Billionaire Jeff Bezos and former journalist Lauren Sanchez celebrated their wedding ceremony on Friday with a lavish ceremony on San Giorgio Maggiore, a historic and secluded island in Venice’s San Marco district. The occasion was a part of a grand three-day celebration within the metropolis.
About 200 high-profile friends, together with the Kardashian-Jenner household, Invoice Gates, Karlie Kloss, Oprah Winfrey and Usher, have been seen boarding water taxis to the island. Nonetheless, the festivities remained hidden from the general public eye, with friends reportedly following a strict social media ban throughout the celebrations.
The ceremony ended quietly, with one notable reveal — Vogue launched a digital cowl that includes Sanchez in her wedding ceremony robe. Designed by Dolce & Gabbana, the gown took over a 12 months to make. It featured a excessive lace neckline, corseted bodice and 180 silk chiffon-covered priest buttons. In accordance with CNN, she later turned into two extra outfits: a sweetheart-neck robe impressed by the 1946 movie Gilda for the dinner, and a stunning cocktail gown by Oscar de la Renta embellished with 175,000 crystals.
San Giorgio Maggiore, identified for its beautiful marble Renaissance structure designed by Andrea Palladio, was seemingly chosen for each its magnificence and its privateness.
Native protests in opposition to the marriage reportedly led to last-minute adjustments in some venues. Demonstrators, crucial of what they see as the rich taking up town, used banners, canal blockades and even Bezos mannequins in protest, CNN reported. Regardless of this, Venice’s Ministry of Tourism estimated that the marriage alone may generate almost 68% of town’s annual tourism income in only one weekend, the report additional added.
It’s nonetheless unclear whether or not Bezos and Sanchez are legally married. A metropolis official informed CNN that Venice had obtained no official request to register the wedding, suggesting the ceremony was symbolic. Not lengthy after the Vogue photographs went reside, Sanchez modified her Instagram deal with to Lauren Sanchez Bezos.
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Sanchez arrived for the ceremony in a white Sixties-style Dior skirt swimsuit, paired with a printed silk scarf wrapped round her head in true Audrey Hepburn style, Jimmy Choo heels and a Hermès Kelly purse. She smiled and blew kisses to photographers as she stepped into her water taxi.
Company have been noticed in designer outfits all through the weekend, carrying labels like Dolce & Gabbana, Oscar de la Renta, Versace and classic Roberto Cavalli. Kylie Jenner opted for a powder blue corset robe, Kim Kardashian selected a smooth toffee-toned gown, and Oprah wore a pink mermaid-style robe.
Whereas official particulars in regards to the performers have been saved below wraps, Italian media reported that Matteo Bocelli, son of famed tenor Andrea Bocelli, opened the night time with a efficiency of “Can’t Assist Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley. Bocelli additionally sang at each Kim and Kourtney Kardashian’s weddings.
Girl Gaga is predicted to shut the celebrations on Saturday with a efficiency at Venice’s historic Arsenale — a former shipyard now used as a cultural venue for the Venice Biennale.