Jeff Bezos chooses Turkish-owned hotel for Venice wedding

Jeff Bezos, the world’s second-richest man, with a net worth of $217 billion, is set to marry Lauren Sanchez in Venice this June.

The three-day event, scheduled between June 24 and 26, will host around 200 guests and take place on Bezos’ $500 million superyacht, Koru, anchored in the Venetian lagoon.

Bezos has booked several of Venice’s most exclusive hotels to host his guests. Among them is the San Clemente Palace, a luxury hotel owned by Turkish businessman Emir Uyar. According to reports, Bezos has reserved the entire hotel from June 26 to 29. Nightly room rates at the San Clemente Palace start at $3,200.

The wedding is also expected to involve the Gritti Palace and Aman Venice, along with nearly all of the city’s private water taxis, which have already been reserved.

Venice’s mayor confirmed the city is aware of the wedding but said the event would not disrupt daily life. The ceremony will be held in the lagoon area, away from the historic city center.

Despite the scale of the event, Bezos’ superyacht will not be allowed near the Grand Canal because of local regulations.

The 3,493-gross-ton vessel is well below the 25,000-ton limit for entering the lagoon but remains too large to approach the city’s most scenic waterways.

City officials stated the couple would need to apply for a marriage license well in advance if they plan to officially wed in Italian waters. Some reports suggest the legal ceremony may take place beforehand.

The guest list includes many well-known names. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Kim Kardashian, Eva Longoria, Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom, and Katy Perry are all expected to attend.

Bezos proposed in 2023 with a 30-carat diamond ring. He hosted an engagement party off the Amalfi Coast on Koru, attended by Bill Gates, Leonardo DiCaprio, Queen Rania of Jordan, and others.

Sanchez, a journalist and pilot, will also lead a Blue Origin space mission with five other women, including Katy Perry, on March 31, 2025.

While some venues declined to comment, Venice’s hotels and transport services are already seeing the impact of the upcoming celebration.

The San Clemente Palace’s involvement adds a Turkish touch to what is shaping up to be one of the most high-profile weddings of the year.