Angry protesters scream anti-fascist slogans as Lauren and Jeff Bezos prepare for night three
Not everyone is happy for billionaire newlyweds Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez as hundreds protest in Venice while the loved-up couple head off to their closing bash. SEE THE PHOTOS
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Protests have erupted across Venice as hundreds of critics of the billionaire and his bride, who tied the knot on Friday, slammed their lavish wedding as a symbol of greed and anti-environmentalism.
But it hasn’t stopped the newlyweds from packing on the PDA and blowing kisses to people from the balcony of their luxury hotel as they prepared to leave for their big wedding finale.
More than 700 protestors let off coloured smoke bombs and could be heard chanting anti-fascist songs as they held up banners and signs slamming the wedding, which is estimated to have cost more than US$50 million.
Large protests were organised with the message “We are here to protest at a luxury wedding that has held our city hostage for three days.”
Hundreds of protesters gathered on the steps of Santa Lucia railway station and marched to the iconic Rialto Bridge where the protest culminated, letting off blue and red smoke flares.
Bezos and Sanchez are staying at the luxury hotel the Aman, which is five minutes’ walk from the protests.
A banner draped over the bridge said “No space for Bezos!”
One protester’s placard said, “55 million dollars spent on the wedding just to get a divorce in three days.”
Another said “The lagoon has been invaded by plastic. Redo your breasts,” according to
The Daily Mail.
Venetian police were seen patrolling the canals around the locartion of tonight’s closing event, which is a grand finale concert planned at a former medieval shipyard on Saturday night.
Bezos and Sanchez could be seen exchanging a kiss as they left their hotel on their way to the evening’s concert.
Earlier in the day the loved-up couple were seen leaving their hotel on Saturday as they waved to onlookers on their way to lunch.
The 61-year-old Amazon founder could be seen helping his wife onto a water taxi shortly before they arrived holding hands for lunch at famous Italian restaurant, Harry’s Bar.
For her daytime outing, Mrs Bezos wore a wide-brimmed straw hat to protect her prom the sun, and just a simple gold band on her wedding finger replacing the 35 carat white diamond ring from yesterday.
The three-day event will end on Saturday night with the closing party at the Venetian Arsenal, a former medieval shipyard where Lady Gaga and Elton John are expected to perform.
Prepararions are currently underway for tonight’s party, but not everyone will be kicking on after the exchange of vows.
The Kardashian sisters were the first to leave after wedding reception.
It was the biggest celebrity wedding of the year as the multi-billionaire married Sanchez in a lavish ceremony.
The Amazon founder and the former television personality tied the knot to the sounds of a gospel choir and cheers from 200 of their celebrity friends at a black-tie ceremony on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore yesterday.
The couple’s guest list read like a who’s who of Hollywood and media with the Kardashian-Jenner family, Ivanka Trump, Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bill Gates, Queen Rania of Jordan, Tom Brady, Usher, Lachlan and Sarah Murdoch, newly single Orlando Bloom and Deborra-Lee Furness all in attendance.
The ceremony reportedly kicked off with Andrea Bocelli’s son Matteo singing the Elvis Presley classic Can’t Help Falling in Love while a gospel choir belted out Whitney Houston’s Higher Love when the couple said “I do” to the cheers of the megawatt guests.
Sanchez walked down the aisle in a lace long-sleeved Dolce & Gabbana gown.
Her dress featured a corsetted waist, turtleneck and buttons from neck to the floor, culminating in a mermaid-style skirt.
The bride wore pulled her hair back into a bun, leaving some pieces out in the front underneath her minimal veil. She added Dolce & Gabbana Alta Gioielleria Miracolo earrings featuring four diamonds cut from a single stone and inlaid in white gold as her “something borrowed,” according to Vogue.
The style was inspired by the high-necked lace wedding dress Sophia Loren wore in 1958’s Houseboat to marry Cary Grant, she told the magazine.
“It went from ‘I want a simple, sexy modern dress’ to ‘I want something that evokes a moment,’ and where I am right now. I am a different person than I was five years ago,” Sanchez said.
“I researched pictures of brides in the 1950s,” she added. “I wanted to reflect back, and I saw Sophia Loren and her hands were [in a prayer position] and she was in high lace, up to the neck, and I said, ‘That’s it. That’s the dress.’”
She said that people would likely be surprised by the covered-up look.
“It is a departure from what people expect,” she told Vogue, “from what I expect — but it’s very much me.”
Soon after the ceremony, she posted a photo of her and Bezos to Instagram with the simple caption “06/27/2025” alongside a love heart emoji, changing her name on the social media platform to Lauren Sanchez Bezos post-wedding.
The groom, meanwhile wore a classic black tuxedo, also by the Italian fashion brand, which is also a favourite of Kim Kardashian.
US reports said that the couple’s three-day wedding celebrations could cost a staggering A$75 million after they celebrated their Italian nuptials over several days with a series of lavish events.
The party got into full swing early Friday AEST when Sanchez stepped out in a vintage Alexander McQueen dress with Bezos for a pre-wedding dinner, which was hit by torrential rain.
Before their very wet welcome party, the pair hosted a foam party aboard Bezos’ A$765 million superyacht, Koru.
At the pre-wedding dinner, Sanchez sported a brand new diamond ring courtesy of Bezos, which is reportedly valued at A$7 million even more than the A$4 million her original pink diamond engagement ring is said to be worth.
The high profile couple had planned to hold their wedding ceremony on Saturday local time at Scuola Grande della Misericordia, but made a last-minute location change due to security concerns amid ongoing local protests over the wedding.
Amid the uproar, Bezos and Sanchez donated to a number of local charities in Venice.
They also were said to have sourced almost all of their wedding goods from Venetian vendors.
The couple also asked guests not bring gifts, stating on their wedding invitation that they would donate to various Venetian conservation efforts.
Amid the ongoing protests, Venice mayor Luigi Brugnaro told The Associated Press the city is “very proud” to host the wedding, adding that he hoped to meet the billionaire businessman.
“I don’t know if I will have time, or if he will, to meet and shake hands, but it’s an honour that they chose Venice. Venice once again reveals itself to be a global stage,” he said.
Bezos proposed to Sanchez aboard Koru in May 2023 after five years together.
The duo began dating in 2019; however, they avoided being seen together publicly until after their respective divorces were finalised.
Sanchez was previously married to Hollywood uber-agent Patrick Whitesell (now married to Australian model and actress, Pia Miller), with whom she shares son Evan, 19, and daughter Eleanor, 17. She also has a son, Nikko, 24, whose father is former NFL player, Tony Gonzalez. Her ex, Gonzalez, was a guest at the wedding.
Bezos has three sons and one daughter with his ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott. His eldest son, Preston, is the only child whose name has been made public.
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