Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's Wedding (2025)

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding is a three-day event consisting of ceremonies and receptions that began on June 27, 2025, in the city of Venice, Italy. The wedding attracted numerous international guests from the fields of cinema, music, television, politics, and business. The event prompted local civil society organizations to unite under the joint campaign “No Space for Bezos” and organize various protest demonstrations.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding is a three-day series of events that began on June 27–29, 2025, in Venice, Italy, and is still ongoing. The event was organized to celebrate the marriage of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former television journalist Lauren Sánchez. The wedding includes a series of pre-events, a ceremony, and receptions attended by approximately 200 to 250 guests. The event’s budget is estimated by various sources to be between 40 and 50 million euros.

The wedding has received global media coverage and has been met with protests from local residents, environmental groups, and social justice advocates. The location, historical context, and program details were kept secret by the organizing team for an extended period, with only limited information released to the public. It has been confirmed that the ceremony took place on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore and the main reception was held at the Arsenale complex. While the celebrations continue, local authorities have implemented security and traffic measures across various areas of the city.

The wedding events began on the evening of Thursday, June 26, 2025. The first event was held in the courtyard of the Madonna dell’Orto Church in the Cannaregio district of Venice. The church, dating back to the 16th century, houses works by the Italian Renaissance painter Tintoretto. On the day of the event, pedestrian and water traffic in the area was temporarily closed by the Venice city administration from 4:30 PM until midnight.

Before the event, the bridge in front of the church was closed by private security personnel and black curtains were installed around the area. Police units were deployed nearby, and corridors were established from water taxi drop-off points to ensure the confidentiality of guests’ identities. Media access to the event area was restricted. Attendees included Leonardo DiCaprio, Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, and Ivanka Trump.

The wedding ceremony took place on Friday, June 27, 2025, on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in the Venetian lagoon. The ceremony was held at the Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore on the island. It has been stated that the ceremony does not have legal marital status under Italy’s civil law framework. The couple is reported to have already completed their official marriage procedures in the United States.

Live music during the ceremony was performed by Matteo Bocelli. Security measures were heightened along all piers surrounding the island, and journalists were prevented from approaching the island.

The main wedding reception was planned for Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the Arsenale complex. Initially, the reception was intended to be held at the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, but due to protest threats and security concerns, the venue was changed at the last minute. The Arsenale is a historic shipyard complex surrounded by walls and is now used as a cultural events space.

The event program includes themed celebrations, such as a foam party, a pajama party, and a “Great Gatsby”-themed event. Security measures have been implemented at all event venues, with controlled entry and exit procedures.

Approximately 200 to 250 guests were invited to Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding. Attendees include prominent international figures from cinema, music, television, fashion, politics, and business.

Among the guests are Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, Queen Rania, and Katy Perry. Additionally, Diane von Fürstenberg, Gayle King, and Corey Gamble were among other guests present in Venice during the event.

The majority of guests arrived in Venice via private jets. Approximately 90 private jets are reported to have landed at Marco Polo Airport. Some guests arrived by superyachts. Transportation within the city for attendees was provided by water taxis.

Most guests are reported to have stayed at the Aman Venice hotel, where Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are also residing. Guests were given gifts crafted from Murano glass. Instead of traditional wedding gifts, donations were made on behalf of the guests to the UNESCO Venice Office, CORILA, and the University of Venice International. These donations are intended to support the preservation of Venice’s cultural heritage, the restoration of the lagoon ecosystem, and sustainability initiatives.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding in Venice has triggered strong reactions from various social groups across the city. Protests began before the wedding and continued throughout the celebration days.

Actions organized by local civil society organizations, environmental groups, and housing rights advocates were conducted under the banner of the “No Space for Bezos” movement. The movement’s name references Bezos’s space tourism company Blue Origin and the bride’s recent spaceflight.

Organizations such as Greenpeace Italy, the UK-based activist group “Everyone Hates Elon,” and the Venice Social Housing Assembly organized various demonstrations. On June 23, Greenpeace and other groups unveiled a large banner in St. Mark’s Square featuring a smiling photo of Bezos with the message “If you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax.”

On the same days, anti-Bezos posters were hung from the Rialto Bridge and the Campanile of St. Mark’s. On June 25, another demonstration took place on the Grand Canal, where a model of Bezos was placed on an Amazon box and carried by boat along the canal, with a mannequin holding fake dollar bills. Protesters characterized the event as a symbol of the privatization of public space, income inequality, and excessive tourism in Venice.

The main reception, originally planned for the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, was moved to the Arsenale due to the intensity of protests. This decision was viewed by protesters as a victory. Protest groups announced plans for a larger-scale maritime action in the final days of the celebrations, aiming to block the canals with boats to prevent guest access.

Authorities have increased security measures across Venice, particularly deploying heavy police presence around the Jewish Ghetto and event venues. Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro and Veneto Regional President Luca Zaia defended the wedding, arguing that it would benefit the local economy, and criticized the protests. Italian Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè stated that the event presented a significant opportunity for promoting the country internationally.

Greenpeace described the event in its statements as “a manifestation of social and climate injustice” and labeled Bezos as “a symbol of global economic inequality.”