As Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez prepare to tie the knot later this summer, their choice of venue is turning heads. The couple has reserved the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a majestic 14th-century Venetian landmark, for their weekend-long wedding celebrations in late June.
Tucked in the historic heart of Venice, this former confraternity hall is one of the city’s largest and most opulent Renaissance buildings. Built in 1310, the Misericordia was one of Venice’s famed “Seven Scuole Grandi," elite religious and civic institutions reserved for the city’s wealthiest and most influential citizens.
The building was later reimagined in 1532 by renowned architect Jacopo Sansovino, who blended the grandeur of a Roman basilica with the intricate elegance of Venetian design. Frescoes by Renaissance greats such as Veronese, Tintoretto, Zanchi, and Pellegrini still adorn its interiors.
While the venue's history is a fabulous background for the wedding of the year, not everyone is celebrating, as locals are seemingly not happy about the union taking place at the historic venue.
The reason behind the complaints involves the wedding requirements, tight security, restricted streets, and a no-fly zone in a city packed with summer tourists. Venice’s airspace and access routes are likely to be filled with private jets from celebrity guests.
The couple’s nuptials are expected to attract A-list guests, including Eva Longoria, Katy Perry, and members of the Kardashian family, all of whom recently attended Sanchez’s bachelorette bash in Paris.
Also expected to attend are Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr., alongside their partners, Jared Kushner and Bettina Anderson. The wedding reportedly costs a staggering $10 million.
While the couple has yet to share more information about their wedding and have preferred to plan things privately, just last year, Lauren declared that despite the lavish elements of the ceremony, she is like any other bride.
During her conversation on The Today Show, she shared that she has been seeking inspiration for her wedding dress on Pinterest. "I’m just like every other bride," she added during an interview with Vogue.