchez in 2023, following the end of his 25-year marriage to MacKenzie Scott.