Donald Trump Won't Attend Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding – Here's Why

The Blue Origin CEO's team has reportedly stayed silent on the finer points of the highly awaited gathering, which is said to feature a celebrity-filled guest list.

Billionaire Jeff Bezos and his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, are preparing to tie the knot in the Italian city of Venice. The wedding of the Amazon founder and the former news anchor is set to span three days, with events taking place across various locations in the historic city.

As the couple begins their wedding weekend, plans remain mostly under wraps. Though Bezos' team has not confirmed any locations, Italian outlets and locals in Venice have shared possible details about the ongoing celebrations.

Festivities reportedly began on Thursday, June 26, with a reception at the Cloister of the Madonna dell'Orto — a 14th-century brick cloister beside a church of the same name. This sacred site, one of Venice's most treasured, also holds the tomb of Renaissance artist Tintoretto.

Among those invited to the celebration was Donald Trump, according to White House officials. Although the president reportedly had two conversations with Bezos earlier this month, sources confirmed he is not expected to attend the ceremony due to scheduling conflicts.

Despite his absence, both Bezos and Sánchez previously showed their support by attending Trump’s inauguration at the U.S. Capitol's Rotunda on January 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. As the weekend unfolds, attention now turns to the main events.

On Friday, the wedding is expected to be held on San Giorgio island, known for its Palladian architecture, scenic gardens, and the Giorgio Cini Foundation. Saturday's reception will likely be at the Arsenale, a historic naval site now used for cultural events and still guarded by the Italian Navy.

Organizing a large event in Venice comes with logistical challenges due to the city's canal-based layout. Jack Ezon, CEO of the travel firm Embark Beyond, noted that transporting items like flowers and guests by boat makes Venice one of the more complex cities for such occasions. He further explained:

"It's a very tight-knit community; everyone there knows everyone, and you need to work with the right people. There's very tight control, especially on movement there with boats."

Aside from the logistical difficulties, hosting an event in Venice also comes with a much higher price. According to Ezon, costs can be three times more than holding the same event in cities like Rome or Florence.

Veneto Governor Luca Zaia shared an estimate, saying the most recent figure he saw for the Bezos and Sánchez celebration ranged from 40 million to 48 million euros — around $56 million.

While the event carries a high cost, concerns over its impact on Venice have also come up as reports suggested Bezos and Sánchez might use busy tourist spots for their wedding.

In response, event planner Lanza & Baucina released a rare statement saying these claims were not true. Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro also addressed the matter, saying the couple would be respectful during their stay.

"The many speculations and fake news circulating about Jeff Bezos' wedding are completely unfounded," he said, noting that only 200 guests were expected and the city would not be disturbed.

"We are mutually working and supporting the organizers, to ensure that the event will be absolutely respectful of the fragility and uniqueness of the city," Brugnaro added.

As plans remained under careful watch, the first day of the celebration drew plenty of attention on the water. On Thursday, a line of water taxis carried Bezos, Sánchez, and their guests across the lagoon to the Madonna dell'Orto cloister.

Onlookers waved as paparazzi trailed behind in boats, aiming their cameras at celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Tom Brady, Orlando Bloom, and Ivanka Trump.

Soon after arriving, one guest gave a glimpse into the day's mood. Ivanka posted photos on Instagram showing herself and her husband in Venice. Her caption read, "Ready to celebrate the love story of our friends, @laurenwsanchez and @jeffbezos 🎻🌸."

Bezos and Sánchez's wedding in Venice drew attention for its grand setting, high-profile guests, and careful planning. Despite the secrecy, reports offered glimpses into the event, which aimed to honor the city's unique character while hosting a global celebration. As previously reported, there is one rule that guests need to follow while attending the high-profile ceremony.

Wedding preparations for Bezos and Sanchez are well underway in Venice, Italy, and the couple has implemented one strict rule for their high-profile guests: no phones allowed.

According to TMZ, guests must surrender their devices before being transported to the ultra-secret island location where the celebration is set to continue. The exact destination remains a mystery.

Attendees were only informed to arrive at a specific dock by 7:30 p.m. local time, where ferry boats would take them to the party venue. Beyond that, only Bezos and Sanchez know the full details.

The emphasis on privacy underscores the event’s exclusivity and the couple’s desire to keep the proceedings out of public view. Before the journey to the undisclosed island, the festivities began with a formal rehearsal dinner.

Many of the guests, some of whom were seen relaxing at Venice’s luxury Hotel Cipriani, also spent Thursday enjoying the city’s upscale restaurants and lounging poolside. These pre-wedding activities were all part of the lead-up to the main event.

The guest list is estimated at around 200 people, with the couple reportedly spending no less than $50,000 per guest. That brings the wedding’s estimated cost to at least $10 million. In addition to the dinner and island celebration, themed events are also on the itinerary, including a pajama party and a "Great Gatsby"-inspired gathering.

Confirmed celebrity attendees already seen in Venice include Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Orlando Bloom, Scooter Braun, Tom Brady, Oprah, and Gayle King.

The events surrounding the long-awaited wedding have been capturing attention for months, from leaked invitations to viral moments caught on camera. Days before the latest round of festivities began, one such moment sparked commentary about the couple.

A few days ago, Bezos and Sanchez were spotted stepping out of their luxury hotel in Venice. They were filmed walking toward a water taxi, reportedly en route to one of several events leading up to their wedding celebration, which cost more than $50 million.

In the clip, Bezos is seen exiting the hotel swiftly and taking a moment to wave to reporters. Sanchez follows shortly after in a striped dress, also waving as she steps toward the boat.

After getting on the water taxi, Bezos turns around and extends a hand to help his fiancée in before they both disappear into the cabin. Though the occasion was grand, the dynamic between them seemed to spark more chatter than their surroundings.

"The way he ditched her and walked away," one person observed bluntly. Another viewer remarked, "He didn’t even help her down," while others pointed out that Sanchez appeared to struggle with the steps unaided. "He couldn’t help her down the steps? She seems to be struggling," one comment read.

The critique didn't stop there. Some commenters suggested the Amazon founder's body language lacked warmth or attentiveness. One person noted, "Something is off in his behavior around her," while another wrote, "He acts like he doesn't even like her."

Even minor gestures — or the absence of them — did not go unnoticed. "Wow he doesn’t hold his arm out for his fiancée ugh not a gentleman," read one reaction. A different viewer echoed a similar thought: "He almost forgot to help her get in the boat, first fight on wedding night…"

A few commenters tried to interpret his demeanor. "He waves to people like he’s some kinda KING!!" someone quipped, while another sarcastically pointed out, "All that money and the little things still bug me."