Jeff Bezos, the billionaire founder of Amazon, has chosen Venice as the destination for his wedding to journalist Lauren Sanchez, reportedly influenced by renowned fashion designer Domenico Dolce of Dolce & Gabbana. According to local officials, Dolce played a pivotal role in convincing Bezos to select the historic lagoon city for the high-profile event.
The lavish wedding, scheduled from June 24 to 26, is set to be a grand affair, with at least four of Venice’s luxury hotels and an entire fleet of water taxis booked to accommodate around 250 distinguished guests. Among the invitees are philanthropist Bill Gates, pop singer Katy Perry, and Queen Rania of Jordan.
Morris Ceron, director general of the Venice council, revealed that he had been informed about Bezos’s wedding plans seven months ago by Domenico Dolce. “Dolce surely knew how to convey his own love for the city,” Ceron told The Times, highlighting the designer’s influence in sealing Venice as the wedding location. The city’s mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, confirmed that Venice had competed with other destinations before securing the event.
Bezos and Sanchez have selected three venues in Venice for their wedding festivities, taking advantage of a recent decree allowing marriages to be held in historic buildings. However, speculation remains that the couple may ultimately exchange vows aboard Bezos’s $500 million superyacht, Koru, where they celebrated their engagement in 2023 off the Amalfi Coast.
A Venice official noted that the city’s wedding regulations might require adjustments should the couple opt for a yacht ceremony. “If it moors in the lagoon, that explains why they booked every water taxi in the city, since they will need them to get guests out to the yacht,” the official stated.
Another rumored wedding location is the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, known for its exclusivity and stunning views of St. Mark’s Square. However, representatives from the Giorgio Cini cultural foundation, which manages the site, have emphasized their policy of hosting only cultural events rather than weddings.
Venice has become a sought-after wedding destination for the world’s elite, with Hollywood star George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin setting the trend in 2014. Bezos’s nuptials are being managed by the highly discreet London-based event planners Lanza & Baucina, renowned for their privacy policies and strict non-disclosure agreements.
