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You know you really are in billionaire territory when a 30-carat ring doesn’t cut it: ALISON BOSHOFF on the inside story of the Bezos wedding

BBG News

A gospel group performed Steve Winwood’s “Higher Love,” the bride donned a sparkling fresh diamond ring, and the groom arrived securely via water taxi. (This version maintains the original structure but uses more conversational language for a smoother flow.)

At a unique ceremony that combined extravagance with kitsch, under tight security with a significant law enforcement presence and multiple former service personnel as personal guards, Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos married his second spouse, Lauren Sanchez.

In 1993, his first wedding took place at the Breakers Hotel in Florida’s Palm Beach, which was a quiet private ceremony initially. However, it later turned into a grand global event, often referred to as ‘the wedding of the century’. Mackenzie Scott was his bride for this extravagant spectacle.

The event occurred at the “green theater,” which is an old amphitheater refurbished within a forest on the Venetian island of San Giorgio Maggiore. This venue belongs to the Cini Foundation, who manage a museum and art galleries on a site that was once a monastery.

The forest underwent a magical metamorphosis, becoming an alluring garden adorned with lanterns, blossoms, chandeliers, and intricately arranged tables lining its winding labyrinth.

By the time celebrities, politicians, and influential business figures gathered for the event, there was no longer any doubt that the story about Bezos spending just $5 million on it was unconvincing to everyone present.

To underscore the affluence of the event, prior to the exchange of wedding rings between the bride and groom, Sanchez exchanged her own set of rings as well.

Two years ago, Bezos proposed with a stunning 30-carat pink diamond valued at $3 million. Recently, that diamond was moved to her right hand, replaced by an even larger, dazzling white diamond estimated between $8 million and $10 million in value, and weighing approximately 35 carats.

It’s evident that you stand out among the crowd when even a 30-carat diamond fails to match your splendor.

The grand upgrade of the diamond significantly contradicts previous assertions that their three-day wedding would be a modest, almost economical event limited to close friends and family.

In reality, there were more celebrities present than anyone had anticipated, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Oprah, the Kardashians, and Sydney Sweeney.

Indeed, it’s worth mentioning that, as reported by the Mail the day before, this pair secretly tied the knot about a month back in a private ceremony. Consequently, there’s been no wedding license obtained by them in Venice.

At 4:30 local time, roughly two hours before the guests arrived for the ceremony, Sanchez jumped aboard a water taxi and made his way towards San Giorgio Maggiore.

She donned a Dior cream skirt set and accessorized with an ‘Hermes Brides de Gala en Fleurs’ silk scarf on her head, as well as a black crocodile Hermes Kelly bag. She seemed cheerful, even blowing kisses to the photographers.

Nine minutes later she was being helped ashore, and disappeared from view to get ready.

She was assisted by a team of no less than five professionals: makeup artists Buster Knight and Laura Mele, hair stylist Sophie Rose, and fashion stylist Robbie Gutterman.

Samuel Horowitz, an employee at Dolce & Gabbana, assisted her in putting on her custom-made wedding gown designed by them.

The well-known designers, known for their fitted gowns, enjoy a friendly relationship with the bride. It appears she recently stopped by their Milan store around late April, possibly to get a dress tailored for her.

In a picture posted on Instagram by Sanchez, the bride displayed her breathtakingly beautiful wedding gown, adorned with delicate, flowery sleeves, a fitted torso, a high collar, a lengthy, flowing skirt that trailed behind it extensively, and fastenings running vertically.

The glamorous, figure-hugging number showcased her stunning physique.

The newly-wed bride, with her long, dark hair gathered at the back under a veil, sported bold makeup.

Her new husband, for his part, donned a chic black tuxedo.

Sanchez also posed in the exquisite wedding dress for a pre-wedding photoshoot with Vogue magazine.

As I reminisced about my chat with the publication, I couldn’t help but be transported back to Milan, Italy, where I felt nothing short of royalty during my extraordinary dress fitting.

‘It was more powerful than I thought,’ she added of the moment she put it on for the first time.

Her groom arrived two hours later, wearing a Dolce & Gabbana tux, sunglasses, and a beaming smile.

During the ceremony guests were serenaded by tenor Matteo Bocelli, son of operatic legend Andrew.

Later on, they held an elegant candlelit dinner complete with crystal chandeliers, grand arrangements of dendrobium orchids and roses, and a spectacular fireworks display. Authorities requested that the festivities wind down between 3 and 4 am.

According to local reports, the menu featured Spaghetti alla Nerano, a dish prepared by Fabrizio Mellino, the esteemed chef at Quattro Passi – a 3-star Michelin restaurant nestled in the charming coastal town of Nerano, on the Sorrento Peninsula.

This dish is a cherished family secret, originally concocted back in 1952. It calls for just three key components: hearty, artisanal spaghetti from Gragnano, tender sautéed zucchini, and finely shredded provolone cheese.

At Sal De Riso, a renowned patisserie located in Minori near Amalfi, they readied approximately a thousand servings of desserts: assorted petite pastries, desserts served in glasses, and individual portions of lemon, ricotta, and pear treats.

As an ardent admirer of culinary mastery, I had the privilege to partake in a once-in-a-lifetime experience: tasting a wedding cake crafted by none other than the illustrious Cedric Grolet, the visionary pastry chef at Le Meurice in the city of love – Paris.

During the day, freshly-single actor Orlando Bloom stealthily avoided photographers to socialize with retired American football player Tom Brady, who was previously married to supermodel Gisele Bündchen.

The two men seem to have struck up a strong bond over the days long wedding.

Last Thursday evening, Bloom was seen chivalrously assisting his long-time companion, socialite Dasha Zhukova (former spouse of Roman Abramovich), onto a water taxi. Additionally, he was noticed with his arm affectionately around Hollywood fashion stylist Jamie Mizrahi.

For quite some time, he’s been acquainted with two ladies who are both married. Nevertheless, this doesn’t seem to have hindered the whispers that Orlando Bloom might not be as devastated as one might expect following the conclusion of his nine-year relationship with pop sensation Katy Perry.

During my downtime during the Australian tour, I received a comforting message from Lauren Sanchez, who wrote on her Instagram, “Miss you, Katy.

Bezos and Sanchez have a combined total of seven children, all of whom attended their wedding. Additionally, the father of Sanchez’s son Nikko, Tony Gonzalez, along with his wife Tobie, were also present. Interestingly, Tobie Gonzalez and Sanchez are very close, as evidenced by Tobie attending Sanchez’s bachelorette party in Paris last month.

More celebrations are yet to come! Tonight, we’ll have a grand ball at the Arsenale in Venice, and afterwards, there’s a relaxed brunch gathering planned – but feel free to come dressed in your comfiest pajamas!

 

Additional reporting: Molly Clayton, Nick Pisa and Silvia Marchetti

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2025-06-28 01:51

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