Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez said “I do” last weekend in romantic Venice. The newlyweds celebrated their union in a wedding which ran them an estimated $50 million.
Long anticipated, the wedding lived up to all its promises: couture gowns by Schiaparelli, an extravagant yacht, the City of Water as a private setting, hand-picked guests, and, of course, a musical program worthy of the greatest stages. The couple invited British singer Ellie Goulding to perform at the reception on June 27.
Ellie Goulding au mariage de Jeff Bezos et Lauren Sanchez.Ernesto S. Ruscio
The choice echoes that of Kate Middleton and Prince William, who also invited the artist to their wedding reception in 2011, hosted by King Charles III. For that occasion, the artist performed a highly personal version of “Your Song,” the classic by John, who was a close friend of Princess Diana. “Performing the first dance of the night, ‘Your Song,’ was nerve-wracking,” she told the Daily Mail in 2012. “But William and Kate were very appreciative. They are an awesome couple and told me how much they enjoyed it. My band and I stayed at the reception all night, and it’s something I’ll treasure forever.” The performance continued with “Starry Eyed” and a cover of The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside.”
Almost fourteen years later, Goulding once again chose “Your Song” to accompany the Bezos couple’s debut. Matteo Bocelli, son of Andrea Bocelli, also sang at the ceremony. A few weeks before the festivities, a British source had revealed that Lady Gaga and Elton John were invited to perform, but it didn’t materialize. A last-minute hitch, perhaps.
Le prince William, Kate Middleton et Ellie Goulding lors du Earthshot Prize 2022.Samir Hussein
A host of celebrities made the trip to Italy to attend the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bezos. Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom, the Kardashian and Jenner sisters, Leonardo DiCaprio, Usher, Bill Gates, and François-Henri Pinault were among the guests.
The pomp and circumstance of the wedding was reminiscent of that of Princess Diana and Prince Charles on July 29, 1981. “It’s going to be like a Princess Di thing,” Sánchez’s older brother, Paul, predicted to TMZ in March. “It’s going to be an amazing event. There will be lots of fun and star-studded.” He wasn’t wrong. It’s just one more thing they have in common with the royals.
