What to expect from Jeff Bezos’ $85m Venice wedding
The super lux three-day nuptials of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez is set to be biggest wedding of the year. Here’s what we know and who’s on the guest list.
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It’s set to be the biggest wedding of the year.
Billionaire Jeff Bezos and partner Lauren Sánchez are tying the knot in a three-day extravaganza in Venice, with celebrities flying in from all over the globe to attend.
Their party plans hit a major snag after protests against their multimillion-dollar wedding broke out in Venice on Tuesday (local time), forcing them to move the location of the wedding for security reasons.
Here’s a look at what happened and what to expect from the tech magnate and journalist’s luxury Italian nuptials.
WHO WILL BE ATTENDING THE WEDDING?
Bezos and Sánchez have invited about 200 guests to their wedding, according to reports.
US President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka, her husband Jared Kushner and their children have been photographed arrived at the St. Regis Hotel in Venice.
They are expected to attend the wedding along with Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Mick Jagger, Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Eva Longoria, Gayle King.
Sánchez’ ex and NFL legend Tony Gonzalez and his new wife are expected to attend the celebrations, as well as Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and their mother Kris Jenner.
As are Bezos’s fellow tech billionaires Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates.
Lady Gaga and Elton John are rumoured to be performing at the wedding.
WHAT IS THE WEDDING BUDGET?
The wedding is expected to cost €40-48 million ($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.
Originally published as What to expect from Jeff Bezos’ $85m Venice wedding
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