First Images: Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez arrive in Venice ahead of their wedding weekend

Venice has become the ultimate celebrity hotspot this week as Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez kick off their highly anticipated wedding festivities. After a year-long engagement, the Amazon founder and his fiancée are celebrating their nuptials with a lavish three-day affair in one of the most romantic cities on Earth.

The couple’s grand arrival

The moment everyone’s been waiting for finally happened Wednesday afternoon when Bezos and Sánchez were spotted arriving in by Helicopter.  

© Backgrid UK/The Grosby Group

Then the couple took private water taxi (Vaporetto) at one of the opulent wedding venues. Their first stop? The iconic Aman Venice hotel, a seven-star property with sweeping views of the Grand Canal, is famously the same place where George and Amal Clooney tied the knot.

© MARCO BERTORELLO

© Ernesto Ruscio

A star-studded guest list

Venice is already buzzing with A-list arrivals. Corey Gamble, longtime partner of Kris Jenner, has touched down, and sources say Victoria Beckham is expected to make an appearance. Mega-yachts have anchored just offshore, reportedly hosting guests like Leonardo DiCaprio, Lady Gaga, Oprah Winfrey, Mick Jagger, Kim Kardashian, Ivanka Trump, Eva Longoria, and even Queen Rania of Jordan.

© Luigi Iorio

To accommodate the VIP crowd, five of the city’s most luxurious hotels, Aman Venice, Cipriani, Danieli, Gritti Palace, and St. Regis, are fully booked. Room rates exceed $2,500 per night.

© Luigi Iorio

Secret Venues, surprise performances

While the full itinerary remains tightly under wraps, festivities are expected to take place across several historic Venetian landmarks, including the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, Fondazione Cini, and the Teatro Verde. The wedding ceremony is rumored to be scheduled for Friday, June 27, on the ultra-private San Giorgio Maggiore island, chosen for its security and prestige.

© Backgrid UK/The Grosby Group

Adding to the buzz, there’s speculation about a surprise performance by none other than Lady Gaga and Elton John, though insiders say nothing’s confirmed. One musical appearance we do expect? Matteo Bocelli, son of famed tenor Andrea Bocelli. A fireworks show over Piazza San Marco will cap off the night in spectacular fashion.

Glamour meets controversy

While this may be one of the most extravagant celebrity weddings in recent memory—reportedly costing up to $20 million, it hasn’t come without backlash. Local protest groups like No Space For Bezos have voiced opposition, criticizing what they see as the commodification of Venice for the global elite. Security has been intensified with ex-U.S. Marines on duty, especially given global political tensions involving the U.S. and Iran.

© ANDREA PATTARO

Couture overload: Lauren Sánchez’s 27 wedding looks?

In a true show of fashion power, Sánchez is rumored to be planning up to 27 outfit changes throughout the wedding weekend, featuring custom pieces by Oscar de la Renta, Dolce & Gabbana, and Galia Lahav. If true, it could mark a new milestone in celebrity bridal fashion.

© MARCO BERTORELLO

Culinary delights and philanthropy

The celebration will also spotlight local flavors, with famed bakery Rosa Salva Venetia preparing traditional Venetian pastries like tiramisù, cream-filled puff pastries, and frittelle. Instead of gifts, guests have reportedly been asked to make donations to social and environmental causes, a move that aligns with the couple’s philanthropic interests.

© Ernesto Ruscio

Venice is ready

 From June 24–29, access to San Giorgio Maggiore is restricted. Nearly 30 water taxis and a fleet of gondolas are reserved for the event, with private boats ferrying guests between hotels, venues, and Bezos’s $500 million yacht, “Koru”, which could double as an after-party location, or possibly even the wedding stage itself.

© MARCO SABADIN

With the entire city buzzing and privacy measures at their max, one thing is clear: Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are pulling off one of the most headline-grabbing weddings in recent memory, a perfect blend of opulence, intrigue, and unapologetic star power.