Inside Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s massive marriage ceremony day

CNN
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It’s been each probably the most public and secretive marriage ceremony of the yr.

On Friday, the primary occasion of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s three-day-long Venetian extravaganza culminated in a non-public ceremony held on the secluded, historic San Giorgio Maggiore island within the San Marco sestiere. Within the afternoon, the some 200 members of the movie star visitor checklist, together with the Kardashian-Jenner household, Invoice Gates, Karlie Kloss, Oprah Winfrey and Usher have been all photographed stepping onto water taxis to ferry them to the festivities, however their visibility ended there, with company seemingly adhering to an obvious social media blackout as soon as inside every of the weekend’s occasions.

The ceremony ended discreetly, apart from a sign from the style world — a Vogue digital cowl providing a primary have a look at Sanchez’s robe. After a lot hypothesis (and not-so-subtle sightings of designer Domenico Dolce in Venice), it revealed her gown was a customized design by Dolce & Gabbana and was a yr and a half within the making. The high-necked lace corseted robe had 180 silk chiffon-covered priest buttons dotting the entrance. Over the course of the night time, per Vogue, she had two extra outfit adjustments: a sweetheart-neck gown — one other reference, this time to the 1946 movie “Gilda” — for the marriage dinner, and an intricate cocktail gown that includes 175,000 crystals by Oscar de la Renta.

San Giorgio Maggiore is understood for its gleaming marble Renaissance-era basilicas, designed by the Italian architect Andrea Palladio. However there could have been one other, extra pragmatic motive the couple opted for the island: privateness.

After ongoing protests within the metropolis — together with the specter of canal blockades, guerilla-style banners and uncanny Bezos mannequins — allegedly pressured Sanchez and Bezos to alter one of many weekend’s places on the final minute, the safety and inaccessibility of the island was reportedly a key issue of their choice. Venice’s Ministry of Tourism has estimated the celebrations will generate virtually 68% of the town’s annual tourism turnover in only one weekend — however protestors have rallied in opposition to what they understand to be a takeover of the idyllic Italian archipelago metropolis by among the world’s wealthiest folks.

Throughout the ceremony, the Amazon-founder billionaire and the previous journalist doubtless exchanged rings symbolically. It stays unclear when the couple legally wed (or in the event that they have already got, previous to this week, within the US). A spokesperson for the mayor’s workplace in Venice had informed CNN on Thursday that the town didn’t obtain an official request from the couple, that means the occasions this week are ceremonial and won’t be legally binding.

Shortly after the Vogue photographs have been launched, Sanchez modified her Instagram account deal with to Lauren Sanchez Bezos.

Earlier than the celebration, Sanchez herself made her method to San Giorgio Maggiore wearing a ‘60s-inspired tailor-made white skirt go well with from Dior with a printed silk scarf wrapped Hepburn-style round her head, Jimmy Choo heels and an Hermès Kelly purse. She blew kisses to photographers as she stepped right into a water taxi.

Visitors have mingled all weekend sporting an array of luxurious designers, together with classic Roberto Cavalli, Dolce & Gabbana, Oscar de la Renta and Versace. On the best way to San Giorgio Maggiore, Kylie Jenner wore a powder blue lengthy lace-up corset robe, Kim Kardashian selected a slick darkish toffee-colored gown and Oprah opted for a draped pink mermaid silhouette.

Although particulars of the marriage performers, like a lot else, have been largely saved underneath wraps, Italian media reported that Matteo Bocelli — son of Andrea Bocelli, the revered Italian tenor who carried out at each Kim and Kourtney Kardashian’s weddings in 2014 and 2022, respectively — started the night by singing “Can’t Assist Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley.

And if Bocelli made company misty-eyed, then Woman Gaga — reportedly set to shut out the ultimate day of festivities on Saturday — will little question convey the social gathering. The pop mega-star is anticipated to carry out at Venice’s former medieval shipyard, the Arsenale — which has been modernized with cultural areas and hosts the annual Venice Biennale.

This story will likely be up to date.