Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former television anchor Lauren Sánchez hosted an elaborate wedding celebration in Venice, Italy, in June 2025. Widely reported as one of the most expensive celebrity weddings in recent years, the multi-day event drew global media attention for its scale, cost, and celebrity guest list.
According to Reuters, the estimated cost of the celebration was around $56 million USD (Reuters, 2025). The festivities highlighted Venice’s enduring appeal as a destination for high-profile events and offered a showcase of luxury in a historic setting.
A Multi-Day Celebration in Venice
The wedding took place over three days, transforming parts of Venice into the backdrop for a highly choreographed celebration. Venice, known for its canals, historic palaces, and romantic vistas, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has long been associated with grand weddings and events.
For Bezos and Sánchez, the city’s historic architecture and waterways provided a distinctive and photogenic venue. Guests were reportedly ferried around the city in classic Venetian water taxis, while some of the most famous historic buildings were used for private events.
Venice authorities have strict regulations for major events in the city, given its heritage status and the impact of tourism. While local officials did not publicly detail any special arrangements for the wedding, private venues typically handle event logistics in line with city guidelines (Comune di Venezia tourism office, official visitor information).
The Couple’s Relationship and Engagement
Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and owner of The Washington Post and space company Blue Origin, began dating Lauren Sánchez, a former news anchor and media personality, several years before their engagement. The couple announced their engagement publicly in 2023, after dating for around four years.
Their engagement was widely covered in the media, with reports describing the large diamond ring Sánchez wore in Cannes in 2023 (Forbes, 2023). Both Bezos and Sánchez have been open about their relationship in interviews, often appearing together at public events and on social media.
Star-Studded Guest List
The wedding drew attention for its high-profile guest list. Multiple outlets, including People and Reuters, reported on the array of celebrities and business leaders attending the celebration.
Confirmed attendees included:
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Kim Kardashian
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Khloe Kardashian
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Kris Jenner
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Oprah Winfrey
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Tom Brady
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Bill Gates
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Kendall Jenner
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Kylie Jenner
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Ivanka Trump
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Jared Kushner
(People, June 2025; Reuters, June 2025).
Several guests shared images from Venice on social media. For example, Ivanka Trump posted a photo of her suite with the phrase “Dolce Vita,” referencing the Italian expression for “the sweet life.” This further boosted online visibility for the event.
The Cost of the Wedding
The estimated cost of $56 million USD makes the wedding among the most expensive in recent celebrity history. While many weddings of public figures cost millions, few cross this threshold.
For context, Prince William and Kate Middleton’s 2011 royal wedding was reported to cost over $30 million USD, much of it spent on security and ceremonial arrangements (BBC News, 2011). Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas’s wedding in 2018 was also reported to have cost several million dollars (Vogue, 2019). Bezos and Sánchez’s wedding joins these in the ranks of high-cost, high-profile celebrations.
Reuters noted that this $56 million figure includes costs for exclusive venues, accommodations, event production, catering, transport, and security. Such events often require coordination with local authorities and private service providers, adding significant logistical expenses.
Venue and Local Impact
Venice has long been a magnet for destination weddings. Its historic palaces, canals, and Renaissance architecture make it one of the world’s most photographed cities.
Private events in Venice often use venues such as Palazzo Pisani Moretta, Palazzo Contarini Polignac, or the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, though media reports did not specify which exact venues Bezos and Sánchez used. Local suppliers typically provide catering, décor, and water taxi transport.
The city has recently sought to balance tourism with heritage preservation. While large private events can be economically beneficial for local vendors, they also prompt discussions about sustainability and preservation of the fragile urban environment (UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Venice Management Plan).
Online Attention and Commentary
Media coverage of the wedding generated significant online discussion. While many admired the scale and celebrity factor of the celebration, others raised questions about its extravagance.
Public responses included both celebration of the glamorous guest list and critical commentary about its opulence. Such mixed reactions are typical for high-profile events involving billionaire hosts.
For instance, discussions on social media platforms often compare lavish celebrity weddings with broader social and economic issues. However, there is no evidence to suggest the couple intended any specific message beyond celebrating their marriage.
Privacy and Security
High-profile weddings of this scale typically involve extensive security measures. Celebrity guests and the couple themselves often travel with private security teams. While details of security arrangements were not disclosed, it is common for such events to coordinate closely with local authorities to manage transport and crowd control discreetly.
Venice is accustomed to hosting celebrities, dignitaries, and royalty, and its local services are well-versed in meeting privacy and security needs without significant disruption to public life.
Media and Public Interest
The global fascination with Bezos and Sánchez’s wedding reflects broader cultural interest in celebrity lifestyles and luxury events. Coverage by outlets like Reuters and People demonstrates that public curiosity about the wealthy and famous remains strong.
While billionaires’ weddings inevitably draw criticism over perceived extravagance, they also serve as showcases for destinations like Venice. The city’s image as a luxury wedding venue may benefit from the visibility, driving interest from other high-end travelers.
Conclusion
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s $56 million wedding in Venice stands out as one of the most talked-about celebrity weddings of 2025. Combining a historic Italian backdrop, a guest list filled with celebrities and business leaders, and a highly produced multi-day program, the event offered a striking example of modern billionaire luxury.
While reactions were mixed—celebrated for its beauty and criticized for its cost—it undeniably underscored Venice’s status as one of the world’s premier destinations for exclusive events.
For travelers and event planners alike, the Bezos-Sánchez wedding serves as a reminder of both the allure and the complexity of staging large-scale celebrations in historic cities.
References
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Reuters. (2025). “Amazon’s Jeff Bezos marries Lauren Sanchez in lavish Venice wedding.” Reuters.com.
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People Magazine. (June 2025). “Inside Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s $56 Million Venice Wedding.”
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Forbes. (2023). “Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s Engagement Details.”
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UNESCO World Heritage Centre. “Venice and its Lagoon.” Official Management Plan.
