Ahead of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s wedding in Venice, the couple has decided to do away with one major wedding tradition and introduce a one-of-a-kind surprise twist. Instead of accepting wedding presents, they have informed their guests that they will be contributing to local causes. This will be done in their honor as a gesture of gratitude for “making the journey” to their destination wedding.
This information was stated in the wedding invitations that were sent to guests. In the invitation, Bezos and his soon-to-be wife, Sanchez, asked guests not to bring wedding gifts but chose to donate instead to three Venetian charities on the guests’ behalf.
The invitation read, “We are excited for you to join us…” “We have one early request: please, no gifts.”
“Donations on your behalf are being made to the UNESCO Venice Office to safeguard this city’s irreplaceable cultural heritage.” The invite continued, “to CORILA to restore the vital lagoon habitats that protect Venice’s future, and to Venice International University to support research and education for sustainable solutions.”
They also added that the goal of their request was to ensure the city “will continue to inspire wonder for generations to come.”
Why Is Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s Wedding Gift Making Headlines?
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s surprise wedding gift has indeed been making headlines because the soon-to-be-married couple made a bold request. They asked their guests for ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. No gifts. The star-studded wedding is being planned and directed by Lanza and Baucina, the very same planners who orchestrated the Clooneys’ Venetian union.
According to Reuters, the Bezos-Sanchez Venetian wedding is expected to cost about 40-48 million euros ($46.5-55.6 million). And the city of Venice is expected to profit about “€20-30 million ($23.4-35.1 million) for the parties and organizations and the events” during the week, says the Venice tourism councillor, Simone Venturini.
The billionaire Amazon founder and the former journalist dated for five years and got engaged in 2023. They were both married previously to other people.
Bezos, 61, was previously married to his ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott, for 25 years, after which they divorced in January 2019. The former couple have four children together. While Sánchez, 55, was previously married to talent agent and businessman Patrick Whitesell for 14 years. She and her ex-husband, Whitesell, filed for divorce in April 2019. They share two children.
Sánchez is also the mother of popular model Nikko Gonzalez, her eldest son from a previous relationship with former NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez.
ALSO READ: Everything You Need to Know About Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s Wedding
When Is Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s Wedding Happening?
Apart from Jeff Bezos’s wedding surprise, as stated in the invitations, the nuptials are scheduled to take place in Venice on the last weekend of June 2025. However, the exact dates of the ceremony have not been made public yet, and specific venues aren’t public knowledge either.
But the couple will say “I do” in Teatro Verde on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in the capital of the Veneto region. A source revealed that the black-tie ceremony will be spread over several days, starting with a welcome night. The three-day affair is expected to bring together 200 guests to celebrate the couple’s marriage after a two-year engagement.
ALSO READ: Becoming Mrs. Bezos: Lauren Sánchez Can’t Wait to Lose Her Surname
Who Is Invited to Bezos’ Wedding?
It is no surprise that Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez will have prominent individuals at their wedding. Among the A-list guests are Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Gayle King, Barry Diller, Orlando Bloom, fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger, President Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Diane von Fürstenberg, Tom Brady, Vittoria Ceretti, Leonardo DiCaprio, and many others. Some of them were photographed on Thursday, June 26, 2025, upon their arrival in Venice to celebrate the soon-to-be-married couple.
The Kardashian-Jenner family was also pictured arriving in large numbers. With Kim, Khloé, Kendall, Kylie, and Kris all spotted riding in welcome taxis to a welcome event. After the wedding, guests are expected to enjoy a relaxed Saturday evening dinner on June 28.
According to a source, this was originally scheduled to happen at Scuola Vecchia della Misericordia. However, it was later relocated to the Arsenal of Venice, a historic site that once housed former shipyards and armories.
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