Latest news with #extravaganza
News.com.au
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Sad truth behind iconic TV show wedding
Whether it's the real kind (such as the fairytale 2011 union of Kate Middleton and Prince William) or the fictional sort (such as Scott and Charlene's memorable 1987 nuptials on Neighbours) people love a wedding. Mostly. The AU$76 million June spectacle that saw Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez say 'I do' in Venice in front of Oprah Winfrey, a clutch of Kardashians and a newly single Orlando Bloom certainly drew a crowd. But not in a good way. Venetian locals protested the gauche three-day affair, which they felt had turned their city into a three-ring circus. Interestingly, the similarly star-studded 2014 wedding of George and Amal Clooney in the Italian tourist mecca didn't make waves in quite the same way. It's not only the Venetians who were unimpressed to see the Bezos wedding party cruise into the city on the US businessman's superyacht. Charlize Theron was also snarky about Bezos and Sanchez' OTT, no-expense-spared extravaganza. As the who's who of Hollywood gathered in the Italian city for the fancy affair, Oscar-winning Theron was in Los Angeles, hosting a fundraiser for her South African outreach program aimed at bettering the lives of people in her home country. 'I think we might be the only people who did not get an invite to the Bezos wedding,' the actor remarked wryly to the attendees. 'But that's OK because they suck and we're cool.' The backlash to the Bezos bash is the exception to the rule, however, as weddings are typically a source of joy for spectators, even when the road to the TV altar is beset by drama. Case in point: Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl) getting up from her hospital bed to attend the wedding of her dreams in Grey's Anatomy, and Hugh Grant's bumbling best man efforts in Four Weddings And A Funeral. Until recently, Friends fans believed the biggest shock at the 2001 screen wedding of Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Monica (Courteney Cox) was the revelation that Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) was pregnant. But behind the scenes of Monica and Chandler's much-hyped big day, Perry was struggling with the addiction that would ultimately claim his life in 2023. 'I married Monica and got driven back to the treatment centre … in a pick-up truck helmed by a sober technician,' Perry wrote in his 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers And The Big Terrible Thing. '[It was] at the height of my highest point in Friends, the highest point in my career, the iconic moment on the iconic show.' The wedding of Carrie and Big (Sarah Jessica Parker and Chris Noth) in the first Sex And The City movie also raised eyebrows (and not just because of the bird headpiece perched atop the bride's head). Series creator Darren Star revealed in a 2016 interview that he wasn't thrilled to see Carrie get hitched to anyone. 'I think the show ultimately betrayed what it was about, which was that women don't ultimately find happiness from marriage,' he explained. 'Not that they can't. But the show initially was going off-script from the romantic comedies that had come before it. That's what had made women so attached.' Kylie Minogue is yet to make it up the aisle herself, but if she does, the singer won't be taking inspiration from the wedding dress she donned on Neighbours (now housed at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery). 'It was very of the time and we all have a big laugh about it now,' the popstar said of the high-necked lace gown during a 2017 interview on This Morning. One performer who has worn more than her fair share of bridal gowns is Jennifer Lopez. The singer has tied the knot eight times on film and four times in real life. A serial bride – on screen and off – Lopez, is always up for walking down the aisle, if the script (and the man) is right. Now with four divorces under her belt, Lopez hasn't given up on marriage, telling TV host Hoda Kotb in 2022: 'You know me. I am a romantic. I have been married a few times. I still believe in happily ever after, for sure. 100 per cent.' In the mood for some big-day drama? Say 'I do' to these unusual unions: Dream Weddings: Across the USA: This 2023 reality series gives you a front-row seat to real-life weddings, from waterside ceremonies to barnyard parties. Camp Wedding: A destination wedding becomes a nightmare when a bridal party is targeted by a killer in this 2019 horror-comedy film. 4 Wedding Planners: When Lily returns home to help save her family's wedding planning business her loyalties are tested when she discovers her ex-boyfriend is a client.
Daily Mail
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
One of Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos' A-list guests reveal what couple's $50M wedding was REALLY like
An A-list wedding guests who scored an invite to Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos ' $50M Italian wedding last month has now revealed what it was really like. The former journalist, 55, and Amazon founder, 61, said 'I do' in the romantic city of Venice - with other celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, Kim Kardashian and Leonardo DiCaprio in attendance. Sara Foster, 44, had been one of the 200 guests during the three-day extravaganza - and gave a glimpse into the nuptials on Thursday's episode of her The World's First podcast. The 90210 actress was joined by co-host and sister Erin who had many questions about the wedding - and even wondered if guests were required to sign NDAs. Erin - who is the creator of the 2024 Netflix series Nobody Wants This - said that her older sibling, 'Gave me no information.' She further added that Sara would not answer when she FaceTimed 'several times for gossip and updates.' Sara Foster, 44, had been one of the 200 guests during the three-day extravaganza - and gave a glimpse into the nuptials on Thursday's episode of her The World's First podcast; seen in January in Beverly Hills 'Did you sign an NDA?' Erin questioned, which prompted Sara to reply, 'Absolutely not. There were no... no one signed NDAs. No NDAs.' Sara's sister then pointed out that other guests that were invited to the nuptials have also mainly kept quiet on what it had been like. 'Why won't you share any information?' Erin further pressed, and Sara went on to explain that the wedding portrayed in the media was the complete opposite of what it was like in reality. 'There's nothing - it's so interesting how the optics were this over the top, you know, just not, it's not what it was. It actually felt very intimate.' A number of celebrities were seen both arriving and leaving Venice as they attended the lavish wedding. In between bashes and the main ceremony, some stars were also seen exploring the romantic city. Protests also took place leading up with the wedding day, with some demonstrations being held at St. Marks Square. One protestor had created a banner that was hung up on the Rialto Bridge which read: 'No Space For Bezos.' Sara expressed that some guests were choosing to not talk about the wedding in order to not face backlash or criticism. The actress later explained that she garnered 'polarizing' feedback when she shared an Instagram post that had captured special moments from her time in Venice. 'Here's the problem. You can't say anything anymore without being attacked,' Sara said. 'I swear to God, it never occurred to me once that anybody would take issue with people attending a wedding. Truly. It really didn't. It didn't.' In regards to her own post, Sara admitted, 'It just didn't occur to me that it was gonna be such a polarizing... it really didn't. I guess I'm stupid. Maybe I'm stupid.' Some of the comments that she received included, 'Love you Sara, but read the room,' and her sister playfully added, 'I was gonna come, but I accidently wasn't invited.' Another wrote, 'This is disappointing, why post this?' and a follower typed, 'Should have left this in drafts.' In regards to the star-studded guest list, Sarah told her sister that 'there were definitely a lot of people that were not photographed.' However, she did not disclose who those individuals were during the podcast episode this week. 'I can't. I mean, that's, like, so lame. I'm not gonna do that. But it's very interesting how many people went un-photographed. It was definitely a very interesting setup.' Lauren walked down the aisle wearing a custom Dolce & Gabbana dress that was made of an intricate lace overlay with buttons on the front and a corset-styled bodice. The fabric on the gown pooled around the star and a sheer white veil was placed towards the back of her head which flowed down into a long train behind her. When it came to the dress, Sanchez told Vogue, 'It went from "I want a simple, sexy modern dress" to "I want something that evokes a moment," and where I am right now. I am a different person than I was five years ago.' She also told the outlet that the nuptials - which were dubbed the 'wedding of the century' - would be 'very intimate.' Not long after the Venice extravaganza, Lauren was spotted joining a few of close pals for a night out in Paris last week. She put on a busty display wearing a figure-hugging, red leather minidress with a plunging neckline on the front. Along with having a blast with Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn, the former journalist was also joined by model Brooks Nader. However, her new husband Jeff Bezos was notably absent from the night out in France. The star was also seen stepping out to attend the Balenciaga Haute Couture runway show during Paris Fashion Week. She supported stars such as Naomi Campbell and Kim Kardashian as they modeled pieces during the glitzy event. Most recently, the newlyweds were spotted grabbing dinner in Florida on Tuesday, per TMZ. The pair enjoyed the date night at AVIV restaurant which is located inside 1 Hotel South Beach in Miami.
Daily Mail
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
BEST dressed celebs spotted fleeing Venice after Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos wedding celebrations come to an end
and Jeff Bezos ' multi-day wedding extravaganza has finally come to an end - with stars now starting to make their way back home. The Amazon founder, 61, and the former journalist, 55, exchanged vows in front of nearly 200 VIPs on San Giorgio Maggiore island on Friday. Among the A-list stars on the guest list in Venice, Italy, were Oprah Winfrey, Ivanka Trump and Sydney Sweeney. The celebrations ended yesterday with the grand finale being a pajama party in the Arsenale area of the city. But now, with all the festivities wrapped up, many have been spotted making their getaway as they head off the island. Here, FEMAIL has rounded up who is traveling in style - literally. Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti kept her look light and airy in a white mini dress. She accessorized with a pair of knee-high black boots and sturdy handbag. The 27-year-old hid her face behind a pair of shades and let her honey tresses cascade down loosely Orlando Bloom, 48, looked cool but casual in his departure ensemble - optioning for beige cargo pants, white vest and short-sleeved over shirt. The actor wore a baseball cap and sunglasses to shield himself from the sun
The Guardian
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Final party set to end Bezos-Sánchez wedding extravaganza in Venice
Newlyweds Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sánchez left their luxury hotel on Venice's Grand canal on Saturday for a final night of partying, crowning a three-day star-studded wedding extravaganza. Bezos, 61, and Sanchez, 55, exchanged rings on Friday evening on the small island of San Giorgio, across the water from St Mark's Square, accompanied by singing from Matteo Bocelli, son of Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. Bill Gates, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, Jordan's Queen Rania, Oprah Winfrey, Kris Jenner and Kim and Khloé Kardashian, as well as Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, were among the A-listers present. Saturday's evening bash – wrapping up celebrations for 200-250 guests estimated to have cost $50m (£37m) – was due to take place in the Arsenale, a former medieval shipyard in an eastern district of the lagoon city. About 1,000 people marched against the event on Saturday, groups of activists and residents who objected to the wedding and to seeing Venice being gift-wrapped for the uber-wealthy. Some guests were seen leaving the Gritti Palace hotel in central Venice wearing their pyjamas, sometimes beneath colourful dressing gowns, before boarding small boats to reach the party. Bezos and Sánchez had a more sober style. He was sporting a black shirt and suit, while she wore a soft-pink off-the-shoulder dress. They kissed on the boat while greeting those around them. At the ceremony the bride wore a high-necked silhouette dress and a tulle and lace veil by Dolce & Gabbana, which she told Vogue magazine was based on Sophia Loren's dress to marry Cary Grant in the 1958 film, Houseboat. Sánchez was also wearing a pair of diamond earrings by Dolce & Gabbana, which, according to Vogue, was lent to her in keeping with the tradition that it brings good luck for a bride to wear something borrowed. Bezos, who is No 4 on Forbes' global billionaires list, donned a black tuxedo and bow tie over a white shirt. Friday's ceremony had no legal status under Italian law, a senior city hall official told Reuters, suggesting the couple may have previously wed legally in the United States to avoid the bureaucracy associated with an Italian marriage. While some residents and activists raged against Bezos as a symbol of inequality and arrogance, Venetian businesses and political leaders welcomed the luxury nuptials, hailing them as a major boost for the local economy. 'Those who protest are in contradiction with the history of Venice, which is a history of relations, contacts and business,' mayor Luigi Brugnaro told Reuters. 'Bezos embodies the Venetian mentality. He is more Venetian than the protesters,' said the centre-right mayor, adding that he hoped Bezos, who donated €3m (£2.5m) to local institutions, would return to the city to do business. Brugnaro said Bezos had attached no conditions to holding his wedding celebrations in Venice, and city hall had only learned about his donations after they had been made. Bezos, Amazon's executive chair, got engaged to Sánchez in 2023, four years after the collapse of his 25-year marriage to novelist and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
Asharq Al-Awsat
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Final Bash Set to End Lavish Bezos Wedding Party in Venice
Newlyweds Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez left their luxury hotel on Venice's Grand Canal on Saturday for a final night of partying, crowning a three-day star-studded wedding extravaganza. Bezos, 61, and Sanchez, 55, exchanged rings on Friday evening on the small island of San Giorgio, across the water from Saint Mark's Square, accompanied by singing from Matteo Bocelli, son of Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. Bill Gates, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, Jordan's Queen Rania, Oprah Winfrey, Kris Jenner and Kim and Khloe Kardashian, as well as Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner were among the A-listers present. Saturday's evening bash -- wrapping up celebrations for 200-250 guests estimated to have cost some $50 million -- was due to take place in the Arsenale, a former medieval shipyard in an eastern district of the lagoon city. Around 1,000 people marched against the event on Saturday, groups of activists and residents who object to the wedding and to seeing Venice being gift-wrapped for the uber-wealthy. Some guests were seen leaving the Gritti Palace hotel in central Venice wearing their pyjamas, sometimes beneath colorful dressing gowns, before boarding small boats to reach the party. Bezos and Sanchez had a more sober style. He was sporting a black shirt and suit, while she wore a soft-pink off-the-shoulder dress. They kissed on the boat while greeting those around them. At the ceremony the bride wore a high-necked silhouette dress and a tulle and lace veil by Dolce & Gabbana, which she told magazine Vogue was based on Sophia Loren's dress to marry Cary Grant in the 1958 film, Houseboat. Sanchez was also wearing a pair of diamond earrings by Dolce & Gabbana, which, according to Vogue, was lent to her in keeping with the tradition that it brings good luck for a bride to wear something borrowed. Bezos, who is No. 4 on Forbes' global billionaires list, donned a black tuxedo and bow tie over a white shirt. BUSINESSES, POLITICIANS WELCOME EVENT Friday's ceremony had no legal status under Italian law, a senior city hall official told Reuters, suggesting the couple may have previously wed legally in the United States to avoid the bureaucracy associated with an Italian marriage. While some residents and activists raged against Bezos as a symbol of inequality and arrogance, Venetian businesses and political leaders welcomed the luxury nuptials, hailing them as major boost for the local economy. "Those who protest are in contradiction with the history of Venice, which is a history of relations, contacts and business," Mayor Luigi Brugnaro told Reuters. "Bezos embodies the Venetian mentality. He is more Venetian than the protesters," said center-right mayor, adding that he hoped Bezos, who donated 3 million euros ($3.51 million) to local institutions, would return to the city to do business. Brugnaro said Bezos had attached no conditions to holding his wedding celebrations in Venice, and City Hall had only learned about his donations after they had already been made. Bezos, Amazon's executive chair, got engaged to Sanchez in 2023, four years after the collapse of his 25-year marriage to novelist and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
