Everything to know about the wedding of world’s 3rd richest man Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez

Since their engagement in May 2023 there has been plenty of speculation in the media about the date, location and guest list. Now, details of the high-profile event are emerging.

The most high-profile wedding

Bezos and Sanchez will marry in a three-day celebration from June 24 to 26 on the private island of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, Italy. The Guardian newspaper described it as the most high-profile wedding in Venice since American actor George Clooney wed Amal Alamuddin in 2014.

Venice’s mayor Luigi Brugnaro confirmed in March that the couple chose the historic city after considering several global destinations, with input from Dolce & Gabbana designer Domenico Dolce. According to reports in the Italian media, organizers have booked five of Venice’s most luxurious hotels and secured nearly the entire fleet of the city’s water taxis for the event.

Sanchez is expected to walk down the aisle at the Scuola Vecchia della Misericordia, an 800-year-old former charity building in northern Venice, HELLO! magazine reported.

Jeff Bezos' fiancee, Lauren Sanchez. Photo courtesy of Sanchez's Instagram

Engagement aboard a $500 million superyacht

The couple got engaged in May 2023 aboard Bezos’s $500 million superyacht, Koru. He proposed with a $2.5 million diamond ring, which he had hidden under Sanchez’s pillow.

"When he opened the box, I think I blacked out a bit," Sanchez told Vogue magazine.

Guest list of the elite

Only 200 guests are expected to attend. A spokesperson for the mayor’s office said the city would remain fully accessible to residents and visitors during the event.

The guest list is likely to include close friends of Sanchez, such as pop star Katy Perry, reality TV personalities Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner and actress Eva Longoria.

Their engagement party, held aboard Koru in August 2023, was attended by actor Leonardo DiCaprio, Bill Gates and Queen Rania of Jordan, also making them likely wedding guests.

A wedding budget fit for billionaires

Bezos, the world’s third-richest person, with a net worth estimated at $226.8 billion by Forbes, is reportedly sparing no expense for the celebration.

Wedding planners Kunal Madan and Zoe Buke told the Daily Mail the event could cost between 15 and 20 million dollars. The event will feature internationally renowned performers, Michelin-level cuisine and fancy gifts for guests.

A celebration of Venice’s artisans

Roughly 80% of the wedding supplies are being sourced from Venetian vendors, according to the Associated Press.

The will include two historic names: Rosa Salva, Venice’s oldest pastry shop known for its traditional biscuits, and Laguna B, a Murano-based glass studio specializing in handblown pieces sought after by global fashion and design clients.

Laguna B’s founder Marie Brandolini said the wedding glassware is one-of-a-kind. "I hope they like what we did for them. For us, it’s a great opportunity, it gives extra support for our growth."

Jeff Bezos and fiancee Lauren Sanchez. Photo from Instagram

Mixed reactions from locals

While officials consider the wedding a prestigious event for the city, some residents have voiced opposition. Last week protesters hung a banner on St. Mark’s bell tower in the center of Venice with Bezos’s name crossed out, highlighting concerns over the effects of overtourism.

"It’s going to be a great big nuisance," Francesca, a local tour guide, told The Guardian. "We are exasperated by a whole series of problems related to overtourism and this is the umpteenth thing foisted on the city that we have to suffer."

Antonio Rosa Salva, the sixth generation in his family to run the Rosa Salva catering business and regularly caters at events for over 1,000 guests, said he was surprised by the backlash. "Events like this bring quality tourism to Venice. I don’t see how an event with 200 people can create disruptions. It’s responsible tourism," he said. "It’s prestigious that a couple like this, who can go anywhere in the world, are getting married in the city."

Mayor Brugnaro also dismissed concerns, assuring the public that the event would not disrupt daily life in Venice and emphasizing it would be "respectful of the fragility and uniqueness of the city."

"We are very proud," he told the Associated Press last week, adding that he hoped to meet Bezos in person. "It’s an honor that they chose Venice. Venice once again reveals itself to be a global stage."