Wedding of the Year: Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Tie the Knot

Despite protests threatening to crash the celebrations and having to change the venue, multi-billionaire and former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez exchanged their vows on an exclusive island in Venice, Italy, on Friday, the 27th of June.

Although Venice is a holiday and wedding destination for many, many residents weren’t impressed with Bezos choosing the city to tie the knot. On the 23rd of June, protesters gathered at the St. Mark’s Campanile, demanding that the tycoon hold his wedding elsewhere, complaining that locals are barely able to afford rent due to tourists and billionaires hosting their soirées. Furthermore, people have repeatedly scrutinized and called Bezos out for the way Amazon treats its employees. However, people in the city’s sales industry have expressed enthusiasm for the lavish wedding extravaganza as it will contribute to business income, in addition to the couple’s generous donation of 3 million euros to the city.

Walking down the aisle on the San Giorgio Maggiore Island, Sanchez relished in luxury fit for a queen as she lined up 3 designer outfit changes, including her Dolce & Gabbana wedding gown. The celebrations are anticipated to span over 3 days, ending on a high note on Saturday with an upscale party with guests who are reportedly being accommodated at two 5-star hotels, the Gritti Palace and the St. Regis.

Considering that this was an elite celebration, A-list guests were expected to honour the invite with glamour. In attendance were celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, the Kardashian-Jenner clan, Usher, Bill Gates, Orlando Bloom, and many more. The wedding was nothing short of a luxurious fairytale, which is evident from the smiles plastered on the newlyweds’ faces.