Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez were first seen as bride and groom in the city streets of Venice, Italy, after their wedding on June 27 in a glamorous, celebrity-filled event.
The pair decided to have lunch at Harry’s Bar, a renowned local eatery, accompanied by friends Usher and Tommy Hilfiger. Page Six said the bar was shut to the public while they enjoyed their private lunch. A source said, “Harry’s doesn’t have a water taxi drop-off, so they had to be dropped off at the hotel across the street and make their way through.”
Bezos was dressed down in a brown T-shirt with sunglasses, while Lauren wore an off-the-shoulder black dress, accompanied by a cream handbag, wide hat, and dark glasses. The couple were taken to the event in a water taxi.
Owner of Harry’s Bar responds
Later that night, at 9 p.m., Harry’s Bar reopened to its normal clientele. Its proprietor, Arrigo Cipriani, said to Corriere della Sera, “Bezos is a discreet man who has come here to marry. I can’t understand any issue with that. Venice is Venice and this will do nothing.”
La boda de Jeff Bezos y Lauren Sánchez: vestido de novia inspirado en Sophia Loren, espaguetis de Nerano, pizzas gourmet y una tarta escultura https://t.co/m9abV9DHn8 pic.twitter.com/KiNhGz5eip
— La Otra Crónica (@LaOtraCronica) June 29, 2025
To ensure order, there were additional police officers than normal posted close to the bar and hotels. Stories also mentioned that Bezos and Sanchez had reserved two high-end hotels; the Aman and the Gritti Palace, privately for themselves and guests. Consequently, some guests who had made bookings at the Aman months in advance were shifted to the St. Regis Hotel, at company expense.
Protests Occur in Streets
Despite the glamour, not everyone in Venice was pleased. On Saturday, thousands of residents and demonstrators took to the streets to protest. Many were frustrated by billionaires like Bezos hosting extravagant events in Venice, even as locals struggle with soaring costs and overcrowding due to mass tourism.
While Venice has played host to high-profile celebrity weddings in the past, this one generated especially strong criticism. Demonstrators waved placards that had slogans like “Kisses yes, Bezos, no” and “No Bezos, no war.” One had “No space for Bezos,” targeting the Amazon chief’s space company, Blue Origin.
