Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King Arrive in Venice Ahead of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's Star-Studded Wedding
Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King arrived together in Venice, Italy, on Thursday, June 26, ahead of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's wedding
The media mogul and the CBS News journalist were photographed arriving at the airport and then getting into a water taxi
Other celebrities who have been spotted in the city for the festivities include Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, Ivanka Trump, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian and Kris JennerOprah Winfrey and Gayle King are the latest celebrities to make their arrival in Venice, Italy, ahead of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's lavish wedding this week.
The former talk show host, 71, and the CBS News journalist, 70, were photographed smiling after they touched down at Venice Marco Polo Airport on Thursday, June 26. They then got into a water taxi to travel to their next destination in the city.
Winfrey wore a white knit lounge set and white sneakers, along with a pair of shades and a black headband in her hair. She carried a stylish cream tote. King sported light green cargo pants and a white long-sleeved top.
Winfrey and King join a growing flock of stars who have been spotted in the canal city for the upcoming nuptials. Tom Brady was seen exiting the airport with his attorney Alex Spiro, and Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian and their mom Kris Jenner also made a fashionable arrival on Thursday.
The trio were seen walking on a gangway and waving to fans, with Kim, 44, wearing a black Balenciaga skirt with a bandeau top, snake-print heeled boots and gray sunglasses.
Khloé, meanwhile, made a striking statement in a leopard-print catsuit and heels, and Kris, 69, opted for a black lace dress with long sleeves.
Orlando Bloom arrived solo on Thursday, following the news that he and former fiancée Katy Perryhave split. He was later photographed greeting Kim, Khloé and Kris while he was having lunch at the Gritti Palace.
Two days earlier, on June 24, first daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, and were spotted arriving in Venice. That same day fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg was alsospotted arriving.
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As their guests began to descend on the city, the bride and groom arrived by helicopter on Wednesday, June 25. The pair were picked up from Bezos' superyacht, Koru — which was docked just off the coast of Croatia — and flown into Venice.
The billionaire Amazon founder, 61, and the journalist, 55, radiated happiness as they smiled and held hands while walking into the Aman Hotel. According to a source, guests will be treated to a casual welcome night at a closed cloister adjacent to the Madonna dell'Orto church on Thursday.
The couple is expected to tie the knot in a black-tie ceremony on Friday, June 27. Amid the ongoing protests over the wedding in the city, Bezos and Sánchez made some last-minute changes to their itinerary.
A source told PEOPLE that the ceremony — originally scheduled to take place on June 28 at Scuola Grande della Misericordia — has been moved to a new location due to security concerns. The couple and their guests will instead celebrate in a hall at the Arsenale in the eastern Castello district, which is surrounded by water and unreachable by land when connecting bridges are raised.
To show their appreciation to Venice for hosting their multiday event, Bezos and Sánchez have asked their guests to make donations to the city in lieu of giving wedding gifts.
Sebastiano Costalonga, local city councillor for commerce and productive activities of the municipality of Venice, told PEOPLE that the couple's gesture sends "a very important message that should also be extended to the other people who come to get married in Venice, or to celebrate any kind of event here. We are definitely happy to have this funding for the protection of our very delicate city."
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