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The festivities have kicked off with a stylish (and pretty expensive) splash!


Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is set to tie the knot with former news anchor Lauren Sánchez, and the couple has finally kicked off their wedding festivities in Venice. Being hailed as the Wedding of the Century, the couple’s Venetian wedding is precisely the sum of several extravagant affairs, spanning three glittering days, and is cloaked in secrecy – an event that blends high society, Hollywood glamour, big fat charity donation cheques, and historic Italian charm dipped in uber rich arragements.


The foamy kick-off!

Bezos and Sánchez’s lavish wedding festivities kicked off with a birthday celebration in Bezos’ $500 million mega yacht, Koru, anchored off the coast of Cres Island in Croatia.

Imagine an ocean of bubbles, sun-soaked laughter, glamorous swimwear, and the gentle chug of a private yacht transforming into a floating nightclub. This was no casual pre-wedding gathering – it set the tone for a weekend of extravagance that Venice had never seen before.

The couple was spotted enjoying the pre-wedding buzz with a foam party, reportedly held in honour of Sánchez’s son, Evan, who just turned 19, as hinted by a “Happy Birthday" banner spotted on the yacht.

Donned in a red and black bikini, a pair of chic sunnies, and a wide-brimmed hat, the bride-to-be was seen enjoying herself with her friends and her fiancé. As Bezos complemented her with his casual yet stylish avatar in black beach shorts, sunnies, and a bucket hat, the couple was seen indulging in PDA ahead of their Venetian nuptials.


Wedding of the century: The elaborate itinerary


The grand weekend began with a welcome dinner infused with Venetian charm at Scuola Grande della Misericordia, the ornate 14th-century confraternity hall donned with Renaissance frescoes. Guests – capped at around 200 to avoid overwhelming the city – arrived via an entire fleet of water taxis, navigating through narrow canals to moor at the ancient site. The guest list? This is where the Hollywood glam and political royalties mix with the tech titans. The heavyweight guest list includes Oprah, Leonardo DiCaprio, Katy Perry, Kim Kardashian, and the Trumps – to name a few!

The next morning began with scenic cruises aboard Koru, offering intimate lagoon views and laughter-filled moments amid the dreamy morning light. By afternoon, back on land, guests checked into lavish suites at Venice's five-star icons – the Gritti Palace, Aman Venice, Hotel Danieli, Belmond Cipriani, and the St. Regis – where nightly rates reportedly ranged from $3,200 to over $32,000.


The D-Day: The ceremony

Time for the big moment! The D-Day, with a dash of drama!

Though early rumors hinted at a floating ceremony aboard Koru, Venetian regulations meant the wedding itself likely took place at San Giorgio Maggiore’s majestic basilica or again at Scuola Grande, before being moved to the secure Arsenale compound due to geopolitical and security reasons – especially around high-profile attendees like Ivanka Trump


On the other hand, the bride-to-be is set to walk down the aisle in custom couture – rumored to have the touch of THE Anna Wintour!


Wedding of the ‘riches’!

The whirlwind weekend has been orchestrated by elite planners Lanza & Baucina (with whispers even of Clooney wedding planners) – from midnight festivities to morning transports, security logistics, and a carefully choreographed canon of events. Around 250 handpicked guests are to be pampered across five of Venice’s most opulent hotels, including the legendary Cipriani on Giudecca Island and the Aman Venice – famously chosen by George Clooney for his 2014 wedding to Amal Alamuddin. Over 90 private jets, hundreds of water taxis, and local vendors providing 80% of the amenities – it has been breathtaking, even so logistically.


But here comes the million-dollar question – how much is the wedding costing the couple?

The full cost of the festivities is expected to soar between €40–48 million (approximately $46.5–$55.6 million), according to Veneto regional president Luca Zaia.

But here’s the twist!

Bezos and Sánchez are determined to ‘give back’ as they’re set to mark and celebrate one of the biggest milestones in their relationship. So, what’s the plan? They are apparently purchasing most of their wedding supplies from Venetian merchants, including Laguna B, a Murano glassblower, and Rosa Salva, the city’s oldest pastry maker. And the most surprising move? No gifts: instead, guests were invited to donate to Venetian charities, a well-thought nod to temper local backlash and economic scrutiny.