The gospel choir sang Steve Winwood’s Higher Love, the bride wore a brand new diamond ring and the groom was safely delivered by water taxi.

Jeff Bezos exchanged vows with his second wife, Lauren Sanchez in an event that was both highly exclusive and slightly tacky. The occasion was heavily guarded with a significant police presence and numerous private ex-services bodyguards.

Unlike his first marriage to Mackenzie Scott, which was a low-key event at the Breakers Hotel in Florida’s Palm Beach in 1993, this ceremonial union was a grand spectacle, dubbed as ‘the wedding of the century’.

The wedding ceremony took place in the ‘green theatre’, a refurbished amphitheatre in a forest on the Venetian island of San Giorgio Maggiore. The venue is home to a museum and art galleries operated by the Cini Foundation, set on the grounds of a former monastery.

The forest was transformed into an enchanted garden, with lanterns, flowers, chandeliers, and tables laid out alongside the maze.

And by the time the celebrities, politicians and business titans had arrived for the spectacle, one thing was sure: nobody bought the rumour that Bezos was getting out of this spending a measly $5 million any more.

Indeed, to emphasise the billionaire-ness of it all, before the exchange of rings between bride and groom Sanchez had done another exchange of rings of her own.

The 30-carat $3 million pink diamond, presented by Bezos when he asked her to marry him two years ago, had been switched to her right hand… and in its place a yet larger, brilliant-white diamond, estimated at 35 carats and worth $8-$10 million

The former journalist and bride-to-be, 55, is photographed walking along a bridge in the island of San Giorgio Maggiore wearing a stunning white headscarf

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos waves to the crowd as he leaves his hotel in Venice, Italy, 27 June 2025

Her 30-carat $3 million pink diamond, presented by Bezos when he asked her to marry him two years ago, had been switched to her right hand… and in its place a yet larger, brilliant-white diamond, estimated at 35 carats and worth $8-$10 million.

You know that you are moving with the 0.001 per cent when a 30-carat diamond isn’t quite up to the occasion.

The socking great diamond upgrade rather gives lie to earlier claims that their three-day wedding is a simple – virtually low-budget – affair for close friends and family only.

In fact there were more celebrities than anyone had predicted, from Leonardo DiCaprio and Oprah to the Kardashians and Sydney Sweeney. 

And of course, as revealed by the Mail yesterday, the couple actually got legally married quietly over a month ago, which is why no wedding licence has been taken out by them in Venice.

Promptly at 4.30pm local time, around two hours before her guests started to arrive for the ceremony, Sanchez hopped into a water taxi and headed for San Giorgio Maggiore.

She wore a Dior cream skirt suit, a silk ‘Brides de Gala en Fleurs’ Hermes headscarf and carried a Hermes Kelly bag in black crocodile – and appeared in high spirits, blowing kisses to photographers.

Nine minutes later she was being helped ashore, and disappeared from view to get ready.

According to stylist Lisa Talbot, Lauren – who jetted off to Venice to marry her fiancé of two years Jeff Bezos – was ‘radiating timeless elegance’ with her look

It is a look synonymous with the likes of sophisticated vintage film stars such as Audrey Hepburn, Sophie Loren and Jackie O

Lauren put her best fashion foot forward as she completed her chic ensemble with printed headscarf, elegantly wrapped around her chocolate caramel tresses and a pair of classic black Celine sunglasses, along with a black croc-print handbag

Lauren Sanchez blows a kiss to photographers as she revealed her second bridal look of the event 

She was attended by a glam squad of at least five: make-up artists Buster Knight and Laura Mele, hair stylist Sophie Rose and stylist Robbie Gutterman. 

Samuel Horowitz, who works for Dolce & Gabbana, was on hand to help her into her wedding dress which was created by the pair.

The designers, famous for their corseted dresses, are friends of the bride. She was seen visiting their shop in Milan in late April, apparently for a fitting. 

In a photo uploaded to Instagram by Sanchez, the bride showed off her stunning wedding dress, which contained lacy, floral sleeves, a tight bodice, high neckline, long flowing skirt with an enormous train, and buttons down the front.

The glamorous, figure-hugging number showcased her stunning physique.

The blushing new bride’s long brown tresses were pulled back behind a vail and she wore striking makeup.

Her new husband, for his part, donned a chic black tuxedo.

Sanchez also posed in the exquisite wedding dress for a pre-wedding photoshoot with Vogue magazine.

Lauren Sanchez stunned in a lacy turtleneck white Dolce & Gabbana gown as she married Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in Venice, Italy 

The dress contained lacy, floral sleeves, a tight bodice, high neckline, long flowing skirt with enormous train, and buttons down the front

British singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding reacts as she attends the wedding in Venice on Friday

Model Karlie Kloss showed off her shoulders in a clavicle-baring black gown with a choker

US businessman Jared Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump leave the St Regis Hotel on the wedding day of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos with Lauren Sanchez, in Venice on June 27, 2025

Miguel Bezos, the adoptive father of Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos leaves the Aman Hotel on his wedding day of Jeff Bezos with Lauren Sanchez

US fashion designer Sarah Staudinger and US talent agent Ari Emanuel leave the Gritti Palace Hotel on the wedding day of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos with Lauren Sanchez, in Venice on June 27, 2025

Bill Gates arrives at the Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Wedding on June 27, 2025 in Venice, Italy

While chatting with the publication, she recalled feeling like a ‘princess’ during her dress fitting, which took place in Milan, Italy.

‘It was more powerful than I thought,’ she added of the moment she put it on for the first time.

Her groom arrived two hours later, wearing a Dolce & Gabbana tux, sunglasses, and a beaming smile.

During the ceremony guests were serenaded by tenor Matteo Bocelli, son of operatic legend Andrew.

Afterwards, there was a dinner by candlelight and chandelier, with huge displays of dendrobium orchids and roses, followed by fireworks. Police were advised that the party was due to break up between 3am and 4am.

Local sources say the menu included Spaghetti alla Nerano prepared by Fabrizio Mellino, the chef at Quattro Passi, the 3-star Michelin restaurant located in the picturesque fishing village of Nerano, on the Sorrento Peninsula. 

It’s a family recipe, first created in 1952 and there are three basic ingredients: thick Gragnano handmade spaghetti, fried zucchini and grated provolone cheese.

To follow, a top pastry boutique in Minori near Amalfi called Sal De Riso, prepared ‘a thousand portions of desserts’: mignon pastries, sweets by the glass and single portions of lemon and ricotta and pear delights.

Bezos and Sanchez have seven children between them, and all attended the wedding, as did the father of her son Nikko (pictured), Tony Gonzalez, and his wife Tobie

There were more celebrities than anyone had predicted, from Leonardo DiCaprio (pictured) and Oprah to the Kardashians and Sydney Sweeney

Kylie Jenner leaves a hotel ahead of the anticipated wedding celebrations of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, in Venice, Italy, Friday, June 27, 2025

Kris Jenner was all smiles as she boarded a taxi boat to take her and her family to the wedding ceremony

Kim Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian sighting ahead of the Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez wedding on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore on June 27, 2025 in Venice

Kim Kardashian blows a kiss to locals as she travels to the wedding ceremony

The Kardashian sisters were spotted at the airport early on Saturday morning and were some of the first wedding guests to depart the city

Fashion designer Domenico Dolce travels on a boat, on the second day of the wedding festivities of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez

Kering CEO François-Henri Pinault gets on a boat at Venice Marco Polo airport ahead of Jeff Bezos’ wedding on June 27, 2025

Jordan’s Queen Rania Al Abdullah leaves the St. Regis hotel, on the second day of the wedding festivities of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez, in Venice, Italy, June 27, 2025

There was a wedding cake, of course, baked by the renowned chef Cedric Grolet, the executive pastry chef at Le Meurice in Paris.

During the day, newly single actor Orlando Bloom ducked away from the paparazzi to hang out with former American football star Tom Brady, who is the ex husband of Gisele Bundchen.

The two men seem to have struck up a strong bond over the days long wedding.

On Thursday night Bloom gallantly helped his old friend, socialite Dasha Zhukova (once married to Roman Abramovich) into a water taxi, and was spotted with his arm around Hollywood stylist Jamie Mizrahi.

He has known both women for years, and both are married, but that hasn’t stopped speculation Bloom is perhaps not all that broken-hearted over the end of his nine-year romance with pop’s Katy Perry.

Perry, who is on a break during the Australian leg of her tour, was sent a consoling message by Lauren Sanchez who posted: ‘We miss you Katy’ on her Instagram.

Bezos and Sanchez have seven children between them, and all attended the wedding, as did the father of her son Nikko, Tony Gonzalez, and his wife Tobie. Tobie Gonzalez and Sanchez are so close that she came to her hen party in Paris last month.

And that’s not the end of the festivities – there will be a gala party at the Arsenale in Venice tonight, followed by a smaller post-event brunch pyjama party.

Additional reporting: Molly Clayton, Nick Pisa and Silvia Marchetti