Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s opulent multi-day wedding in Venice, marked by celebrity guests, lavish venues, and environmental protests, has become both a symbol of extravagant love and a lightning rod for criticism over wealth, privilege, and the impact of mega-events on historic cities.

In what’s being hailed as one of the most extravagant weddings of the decade, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and media personality Lauren Sánchez are set to tie the knot in Venice, Italy — but not without drawing global fascination, political controversy, and a flurry of A-list arrivals.

From the glimmering canals of Venice to the billionaire’s $500 million yacht Koru, this wedding isn’t just a celebration of love — it’s a three-day cultural spectacle that’s as lavish as it is polarizing.

The wedding, scheduled across June 24–26, 2025, is unfolding like a cinematic event. Several of Venice’s most iconic venues — including the Scuola Grande della Misericordia and the majestic Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore — have been reserved for various parts of the celebration.

The couple’s guest list is rumored to include titans of entertainment, tech, politics, and fashion: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kim Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, Katy Perry, Mick Jagger, and even European royals are said to be in attendance.

High-security entourages and luxury yachts are now populating the Grand Canal, transforming Venice into the temporary epicenter of global celebrity.

Bezos, the world’s fourth-richest man with a net worth north of $200 billion, proposed to Sánchez in May 2023 during a romantic getaway in the South of France, presenting her with a jaw-dropping 30-carat pink diamond ring.

Since then, preparations have been unfolding in near-mythical secrecy, with just enough leaks to ignite widespread speculation.

Sánchez, who is both an Emmy-winning journalist and licensed pilot, has reportedly been hands-on with the planning, crafting the details with the precision of someone who understands both high society and media spectacle.

The guest count, reportedly capped at 250, ensures exclusivity — but the impact of the wedding on Venice has been anything but contained.

Protesters, led by activist groups like Greenpeace, have taken to the canals with banners and chants decrying the event as the epitome of “overtourism and billionaire excess.”

One prominent protest slogan unfurled across the Rialto Bridge reads, “No Space for Bezos,” accusing the couple of exploiting Venice’s fragile infrastructure for a display of unchecked privilege.

Local environmentalists have criticized the arrival of mega yachts like Bezos’s Koru, which at 417 feet long, has been likened to a floating palace.

Despite this, Venice’s mayor has publicly downplayed the backlash, claiming the wedding brings a much-needed economic boost to local businesses, especially hotels and artisan vendors.

In a move that appears to respond directly to criticism, Bezos and Sánchez are reportedly sourcing over 80% of their event’s goods from Venetian suppliers.

Murano glassmakers have been commissioned to create custom tableware, while local bakeries and florists are curating bespoke offerings to line the reception halls. Whether this is genuine support for the community or damage control is up for debate.

One of the most talked-about pre-wedding moments was the couple’s foam-filled party aboard Koru, where guests were seen dancing, swimming, and celebrating under sunny skies and clouds of white bubbles.

Sources say the event may have also doubled as a private birthday celebration for one of Sánchez’s children, adding a familial, human touch to an otherwise monumental affair.

Both Bezos and Sánchez are entering their second marriages. Bezos famously divorced philanthropist and novelist MacKenzie Scott in 2019 after a 25-year marriage, resulting in one of the largest divorce settlements in history. Sánchez finalized her divorce from talent agent Patrick Whitesell in 2020.

Together, they form one of the most visible power couples in the world, frequently photographed at gala events, on space launches (Sánchez will reportedly lead an all-woman Blue Origin flight), and now at the center of an international wedding media frenzy.

While the dress details remain under tight wraps, fashion insiders believe Sánchez may be working with designers like Dolce & Gabbana or Valentino, aligning with the wedding’s opulent Venetian setting.

Her brother has compared the occasion to Princess Diana’s wedding in terms of scale and emotion — a lofty comparison that seems less hyperbolic by the day.

The wedding is also emblematic of a new era of “super-weddings” among the ultra-wealthy: multi-day events that function as both personal ceremonies and public statements.

They combine celebrity guest lists with curated experiences, luxury hospitality, and even political messaging. In the case of Bezos and Sánchez, their union is also tied to philanthropy and space exploration.

The couple has made significant donations to climate change initiatives, education, and the arts. Critics, however, argue that their charitable efforts do little to offset the visible display of excess now on full display in Venice.

As gondoliers navigate between protest boats and paparazzi speedboats, and as 17th-century chapels are draped in silk imported from Milan, the city of Venice is once again a stage for power, romance, and spectacle.

Whether remembered as a fairy-tale celebration or an emblem of elite disconnect, the Bezos-Sánchez wedding is, undeniably, a defining cultural moment — one that blends love, luxury, and controversy in a single, unforgettable setting.