Bezos Wedding
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are no strangers to extravagant celebrations, and their recent pre-wedding festivities are no exception. Ahead of their highly anticipated wedding set in the romantic canals of Venice, the billionaire Amazon founder and his fiancée threw a lavish foam party aboard his $500 million mega-yacht, “Koru.” But while the couple and their guests partied in Mediterranean luxury, their splashy celebration drew mixed reactions—especially from locals and environmentalists in the famed Italian city preparing to host their nuptials.
A Billionaire Bash at Sea
On the glittering blue waters of the Mediterranean, just off the coast of Capri, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez transformed the top deck of their yacht into what resembled an exclusive Ibiza nightclub—complete with bubbles, champagne, music, and celebrity guests. A sea of foam washed over the yacht’s expansive teak deck as music from a world-renowned DJ echoed into the sea. Photos showed guests in swimsuits, sunglasses, and designer resort wear dancing under the sun and frolicking in ankle-deep foam.
Bezos, 60, was seen shirtless, laughing alongside Sánchez, 54, who wore a white bikini and a matching lace cover-up. The couple, together since 2019, appeared carefree and in love—kissing, dancing, and raising toasts with close friends, including a few Hollywood elites and tech billionaires whose identities were kept mostly under wraps.
According to sources close to the couple, the foam party was part of a week-long celebration leading up to their wedding in Venice. “They wanted to kick off the wedding festivities with something fun, youthful, and unexpected,” a guest said. “Jeff and Lauren love to throw a party, and this one was all about joy and letting loose.”
A Superyacht Like No Other
The vessel they celebrated on, Koru—named after a Māori symbol for new beginnings—is a floating mansion measuring 417 feet long, making it one of the largest sailing yachts in the world. It features three masts, multiple decks, an on-board swimming pool, a cinema, a spa, a helipad, and accommodations for dozens of guests and crew. The yacht’s support vessel, Abeona, carries additional water toys, a helicopter, and security personnel.
Bezos commissioned the yacht several years ago and reportedly took delivery in 2023. It has since become a fixture in Mediterranean luxury circles and a symbol of the Amazon founder’s new chapter—retirement from Amazon’s CEO role, a relationship with Sánchez, and a lifestyle of global jet-setting.
While Bezos’ wealth has often drawn criticism, he and Sánchez have tried to position their new lives as philanthropic and environmentally aware. Sánchez, an aviation entrepreneur and helicopter pilot, has been heavily involved in the Bezos Earth Fund. Yet, their opulent lifestyle sometimes undercuts that messaging—and Venice is now a prime example.
A Wedding in Venice—and a City Divided
The couple’s actual wedding ceremony is slated to take place in Venice within the week, reportedly at a historic Venetian palazzo accessible only by boat. Security teams have been seen sweeping the canals and locking down logistics, while luxury boats shuttle planners, stylists, florists, and caterers back and forth.
While many locals welcome the economic boost such an event brings, others are less impressed.
“The city is already suffering from overtourism, and now we have billionaires turning Venice into their personal playground,” said Gianluca D’Alessandro, a Venetian cultural activist. “This isn’t just a wedding—it’s a spectacle, and the city is paying the price.”
Environmentalists have also expressed concern, especially about large yachts like Koru in the fragile Venetian lagoon ecosystem. Although Venice recently banned large cruise ships from entering certain canals, private vessels like Bezos’ superyacht can still access key mooring points, potentially contributing to erosion and pollution.
“There’s irony in hosting a foam party and wedding extravaganza while claiming environmental leadership,” said an anonymous member of a local green advocacy group. “We’re glad they love Venice—but we wish they would show that love by protecting it, not exploiting it.”
A Love Story in the Spotlight
Despite the criticism, public fascination with Bezos and Sánchez remains high. Their relationship began under the glare of a tabloid frenzy in early 2019, when news broke of Bezos’ divorce and the couple’s romance. Since then, they have slowly emerged as one of the most high-profile power couples in the world. Sánchez has taken on a more public role, speaking at events about women in aviation and their joint philanthropic efforts, while Bezos has leaned into a more relaxed, luxurious post-CEO image—often seen wearing linen shirts, dark sunglasses, and vacationing in glamorous destinations.
Their upcoming wedding, reportedly a private affair with around 150 guests, is expected to be a blend of old-world European elegance and modern billionaire flare. Some speculate that Bezos’ children and Sánchez’s three children will all play roles in the ceremony.
The Grand Finale—or Just the Beginning?
As the wedding day draws near, Venice prepares for more glitz, more cameras, and more debate. The Bezos-Sánchez wedding is undeniably a milestone moment—not just for the couple but as a broader symbol of billionaire lifestyle culture in the 2020s.
To some, it’s aspirational: a fairy-tale love story unfolding in the most romantic city in the world, celebrated on a luxury yacht with friends and foam. To others, it’s tone-deaf excess at a time when cities like Venice face existential threats from climate change and mass tourism.
Whether celebrated or scorned, one thing is certain: Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are making a splash—figuratively and literally—as they prepare to say “I do.” And Venice, ready or not, will be part of that legacy.
