Is Jeff Bezos Really Marrying Lauren Sanchez in a Lavish Venice Ceremony Today?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Jeff Bezos is marrying Lauren Sanchez in Venice.
- The wedding cost is estimated at Rs 430 crore.
- It will feature a guest list of 200-250 VIPs.
- Concerns about over-tourism have been raised.
- Notable attendees include Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates.
New Delhi, June 27 (NationPress) Jeff Bezos, the third-richest person globally and the founder of Amazon, is poised to marry Lauren Sanchez, a former journalist, during a lavish ceremony on Friday. Dubbed a star-studded wedding, this extravagant event is taking place in Venice, Italy.
The celebration, which is expected to cost around Rs 430 crore, is hosted in the picturesque city of canals, as stated by Luca Zaia, the President of the Veneto region.
Spanning three days, from June 26 to June 28, the festivities will culminate in a celebrity-laden reception following the wedding on Friday. The city has transformed into a temporary fortress, with increased security measures and restricted access to provide privacy for the couple and their esteemed guests.
While organizers claim to respect the local community and infrastructure, concerns have been raised by environmental activists and residents.
Protesters argue that hosting such a large event, with around 200 to 250 VIPs, exacerbates the already significant issue of over-tourism in Venice, which welcomes over 30 million visitors every year.
The Venetian canals have been aglow with star power, as celebrities, politicians, royalty, and other dignitaries have been arriving steadily throughout the week.
Notable attendees include Bill Gates, Orlando Bloom, and Queen Rania of Jordan.
The guest list also features luminaries such as Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kris Jenner, and the Hollywood couple Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, who were seen enjoying pre-wedding celebrations in the city.
While the impressive guest list has garnered admiration, the wedding invitation has sparked widespread mockery online.
A leaked image of the invitation, obtained by ABC News, faced backlash on social media for its design, with users labeling it as “tacky,” “ugly,” and a “graphic design disaster.”
Bezos, one of the wealthiest individuals globally, with a net worth of $231 billion according to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, began his relationship with Sanchez, a former news anchor, and they got engaged in 2023.
Although Venice has been the site of numerous celebrity weddings, including that of George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin in 2014, as well as Indian billionaires Vinita Agarwal and Muqit Teja in 2011, none have attracted as much global attention or controversy as the upcoming nuptials of Bezos and Sanchez.
As the celebrations peak, Venice finds itself in the limelight, balancing the glamour of the event with criticism and international scrutiny.