JEFF BEZOS'S WEDDING: DATES AND VIP GUESTS REVEALED FOR VENETIAN FESTIVITIES

The countdown has begun for the wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, set to be Venice's event of the year. In just one week, the American magnate and Amazon founder, alongside the U.S. journalist, will say "I do" at the Church of the Abbazia della Misericordia in Venice. The Laguna is already buzzing with activity.

For weeks, some of Venice's most luxurious hotels have been reserved for wedding guests, who include a mix of celebrities and global business figures. Museums and cultural sites will be closed to the public for private viewings, and many areas of Venice will be off-limits to ensure maximum privacy for the couple and their guests.

Three Days of Celebration

Not since George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin's wedding in 2014 has Venice been at the center of such international attention for a celebrity marriage. But unlike George and Amal, the Bezos wedding is going all out, starting with a three-day celebration from Thursday, June 26, to Saturday, June 28.

While Lauren Sanchez and the Amazon founder will tie the knot in the small Misericordia church on Saturday, the two preceding days will feature a whirlwind of events, including exclusive parties aboard Bezos's yacht, which is already docked in the Laguna, and at other top-secret locations. This high-profile event is being organized by the Italian company Lanza & Baucina, an event planning firm led by Prince Antonio Licata di Baucina and his cousins, Counts Riccardo and Aleramo Lanza.

Wedding Venues Across Venice

The entire city of Venice will be the backdrop for the wedding of the year between Bezos and Lauren Sanchez. Guests are expected to stay in five of the city's most luxurious hotels: Aman Venice, Gritti Palace, Danieli, Cipriani, and St. Regis, all overlooking the Venetian lagoon. The event's headquarters, as reported by Vanity Fair, is expected to be on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, which offers protected access for maximum privacy. The specific locations for private parties and where the couple will stay remain top secret for security reasons.

A Parade of VIP Guests Expected

What's certain is that Venice anticipates a parade of VIPs. According to American tabloids, attendees at the Bezos and Sanchez wedding will include Kim Kardashian, Leonardo DiCaprio with Vittoria Ceretti, Oprah Winfrey, Ivanka Trump, as well as Katy Perry (a close friend of the bride) and Orlando Bloom. There's also speculation that former U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania might attend.

As many American sites have already reported, guests will travel by reserved water taxis, and an impressive security cordon—comprising bodyguards and private security—will surround them.