Jeff Bezos faced backlash over his “behavior” toward his fiancée just before their wedding in Venice.
Meanwhile, Lauren Sanchez stirred up reactions with her “tacky” corset outfit and “gaudy” engagement ring during the celebration leading up to their big day.
The couple also made headlines for a strict rule imposed on their wedding guests.
Their invitation sparked buzz, with many branding it “the ugliest” they had ever seen.
As for President Donald Trump, although invited, it has come to light that he will not be attending the ceremony.
This week, all eyes are on Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez as their lavish three-day wedding celebration takes center stage. From their grand entrance in Venice, Italy, to the surprising reason the President of the United States will not attend, here are five highlights making waves at the year’s most talked-about wedding.
1.
What Jeff Bezos’s Actions Toward Lauren Sánchez Sparked Public Outrage?
Just days before exchanging vows, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez were captured stepping out of their luxury hotel in Venice. The couple was filmed walking toward a water taxi, reportedly en route to one of several events leading up to their wedding celebration, which cost more than $50 million.
In the clip, Bezos is seen exiting the hotel swiftly and taking a moment to wave to reporters. Sanchez follows shortly after in a striped dress, also waving as she steps toward the boat.
After getting on the water taxi, Bezos turns around and extends a hand to help his fiancée in before they both disappear into the cabin. Though the occasion was grand, the dynamic between them seemed to spark more chatter than their surroundings.
“The way he ditched her and walked away,” one person observed bluntly. Another viewer remarked, “He didn’t even help her down,” while others pointed out that Sanchez appeared to struggle with the steps unaided. “He couldn’t help her down the steps? She seems to be struggling,” one comment read.
The critique didn’t stop there. Some commenters suggested the Amazon founder’s body language lacked warmth or attentiveness. One person noted, “Something is off in his behavior around her,” while another wrote, “He acts like he doesn’t even like her.”
Even minor gestures — or the absence of them — did not go unnoticed. “Wow he doesn’t hold his arm out for his fiancée ugh not a gentleman,” read one reaction. A different viewer echoed a similar thought: “He almost forgot to help her get in the boat, first fight on wedding night…”
A few commenters tried to interpret his demeanor. “He waves to people like he’s some kinda KING!!” someone quipped, while another sarcastically pointed out, “All that money and the little things still bug me.”
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2.
Lauren Sánchez’s Pre-Wedding Outfit Sparked a Frenzy — Here’s How the Internet Reacted
On the evening of June 26, 2025, just one day before exchanging vows with Bezos, Sánchez turned heads as she stepped out of the Aman Hotel in Venice, Italy. She wore a figure-hugging gown that immediately became the focal point of online conversation.
The off-the-shoulder dress featured embroidered floral details with a waist-snatching textured corset laced at the back. She styled her hair in a long, flowing high ponytail with loose, face-framing pieces in the front. She finished off her look with minimal accessories, letting her ring stand out.
The couple, surrounded by security and guests, was photographed leaving the hotel en route to a pre-wedding dinner event. The occasion marked one of the most public and fashion-forward moments of the wedding weekend.
Once the images began circulating, reactions poured in across social media. Some netizens found them entertaining, while others offered harsh critiques.
One commenter remarked, “It’s giving lampshade 😂”, capturing the whimsical tone shared by several others. Another added, “Dress looks like my old living room curtain 😂.”
Some reactions were even more direct. One person wrote, “She is so tacky,” while a second viewer questioned, “Can she breath in that look [sic].”
Although netizens focused mainly on the dress, some still zeroed in on her ring. The enormous gem had them questioning its aesthetic value.
“That ring is gaudy and not very attractive,” one commenter wrote. Another viewer added, “It’s so big that it looks fake.” “Such a tacky ring. You can’t even wear it and enjoy it,” said a third.
However, not every comment was negative. One person took a more generous view, noting that the pair genuinely seemed to enjoy one another’s company.
3.
The Strict Rule Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Imposed on Wedding Guests
Wedding preparations for Jeff Bezos and Lauren 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.
The events surrounding the long-awaited wedding have been capturing attention for months, from leaked invitations to viral moments caught on camera.
4.
Why the Public Thinks Lauren Sánchez and Jeff Bezos’ Wedding Invitation Is the “Ugliest”
A pastel-themed digital wedding invitation for Amazon founder Bezos and journalist Sanchez has surfaced ahead of their multi-day celebration in Italy. Obtained exclusively by ABC News, the invitation asks guests not to bring gifts and instead honors three Venetian organizations with donations made on behalf of attendees.
The note reads in part: “We are making contributions in your honor and with gratitude to you for making the journey to celebrate with us in Venice.” The organizations named include the UNESCO Venice Office, the lagoon restoration group CORILA, and Venice International University.
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Despite the philanthropic gesture, the design of the invite drew intense scrutiny across platforms. Some users were surprised by the casual, cartoonish style given the high-profile nature of the event.
“This is the UGLIEST invitation i’ve ever seen 😂” one Instagram user wrote, earning over 1,200 likes. A second person added, “That’s the invite??? It looks so cheap. How much did they pay for that???”
Some netizens questioned whether the card was authentic at all. One commented, “You’re telling me this is the wedding invite of one of the world’s richest men?? There is no way 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣”
Another remarked, “This can’t be the real invite.” One user on Facebook mocked its appearance, saying it resembled a last-minute community college brochure project.
5.Why Donald Trump Won’t Attend Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s Wedding Despite the Invitation
Billionaire Bezos and his fiancée, 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:
“It’s a very tight-knit community; everyone there knows everyone, and you need to work with the right people. There’s very tight control, especially on movement there with boats.”
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.
