Bezos and Sánchez emerge for grand finale party as protests erupt in Venice: Live wedding updates
The opulent but controversial festivities are underway in Venice
Lauren Sánchez and Jeff Bezos headed to their grand closing party on Saturday following their lavish Venetian wedding.
The main wedding reception was held in the Arsenale, a historic complex surrounded by fortified walls on the eastern side of the city, after being moved for security reasons. Lady Gaga and Elton John were rumored to perform.
Bezos was seen clad in a black tux and bowtie on his way to the altar Friday. Sánchez, meanwhile, wore a mermaid-style Dolce & Gabbana gown complete with lace long sleeves, a corset top, and buttons straight down the center.
The nuptials are expected to have cost between $46 and $55 million, which is unlikely to make a dent in Bezos’s $231 billion net worth.
Bill Gates, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kim Kardashian, Tom Brady, Sydney Sweeney, and Orlando Bloom were among the attendees at what the Italian press have dubbed “the wedding of the century.”
Still, Venice locals continue to protest the presence of the American couple and their wealthy friends amid the swell of overtourism in the city.
Follow along below for live updates
Bezos slammed for lavish wedding spending
Amazon founder Bezos has an estimated $231 billion net worth.
The nuptials are rumored to cost between $10 and $20 million. That breaks down to about $50,000 per guest, with an expected attendance of about 200.
Many have noted that if Bezos can afford a luxurious wedding without making a dent in his net worth, he could also increase the benefits for Amazon workers.
“If he can afford to do that, he can afford a wealth tax and to pay Amazon workers a living wage. Hello?” one person wrote on X.
“If Jeff Bezos can afford to rent Venice for his wedding then he can afford to pay more taxes,” another wrote.
Even politicians have weighed in on the controversy.
What will Lauren Sánchez wear on her big day?
Lauren Sánchez isn’t one to shy away from the spotlight at major events.
She received big-time backlash over her outfit choice at Donald Trump’s inauguration earlier this year when she shed a white, fur coat to reveal a white Alexander McQueen suit — and a visible white lace bustier instead of a blouse.
So it begs the question, what will she wear to marry Amazon founder Jeff Bezos?
Sánchez already opted for a vintage McQueen design this week, stepping out with Bezos in a black, tight-fitting floor-length dress with white sequin stripes on Wednesday.
She could easily opt for another McQueen design — though it’s been rumored that a fashion stylist specializing in corsets, and an executive from Dolce & Gabbana are on the guest list, indicating she’s gone in another direction.
A corset design does seem likely given how often she opts for the style for big events, including her recent star-studded Paris bachelorette.
Nearly 100 private jets expected to land near Venice
With the wedding festivities set to kick off in a matter of hours, celebrities who scored an invite to the social wedding of the year are flocking to Venice.
Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper reported that over 90 private jets are set to land at Venice’s Marco Polo airport.
In addition, The New York Times reported that nine yachts associated with the wedding will be docked in Venice during the week, per a local yachting operator’s representative, indicating that some of the high-profile attendees might be arriving by boat.
While several A-listers — like Kim Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom, and Tom Brady — have already been seen, dozens of other rumored attendees may still be en route.
Venice mayor defends luxe nuptials
Despite the protests from locals and environmental groups, the city’s mayor has defended the decision for Bezos and Sanchez to hold their wedding in Venice.
“We will always respect the right to speak out, but we reject every form of intolerance and prejudice,” Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said in Thursday’s edition of Italian newspaper Il Foglio Quotidiano, per The Associated Press.
“No one in Venice can claim the right of deciding who can enter, who can love, who can celebrate.”
According to the publication, Bezos has donated 1 million euros each to three environmental groups who work to preserve the city of Venice.
Orlando Bloom spotted with mystery woman
Orlando Bloom has been spotted getting into a water taxi with a mystery woman amid reports that his engagement to Katy Perry has ended.
Clad in a white suit, Bloom flashed a peace sign to onlookers who have gathered for the Bezos-Sánchez festivities.
It’s not clear who the woman behind him was nor if they were attending the celebration as a pair.
Bezos and Sánchez turn heads leaving luxury hotel
The bride and groom have been spotted en route to Thursday night’s wedding celebration.
Bezos, clad in sunglasses, was all smiles leaving the Aman Hotel with Sánchez, who opted for quite the look in an hourglass style dress.
Tom Brady boards water taxi
Former NFL quarterback Tom Brady opted for dark slacks, a crisp white shirt, sunglasses, and a tan jacket draped over his arm.
Bezos and Sánchez acknowledge his lookalike
Cagdas Halicilar of Germany is a professional Jeff Bezos lookalike. He was pictured in Venice earlier today and apparently caught the attention of the soon-to-be newlyweds on their way to Thursday night’s celebration.
Bezos flashed Halicilar a huge grin and a thumbs up, while Sánchez pointed and grinned.
Gayle King, Bill Gates arrive in Venice
CBS correspondent Gayle King and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates are the latest celebrities to arrive in Venice.
King and Sánchez soared to space earlier this year on Bezos’s Blue Origin flight. The two, along with Katy Perry, were part of the space tourism company’s first all-female flight crew.
King’s long-time friend Oprah Winfrey arrived for the nuptials earlier in the day.
Gates attended the couple’s engagement party on Bezos's $550 million superyacht Koru in 2023.
He was seen alone at the Venice airport. His girlfriend, Paige Hurd, has not yet been seen in the country.
DJ Kygo to perform at wedding
Norwegian DJ and record producer Kygo is performing at one of the wedding events, TMZ reported.
Kygo is a close friend of Bezos and Sánchez, according to the outlet.
His songs include "It Ain't Me” with Selena Gomez and a cover of "Higher Love.”
Two of Kygo’s collaborators, Parson James and Justin Jesso were spotted in Venice earlier in the week, indicating they could be on hand to perform alongside the DJ.
Kygo’s rumored performance is the latest detail reveal as the big day approaches.
Caitlin Hornik reports:
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