Bezos’ $85m wedding set to kick off: Telling details in wedding invite
The wedding extravaganza of the year is just hours away from beginning. Here’s what we know about the luxury nuptials of tech titan Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez.
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The wedding extravaganza of the year is just hours away from kicking off.
Billionaire Jeff Bezos and partner Lauren Sánchez have arrived in Venice for their much-hyped nuptials, with celebrities and business titans flying in from all over the globe to attend the three-day festivities.
In true American style, the celebrations will kick off with a pre-wedding dinner on the Venetian island of San Giovanni Evangelista after a casual welcome night at the Madonna dell’Orto church.
On June 27, the loved-up pair will reportedly marry in a black tie wedding ceremony on the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore off Venice.
Their party plans hit a major snag after protests against their multimillion-dollar wedding broke out in Venice earlier this week, forcing them to move the location of the wedding for security reasons.
Here’s a look at what to expect from the tech magnate and journalist’s luxury Italian nuptials.
STRICTLY NO GIFTS
Invitations for Jeff Bezos’ highly anticipated Venice wedding, that were leaked to American media outlets Wednesday, have been mocked online with some suggesting it had been made in Microsoft Paint.
The primary purpose of the section of the invitation that was leaked to US media was to detail the couple’s no gift-policy, promising to donate to a range of Venetian institutions on behalf of guests.
The donations - no doubt partly a consequence of protests against the wedding by locals who erected “No Space for Bezos” posters across the city - will be directed to UNESCO’s Venice Office, CORILA and Venice International University.
“Donations on your behalf are being made to the UNESCO Venice Office to safeguard the city’s irreplaceable cultural heritage, to CORILA to restore the lagoon habitats that protect Venice’s future, and to Venice International University to support research and education for sustainable solutions,” the card read.
Some pointed to the ongoing threats of protests against the lavish wedding extravaganza which forced the billionaire couple to change venues at the last minute, as the reason for the hasty design.
Social media users were quick to critique the invitations nonetheless, with several suggesting it looked as though it had been made in Microsoft Paint.
“What in the Microsoft Paint is this? They couldn’t afford an illustrator?” one user posted.
Another said “Wow what an ugly announcement/invitation. With all the money he has they could have at least done something pretty and classy”.
IS THERE A PRENUP?
It remains unclear if Bezos, who has an estimated net worth of $A342 billion, and Sánchez have a prenuptial agreement.
The Amazon founder did not have one with his previous wife of 25 years, philanthropist Mackenzie Scott, meaning she got a huge divorce payout that made her one of the wealthiest women in the world.
Robert Cohen, a New York lawyer, told The Wall Street Journal that a prenup would be vital for Bezos.
“You don’t want them to have access to anything that would significantly change their wealth,” he said.
WHO WILL BE ATTENDING THE WEDDING?
Bezos and Sánchez have invited about 200 guests to their wedding, according to reports.
US President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka, her husband Jared Kushner and their children have been photographed arrived at the St. Regis Hotel in Venice.
They are expected to attend the wedding along with Orlando Bloom, Mick Jagger, Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Eva Longoria, Gayle King.
Bloom will reportedly make his debut at the wedding as a single man amid claims he and superstar Katy Perry, the mother of his daughter Daisy, have split.
Sánchez’ ex and NFL legend Tony Gonzalez and his new wife are expected to attend the celebrations, as well as Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and their mother Kris Jenner.
As are Bezos’s fellow tech billionaires Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates.
Lady Gaga and Elton John are rumoured to be performing at the wedding.
WHAT IS THE WEDDING BUDGET?
The wedding is expected to cost €40-48 million ($A71.5m-85.8m), Luca Zaia, who is the president of the Veneto regional government that comprises Venice, told reporters on Tuesday.
Lanza & Baucina Limited, who planned the Venice weddings of both George Clooney and Salma Hayek, is planning the Bezos-Sánchez wedding.
Five of the city’s most luxurious hotels, including Cipriani, Aman and St. Regis Venice, have been booked out to host the hundreds of guests.
Rooms at the St. Regis can cost up to $US2000 a night ($A3090 a night).
According to Italian media, the entire island of San Giorgio is also reportedly booked out.
About 35 to 50 water taxis have reportedly been hired to ferry guests throughout the city’s iconic canals.
WHAT SECURITY MEASURES HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE?
The eye-watering budget also includes security measures, with Bezos hiring former US Marines to protect the wedding.
A source told The New York Post’s Page Six that in advance of the couple’s arrival, “10 or 12 security guys were doing a sweep” through the Aman on Tuesday.
Seven Italian police officers were spotted Tuesday afternoon inside the lobby of the luxe St. Regis Venice, where VIP wedding guests are said to be staying, which was described as “not normal” for the hotel.
Forking out for protection is not usual for the billionaire, who is understood to have spent $US1.6 million ($A2.5m) in 2023 on security.
WHERE WILL THE WEDDING BE HELD?
The original wedding venue was the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, which is a medieval former religious school in the Cannaregio district of Venice.
But following protests against Bezos, the multi-day event will now take place in Arsenale, a historic complex of shipyards surrounded by fortified walls that will be harder for protesters to penetrate.
WHAT ARE THE PROTESTS ABOUT?
Protesters are concerned about overtoursim in Venice and have taken particular issue with Bezos and Sánchez taking over large areas of the city for their wedding.
‘No Space for Bezos’ posters and stickers have been erected throughout the water city and protesters also rolled out a massive banner that read “If you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax”.
Organised by a group called No Space for Bezos, they threatened to throw themselves and - inflatable crocodiles into canals to blockade central Venice – the original site of the wedding — to try and prevent guests from attending the festivities.
With the wedding plans moved, the group’s blockade plans have reportedly been called off but more protests are planned for Saturday on Venice’s canals, bridges and narrow streets, pledging to make the event a “nightmare” for the couple and their guests.
The main concerns from the protesters, which have been joined by Greenpeace Italia and British activist group Everyone Hates Elon, are about guests’ carbon footprint, the billions of dollars spent on partying and turning the world heritage city into a playground for the rich.
Luca Zaia, president of the Veneto region that comprises the city, criticised the protests, saying the 90 private jets carrying guests to nearby airports would bring revenue of up to ¢48 million (A$85.8 million) to local businesses.
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THE MULTI-DAY WEDDING?
There are several events planned as part of the festivities, which are expected to kick off on Thursday and culminate in a large ceremony on Saturday.
While Arsenale is now the likely location of Saturday’s big party, the vows may be exchanged at the historic Church of the Abbey of Misericordia.
Sources with “direct knowledge” told TMZ one of the theme nights will be a Great Gatsby-themed cocktail party where guests will dress like F. Scott Fitzgerald’s famed character.
HOW LONG HAVE BEZOS AND SANCHEZ BEEN TOGETHER?
Bezos’ 25-year marriage to Mackenzie Scott ended in 2019. Shortly after the Amazon founder and journalist Sanchez, who is most commonly known for her role with Fox, went public and got engaged in 2023.
Sánchez was previously married to Patrick Whitesell.
EVENTS IN THE LEAD UP TO THE WEDDING
The loved up couple were seen enjoying a foam party on board the Amazon CEO’s super yacht Koru, off the island of Cres in Croatia at the weekend.
The 417ft yacht is believed to be the largest sailing yacht in the world and cost about $US500 million ($A769m) to build.
The party is believed to be in honour of Sánchez’ son Evan’s 19th birthday, with a happy birthday banner seen hanging on the yacht.
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Originally published as Bezos’ $85m wedding set to kick off: Telling details in wedding invite
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