The Blue Origin CEO’s team has reportedly stayed silent on the finer points of the highly awaited gathering, which is said to feature a celebrity-filled guest list.
Billionaire Jeff Bezos and his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, are preparing to tie the knot in the Italian city of Venice. The wedding of the Amazon founder and the former news anchor is set to span three days, with events taking place across various locations in the historic city.
As the couple begins their wedding weekend, plans remain mostly under wraps. Though Bezos’ team has not confirmed any locations, Italian outlets and locals in Venice have shared possible details about the ongoing celebrations.
Festivities reportedly began on Thursday June 26, 2025, with a reception at the Cloister of the Madonna dell’Orto — a 14th-century brick cloister beside a church of the same name. This sacred site, one of Venice’s most treasured, also holds the tomb of Renaissance artist Tintoretto.
On Friday, the wedding is expected to be held on San Giorgio island, known for its Palladian architecture, scenic gardens, and the Giorgio Cini Foundation. Saturday’s reception will likely be at the Arsenale, a historic naval site now used for cultural events and still guarded by the Italian Navy.
Organizing a large event in Venice comes with logistical challenges due to the city’s canal-based layout. Jack Ezon, CEO of the travel firm Embark Beyond, noted that transporting items like flowers and guests by boat makes Venice one of the more complex cities for such occasions. He further explained:
Aside from the planning difficulties, hosting an event in Venice also comes with a much higher price. According to Ezon, costs can be three times more than holding the same event in cities like Rome or Florence.
Veneto Governor Luca Zaia shared an estimate, saying the most recent figure he saw for the Bezos and Sánchez celebration ranged from 40 million to 48 million euros — around $56 million.
While the event carries a high cost, concerns over its impact on Venice have also come up. Reports suggested Bezos and Sánchez might use busy tourist spots for their wedding.
In response, event planner Lanza & Baucina released a rare statement saying these claims were not true. Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro also addressed the matter, saying the couple would be respectful during their stay.
“The many speculations and fake news circulating about Jeff Bezos’ wedding are completely unfounded,” he said, noting that only 200 guests were expected and the city would not be disturbed.
“We are mutually working and supporting the organizers, to ensure that the event will be absolutely respectful of the fragility and uniqueness of the city,” Brugnaro added.
As plans remained under careful watch, the first day of the celebration drew plenty of attention on the water. On Thursday, a line of water taxis carried Bezos, Sánchez, and their guests across the lagoon to the Madonna dell’Orto cloister.
Onlookers waved as paparazzi trailed behind in boats, aiming their cameras at celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Tom Brady, Orlando Bloom, and Ivanka Trump.
Soon after arriving, one guest gave a glimpse into the day’s mood. Ivanka posted photos on Instagram showing herself and her husband in Venice. Her caption read, “Ready to celebrate the love story of our friends, @laurenwsanchez and @jeffbezos 🎻🌸.”
She was not the only member of her family included on the guest list for the highly awaited celebration. Her father, Donald Trump, also received an invitation to the occasion, according to White House officials.
However, the president, who is said to have had two conversations with Bezos earlier this month, is not expected to be at the ceremony because of scheduling conflicts, according to those familiar with the matter.
While the politician is not expected to attend, Bezos and Sánchez showed their support by attending his inauguration at the U.S. Capitol’s Rotunda on January 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Bezos and Sánchez’s wedding in Venice drew attention for its grand setting, high-profile guests, and careful planning. Despite the secrecy, reports offered glimpses into the event, which aimed to honor the city’s unique character while hosting a global celebration. As previously reported, there is one rule that guests need to follow while attending the high-profile ceremony.
Wedding preparations for Bezos and Sanchez are well underway in Venice, Italy, and the couple has implemented one strict rule for their high-profile guests: no phones allowed.
According to TMZ, guests must surrender their devices before being transported to the ultra-secret island location where the celebration is set to continue. The exact destination remains a mystery.
Attendees were only informed to arrive at a specific dock by 7:30 p.m. local time, where ferry boats would take them to the party venue. Beyond that, only Bezos and Sanchez know the full details.
The emphasis on privacy underscores the event’s exclusivity and the couple’s desire to keep the proceedings out of public view. Before the journey to the undisclosed island, the festivities began with a formal rehearsal dinner.
Many of the guests, some of whom were seen relaxing at Venice’s luxury Hotel Cipriani, also spent Thursday enjoying the city’s upscale restaurants and lounging poolside. These pre-wedding activities were all part of the lead-up to the main event.
The guest list is estimated at around 200 people, with the couple reportedly spending no less than $50,000 per guest. That brings the wedding’s estimated cost to at least $10 million. In addition to the dinner and island celebration, themed events are also on the itinerary, including a pajama party and a “Great Gatsby”-inspired gathering.
Confirmed celebrity attendees already seen in Venice include Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Orlando Bloom, Scooter Braun, Tom Brady, Oprah, and Gayle King.
