Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sánchez arrived at Venice’s San Giorgio Island on Friday evening, where they are expected to tie the knot as part of their three-day wedding extravaganza that has attracted celebrity attendees and local protests.
Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos departs his hotel for his wedding on Venice’s San Giorgio Island Friday. (Photo by Stefano Rellandini / AFP) (Photo by STEFANO RELLANDINI/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
Key Takeaways
- Sánchez and Bezos both departed their hotel and headed for San Giorgio Island by boat separately on Friday afternoon, both flanked by security as tourists looked on.
- Sánchez departed the hotel first, wearing sunglasses, a head scarf and a cream suit designed by Dior as she waved and blew kisses to onlookers, after which Bezos left his hotel wearing a tuxedo.
- Both departed for San Giorgio Island on the MOA NYC boat, a luxury boat crafted from mahogany wood that seats eight people and is rented out by Blitz Exclusive Services, which offers luxury boats, yachts and cars for travel around Venice.
- Amid the threat of protests that have already disrupted some of the couple’s wedding plans, police officers surrounded the venue on jet skis as police and security officers guard the entrance.
Bezos rides the MOA NYC boat to the wedding venue. (Photo by Ernesto Ruscio/GC Images)
GC Images
Police and bodyguards surround the venue as Bezos arrives. (Photo by Stefano Rellandini / AFP) (Photo by STEFANO RELLANDINI/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
Sanchez wears a cream Dior suit on her way to the wedding venue. (Photo by STEFANO RELLANDINI/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
The boat transporting Sánchez is escorted to San Giorgio Maggiore on her wedding day. (Photo by Stefano Rellandini / AFP) (Photo by STEFANO RELLANDINI/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump arrive at Bezos’ wedding. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
Usher and Tom Brady leave the Gritti Palace Hotel on the way to Bezos’ wedding. (Photo by Stefano Rellandini / AFP) (Photo by STEFANO RELLANDINI/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
Kim and Khloé Kardashian leave the Gritti Palace Hotel for Bezos’ wedding. (Photo by Stefano Rellandini / AFP) (Photo by STEFANO RELLANDINI/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
Where Are Bezos And Sánchez Getting Married?
Bezos and Sánchez are exchanging their vows Friday evening on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, one of Venice’s many small islands. The island is known for its church, which boasts a tall bell tower. Matteo Bocelli, son of opera singer Andrea Bocelli, is expected to perform. The three-day celebration began Thursday evening with a party at the Madonna dell’Orto, a 14th-century cathedral, and will conclude Saturday with a wedding reception at Venice’s Arselane, an armory and shipyard that now hosts cultural festivals.
Who Is Attending The Wedding?
The couple invited dozens of A-list celebrity guests and billionaire friends, many of whom were photographed arriving in Venice this week. Fellow billionaires Bill Gates, Sam Altman, Barry Diller, Oprah Winfrey and Kim Kardashian are all in attendance. Much of the Kardashian family is in Venice for the wedding, including Khloé Kardashian, Kendall and Kylie Jenner and their mother, Kris Jenner. Celebrities in attendance include actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom and Sydney Sweeney, as well as ex-NFL player Tom Brady, singer Usher and journalist Gayle King. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are in attendance, though President Donald Trump will not be there, as the Wall Street Journal reported he declined an invitation due to scheduling conflicts.
Will Protests Disrupt The Wedding?
It’s unclear whether protests will interfere with Friday’s ceremony, but the “No Space for Bezos” protest group has a demonstration planned for Saturday. The group has advertised a march on its Instagram, beginning at the Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia train station, which is about 1.5 miles away from the Arsenale venue. The group has already held multiple protests in opposition to Bezos’ wedding, which they have criticized as an excessive display of wealth in a city already strained by overtourism. Bezos was reportedly forced to move Saturday’s event from a more central Venice location to the Arsenale after protesters threatened to block the canals.
