Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's wedding welcome party causes chaos in Venice as celebrities shuts down canals
Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos ' wedding welcome party has caused chaos across Venice, as a parade of celebrities have forced canals to shut down and tourists to cancel reservations.
The billionaire couple are set to exchange vows in Italy on Friday, but the celebrations have already kicked off.
The soon-to-be husband and wife gathered at the Madonna dell Orto cloisters with their A-list friends on Thursday evening for a lavish pre-wedding celebration.
But as hoards of stars descended upon the stunning venue for the party, the commotion left local business owners outraged.
According to one business owner who runs a kayak renting service in the area, the bridges were 'closed off' to make way for Lauren, Jeff, and their guests, leaving customers unable to reach them.
'We had a party of clients booked for Thursday night. But they were unable to get through to us because the bridges were all closed off,' they shared.
'Despite them having booking, the police wouldn't let them pass. It was party of five Americans, and they had booked an hour and a half for $100 each and so we had to cancel.
'The party involved was on a tight schedule and couldn't rebook so we will have to refund them and so we have lost money.'
One Venice local claimed that the canals were shut gown and that police on jet skis turned them around when they tried to get through
In addition to the bridges, the Venice local claimed that the canals were also shut gown and that police on jet skis turned them around when they tried to get through.
They added that there was 'no real notification from the council that the canal would be closed.'
'I don't begrudge [Jeff and Lauren] for getting married, but this has cost us money and of all the places in Venice they had to choose the one by us,' they added.
Photos show police presence all over the Italian city, including officers on jet skis in the canals, as water taxis went back and forth taking Lauren and Jeff's guests from their hotels to the event.
A slew of celebrities stepped out to celebrate Lauren and Jeff on Thursday evening as their pre-wedding festivities kicked off, including Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Orlando Bloom, who all dressed to the nines.
Bride-to-be Lauren, 55, donned a terrifyingly tight corset for the party.
The shimmering one-piece by Schiaparelli boasted a cinched waistline and embroidered floral detailing.
The piece accentuated Lauren's enviable physique - including her toned shoulders and arms.
The soon-to-be husband and wife gathered at the Madonna dell Orto cloisters with their A-list friends on Thursday evening for a lavish pre-wedding celebration
The former journalist, who pulled her raven tresses away from her face except for a few stray strands, beamed as she waved to cameras and flashed a glimpse of her stunning engagement ring.
Jeff lovingly held out his hand as they stepped aboard a water taxi, before the couple shared a quick kiss in front of adoring fans.
For his part, Jeff, 61, looked dapper in a white shirt and black suit before finishing the outfit with a pair of statement sunglasses.
Kim opted for a figure-hugging snakeskin dress for the celebration, while her sister Khloe donned a silver and black gown that accentuated her stunning curves.
Their mom Kris opted for a chic black frock that came complete with flowing, quarter length sleeves and floral embellishments.
She was accompanied by her longtime beau Corey Gamble, who matched her in an all-black suit.
Kendall wowed in a haltered white floral number that contained a thigh-high slit and a plunging neckline, while Kylie was seen in a striking lacy yellow dress.
Actor Orlando, who was notably without his fiancée Katy Perry as she's across the world on tour in Australia, looked handsome in a simple tan suit.
Leonardo tried to keep a low profile by wearing a black cap that covered his entire face, which he paired with a suit.
His girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti looked stunning in a gray dress that had intricate floral pieces on one shoulder and the chest area.
Khloe Kardashian joined her, donning a silver and black gown that accentuated her stunning curves
Kendall Jenner wowed in a haltered white floral number that contained a thigh-high slit and a plunging neckline
Football star Tom Brady was spotted in a button-down white shirt and black dress pants; he held a tan sports jacket to complete the look
Orlando and Tom enjoyed some bonding time together on the boat
Football star Tom Brady was also spotted heading to the event; he opted for a button-down white shirt and black dress pants and held a tan sports jacket to complete the look.
In addition, close pals Gayle King and Oprah Winfrey were also arriving at the celebration.
Gayle was seen in a white and yellow floral dress while Oprah flaunted her figure in a maroon and white number that had cut-outs on the midriff area.
Tommy Hilfiger opted for a striped, white suit while his wife Dee Ocleppo had on a tiny polka-dotted gown with enormous sleeves.
Ivanka Trump, who was joined by husband Jared Kushner, stunned in a white and gold mini dress adorned with floral pieces.
She showed off the look on Instagram, writing, 'Ready to celebrate the love story of our friends, @laurenwsanchez and @jeffbezos.'
While the festivities have just kicked off, an insider has claimed that the billionaire and the former journalist were already married.
A source closely connected to the organization of the week's events said: 'They have been married for at least a month, more than a month.
'The marriage is fully legal and took place in America under American law.'
They added: 'When they were planning the wedding, they were clear about the fact that they were already secretly married.
His undercover look didn't stop photographers from noticing him as he exited his hotel and headed to the event
His girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti looked stunning in a gray dress that had intricate floral embellishments on one shoulder and the chest area
Usher looked dapper in a white suit with a maroon striped top
'There is no application for a wedding license from the couple because it was not required.
'Whatever happens at the wedding on Friday, it will not be a wedding. Under Italian law, it will not be a wedding celebration, any vows said or rings exchanged will have no legal meaning.'
The source claimed that Jeff had personally confirmed that he and Lauren are already legally married, and that they had also signed a pre-nuptial agreement to protect his $244 billion fortune.
But Venice will still see a party unlike any other. Lauren and Jeff are said to have rented out a number of places in the Italian city to celebrate the lavish, love-filled multi-day nuptials.
However, they've already had to move locations due to safety concerns amid protests - originally, they had planned a huge party planned at the Scuola Grande della Misericordia on Saturday night but it has now been moved to another venue in the Arsenale area of the city, according to local media.
Locals have been protesting the event for days, and around 20 activists were seen hours before the pre-wedding party in St Mark's Square, the iconic heart of Venice.
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Sky News
41 minutes ago
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Lauren Sanchez shares picture with Jeff Bezos as they tie the knot in star-studded ceremony in Venice
Billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez have tied the knot in a lavish and star-studded wedding in Venice, Italy. The couple exchanged their vows on Friday, on the small island of San Giorgio, opposite St Mark's Square, in front of VIP guests including the Kardashians, Orlando Bloom and Oprah Winfrey. Sanchez, 55, posted a picture of herself on Instagram where she beamed in a white gown as she walked arm in arm with Bezos. She captioned it with the date of the nuptials, namely 27 June 2025, followed by a heart emoji. She also posted pictures of her in the classic mermaid-line gown, which featured Dolce & Gabbana's signature Italian lace. A traditional tulle-and-lace veil completed her look. "Not just a gown, a piece of poetry," she wrote on Instagram on the second day of the couple's three-day celebrations. Among the celebrities who were pictured on the wedding day were Ivanka Trump with her husband Jared Kushner, Italian supermodel Vittoria Ceretti, Kendall and Kylie Jenner and Khloe and Kim Kardashian. Bill Gates, Usher and Tom Brady were also pictured. Some 200-250 A-list guests from showbusiness, politics and finance are expected to attend the events, with the wedding and its parts estimated to cost €40m-€48m (£34m-£41m). Bezos, his now-wife and their famous guests have taken over numerous locations in the city, with the couple staying in the luxury Aman hotel, where rooms go for at least €4,000 per night. While the couple and their A-list guests were all smiles, some in Venice are not happy about the wedding - with protesters seeing it as an example of the city being gift-wrapped for ultra-rich outsiders. An activist climbed one of the poles in the main St Mark's Square on Thursday, unfurling a banner which said: "The 1% ruins the world."
Sky News
41 minutes ago
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Why protesters have vowed to make Jeff Bezos's Venice wedding to Lauren Sanchez a 'nightmare'
Billionaire Jeff Bezos is marrying Lauren Sanchez, a former TV journalist, in a glitzy multi-day event in Venice. The couple have arrived in the city for three days of celebrations from Thursday to Saturday, which are estimated to cost up to €48m (£41m). The main wedding party had reportedly been due to take place at the Scuola Grande della Misericordia on Saturday, but will now be held at the Arsenale, out of the city centre, according to Reuters news agency. The guest list includes the likes of Leonardo Dicaprio, Eva Longoria, Oprah Winfrey and Mick Jagger, as well as pop star Katy Perry, who joined Ms Sanchez in the all-female celebrity crew that travelled to space in April. They and other celebrity guests are set to join the couple for parties on the Amazon owner's super yacht, worth about $500m (£371m), which will dock in the port of Venice for the wedding, Sky TG24 in Italy reports. But not everyone in the city is excited. Why are there protests? Protesters do not have an issue with the marriage itself but with what they say is the "privatisation" and "exploitation" of the city. "He is basically going to treat the whole city as a private ballroom, as a private event area, as if the citizens are not there," said Alice Bazzoli, an activist with No Space for Bezos. The group is a coalition of around a dozen Venetian organisations - including housing advocates, anti-cruise ship campaigners and university groups - and its name is a play on words also referring to the bride's recent space flight. Members of the group have told Sky News that the event will close parts of the city and make it difficult for locals to get around, as well as posing environmental concerns with the use of yachts in the canals. "This is not what Venice needs. This is not what a city that is already suffering from overtourism needs," Federica Toninelli, another activist associated with No Space for Bezos, said. The city has long struggled with high tourism numbers. Millions come to see the World Heritage Site for its medieval architecture, crammed into a picturesque canal network. However, this pushes up the cost of living for locals and tends to create only low-paid temporary employment. "It's going to bring money, yes, but we are not going to see any money," said Ms Toninelli. The protests are also linked to wider issues around affordable housing and a dwindling local population in Venice's historic centre. "Do we want our city even more invaded by tourists, by oligarchs, and people who buy and privatise the city, or do we want services, jobs, health services, schools, universities? Do we want to live in the city like normal people, or sell it to the best offer?" Ms Bazzoli added. Activists from global environmental lobby Greenpeace and the UK group Everyone Hates Elon have joined the protests, with their focus on some of the wider issues raised by Bezos's critics around the world, such as purported tax breaks for him and fellow billionaires. Mr Bezos has been contacted for comment. What have protesters done so far - and what else are they planning? Members of No Space for Bezos unfurled a massive banner on 12 June from the bell tower of the San Giorgio Maggiore basilica with Bezos's name crossed out. Then on Monday activists from Greenpeace and Everyone Hates Elon unveiled a huge banner in St Mark's Square with an image of Mr Bezos laughing and the caption: "If you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax." It appeared to be a nod to Amazon's ongoing tax disputes with European governments. The local activists planned a more organised protest for Saturday, where they were aiming to stop guests from arriving at a party by blocking the canals with boats and their bodies. But the plans have been altered since the party was reportedly moved to Arsenale, a 14th-century complex surrounded by water and impossible to reach by land when bridges are raised. Instead of the blockade there will be a march, with protesters pledging to make the event a "nightmare" for Mr Bezos and his guests. What has the response been to the protests? The mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, has said he is "honoured" that the city is hosting the event, adding: "Once again Venice proves to be a world stage." "Those 20 people who are putting up posters are clearly capitalising on [Bezos's] image," he went on. The city of Venice has previously denied that the event would disrupt locals, saying water taxi services would run normally and that only 200 guests had been invited. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's wedding in numbers €48m price tag The wedding and its parts are expected to cost an eye-watering €40-48m (£34-£41m), Luca Zaia, the president of Venice's local government, said on Tuesday. This includes sizeable charity donations from the Amazon founder, including €1m (£850k) to Corila, a consortium that studies Venice's lagoon ecosystem, local media has reported. 90 private jets The first private jets began landing at Venice airport on Tuesday and there will be around 90 in total, Mr Zaia said. They won't all be arriving in Venice though, as some will land at the nearby Treviso and Verona airports. 250 guests Five of the city's most luxurious hotels have been booked out to host an estimated 200-250 guests. These include the celeb favourite Cipriani, where George and Amal Clooney married in 2014. 30 water taxis Attendees of course won't be hopping on public water buses to get around the city's many islands. The wedding's organisers have booked at least 30 water taxis for them to use instead. "Venice is used to being the stage for events and shows every week, without significant impacts," a statement said, citing G20 and G7 summits, the Architecture and Cinema Biennales, as well as private events. It added that the city has previous experience of hosting big events successfully. A Venetian environmental research association, Corila, issued a statement saying Bezos's Earth Fund was supporting its work with an "important donation". What other events has the cited hosted? George and Amal Clooney famously got married there in 2014. The actor arrived at his ceremony at the Aman Grande Canal Hotel on a boat, alongside guests including Matt Damon and model Cindy Crawford. The city also hosted world leaders for the 2021 G20 summit, as well as its annual Venice Film Festival. How does Venice place limits on tourists? Venice has been struggling with the impacts of overtourism. There were about 50,000 people living in the historic city centre in 2023 - and about 4.9 million tourist arrivals - according to the data gathering website Statista. In 2024, it became the first city in the world to introduce a payment system for tourists, with officials carrying out random checks to make sure people beyond entry points have a QR code. As it stands, those visiting between April and July for a day trip pay a standard fee of €5, unless they have booked less than four days before their visit, in which case they must pay double. The city has also put in place a size limit of 25 people for tourist groups to reduce crowds. Where else have there been tourist protests? Venice isn't the only European city where locals are frustrated with tourist numbers. Protesters in Barcelona sprayed tourists with water guns as part of demonstrations recently over the number of visitors.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Jeff Bezos' wife Lauren Sanchez slammed as 'tacky' by Katie Couric on WEDDING DAY in nasty social media post
Katie Couric both shocked and delighted her fans when she lobbed a nasty comment at Jeff Bezos ' new bride Lauren Sánchez. The confrontationally timed post — which she made on Bezos and Sánchez's wedding day — accused the Amazon billionaire's second wife of being 'tacky.' The 68-year-old television journalist weighed in on the last confrontational post from Jack Schlossberg, a writer famous for being the nephew of John F. Kennedy Jr. and the daughter of Caroline Kennedy. Schlossberg — who has repeatedly feuded with his cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over his controversial work as the President Donald Trump 's Secretary of Health and Human Services — appeared to have poked fun at Bezos and Sánchez over the wedding celebration in Venice, Italy, in recent days. On Friday, he reposted the cover of Vogue, which featured the 55-year-old journalist in her opulent white lace wedding gown. 'Like I said … vogue,' he captioned the magazine cover, which read 'Here comes the bride!' in celebratory text. Katie said the wedding looked straight out of the 1980s and reeked of 'conspicuous consumption,' adding, 'Apparently tacky is back' In the photo, Sánchez beamed ear to ear in the wedding dress, which featured lacy floral sleeves and a figure-hugging bodice with a high neckline. It had a skirt with paisley and floral lace designs that was cut close over her hips before fanning out at the knee. It featured a long white train behind her, and her sheer veil also dragged behind her to create a second layer. In her comment, Couric snapped: 'Welcome to the eighties — when big hair and conspicuous consumption ruled. Apparently tacky is back.' Schlossberg played off Couric's '80s-themed comment and suggested in a reply: 'Let's bring back scrunchies.' Other Instagram users in the replies ate up Couric's catty comment, with one person gushing, 'I love this side of Katie Couric!' Another simply wrote 'love you' after a string of tears-of-laughter emojis. 'Spot on! 👏 "Money can't buy you class..😂," agreed another fan. '💣💥'I am here for this kind of commentary ❤️,' added one poster. Another commenter claimed that Schlossberg were hitting out at the 'greed is good crowd,' referencing Michael Douglas' defense of selfishness from Oliver Stone's 1987 classic Wall Street.' Bezos and Sánchez tied the knot in an extravaganza that reportedly cost $20 million and involved the wedding party of wealthy A-listers taking over the entire San Giorgio Maggiore island in Venice. Just minutes after saying 'I do' with Bezos, Sánchez took to Instagram to share a photo of herself and the groom, which she captioned with their wedding date. While he favored a more casual, summery suit on Thursday, Bezos opted for a classic black three-piece tuxedo for his wedding day. More than 200 guests descended on the wedding, and many of them flaunted the extensive work they have had done over the years. Two plastic surgeons — New York City–based Dr. Elie Levin and New Jersey–based Dr. Smita Ramanadham — both spoke exclusively to on Friday about the apparent cosmetic procedures of the high-profile guests, which may have inspired the sentiment behind Couric's snide comment. Bezos and Sánchez have been an item going back to 2019, and it was revealed that they had already legally married prior to the ceremony. Among the celebrity guests at the wedding was a solo Orlando Bloom, who made his debut as a single man just days after he was reported to have split from his longtime fiancée Katy Perry. Although her absence was reportedly due to conflicting tour dates, she shared a sweet message on social media with Sánchez to celebrate her big day. During the wedding celebrations, Orlando raised eyebrows when he was spotted wrapping an arm around a mystery woman. She was later revealed to have a connection to his ex, as she is the former stylist of both Katy and Meghan Markle.
