According to People, the ceremony took place on 27/6 and opened with a performance of "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Italian singer Matteo Bocelli, son of the renowned blind tenor Andrea Bocelli. The song is a classic love ballad by Elvis Presley, released in 1961.

Following the ceremony, the new bride, 56-year-old Lauren Sanchez, shared the first wedding photo on Instagram. The picture shows her and Jeff Bezos smiling as they walk together at the wedding. Vogue reported that Sanchez wore a custom-designed mermaid-style wedding gown by Dolce & Gabbana, accessorized with earrings from the same fashion house.

Jeff Bezos and his wife at their wedding reception on 27/6. Photo: Instagram/ Lauren Sanchez

The couple kicked off their wedding celebrations on 26/6 with a welcome party at a private monastery near Madonna dell'Orto church. The event drew attention with its star-studded guest list, including numerous figures from the world of wealth and power.

CNN reported that the Venice City Hall issued a decree restricting pedestrian movement around the church from late afternoon until midnight. Most attendees complied with the request to refrain from social media use and limit posting related information. The party ended earlier than planned due to heavy rain.

The Amazon founder and his wife wave to the public on their way to the wedding venue. Photo: Backgrid

The Bezos' wedding festivities were scheduled to conclude on 28/6 with an event at the Arsenal of Venice, a historic complex of former shipyards and armories. The organizers initially planned to hold the reception at the over 700-year-old Scuola Vecchia della Misericordia building but changed plans due to concerns about protests.

Earlier, the AP reported that over 80% of the wedding supplies were sourced from local businesses, including the nearly 150-year-old Rosa Salva pastry shop and the Murano glassmaker Laguna B. The couple aimed to honor Venetian culture as a gesture of gratitude for the city's hospitality.

Furthermore, the couple requested that guests refrain from giving wedding gifts. Instead, donations would be made in the guests' names to local cultural, environmental, and educational organizations. The three recipients of these donations were the UNESCO Venice office, the Corila organization, and Venice International University.

The wedding has faced criticism from local activists and encountered several protests. Opponents argued that the event would disrupt Venice, further increasing the already high tourist volume without benefiting the local population. Banners reading "No Space for Bezos" have been displayed throughout the city in recent days.

Jeff Bezos, 61, is an American media magnate and investor. He initially established Amazon as an online bookstore, later expanding into various other products and e-commerce services. During his 27-year leadership, he transformed Amazon into the world's largest retail empire. He stepped down as CEO in 2021. According to Forbes, Bezos is currently the third richest person globally, with a net worth of $227.4 billion USD, behind tech giants Elon Musk and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Lauren Sanchez, 56, is an Emmy-award-winning Mexican-American news anchor known for hosting popular shows like "Good Day LA" on KTTV Fox-11. Sanchez is also an actress, owner of the film company Black Ops Aviation, and a children's book author. In April, she made headlines for her flight to the edge of space with an all-female crew, which included Katy Perry. She also has a son with her former partner, football player Tony Gonzalez.

The couple publicly announced their relationship in 2019 after Bezos announced his divorce from writer MacKenzie Scott. Around the same time, Sanchez separated from her husband of 13 years, Patrick Whitesell. They got engaged on the yacht Koru off the Amalfi Coast, Italy, in 8/2023. According to L'Officiel USA, Bezos proposed to Sanchez with a 20-carat diamond ring worth $2.5 million USD.

According to sources from Page Six, they may have legally married in the US after signing a multi-million dollar prenuptial agreement. A prominent Florida lawyer explained that Bezos and Sanchez likely completed the legal procedures in the US to avoid potential legal complications that could arise from marrying abroad. Speaking to The Times of London, a representative of Venetian authorities confirmed that the couple did not legally marry in Venice. The couple has not yet commented on the information.

Phuong Thao (via People, CNN)