Fresh from her brief and much ridiculed trip to space, former reporter Lauren Sánchez is preparing to marry Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos, in what will no doubt be an extravagant affair in Venice this week (actual date unconfirmed but the event is spanning a few days).
Despite not having happened yet, the wedding has sparked protests in the Italian city from disgruntled residents who are calling on Bezos' company to pay its fair share of tax. Earlier this year, Italian prosecutors launched an investigation into Amazon over an alleged unpaid €1.2bn (just over £1bn) tax evasion case.
Amazon declined to comment on "ongoing investigations" and is contesting the claim. Last year, the company paid corporation tax in the UK for the first time in four years.
Protest group, No Space for Bezos, told press, "He is basically going to treat the whole city as a private ballroom, as a private event area, as if the citizens are not there."
In response, the wedding planning company behind the event, Lanza and Baucina, who also planned George and Amal Clooney's big day, issued a statement to media disputing the accusations, saying, "From the outset, instructions from our client and our own guiding principles were abundantly clear: the minimising of any disruption to the city."
The wedding itself is predicted to cost $10m (£7.3m) and unsurprisingly, the guest list is set to be full of notable names, protests or otherwise, with attendee predictions ranging from Orlando Bloom (which has allegedly upset his wife, Katy Perry, who joined Sánchez on the 'self-indulgent' space trip but who apparently can't make the big day) to members of the Kardashian family and possibly even President Donald Trump.
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Here's what we know about the Bezoz-Sánchez guest list so far.
Kim Kardashian
It's predicted that Kim and possibly her mother, Kris Jenner, will attend the wedding in Venice, after the pair were both seen celebrating with Sánchez at her bachelorette party in Paris. Famously, the Kardashians love an Italian wedding too (see: Kourtney and Travis getting hitched in Portofino in 2022) so this would check out.
Kardashian, Jenner and fellow sibling/daughter Khloe Kardashian, along with North West and Penelope Disick, were pictured together at a Beyoncé concert earlier this year too, so maybe the kids and Koko will also join in the fun.
Eva Longoria
Another attendee of Sánchez's lavish hen party and friend of 20-plus years, it's fair to say the Desperate Housewives star is likely to make an appearance on the main day.
Sánchez and Longoria were spotted at a Cannes event together in May and Longoria once told the Hollywood Reporter (during a joint interview with Sánchez), "[We] constantly have these conversations that inspire each other. Instead of sending each other memes, we send [reports] about the Latin community not being represented in TV and movies and the media."
Orlando Bloom (but not Katy Perry?)
It's reported that Perry can't make the wedding but her partner, Orlando Bloom, is gearing up to attend, despite having reportedly not approved of the Blue Origin space trip led by Sánchez, with Perry on board as 'crew'. Neither have commented on these stories though, so perhaps they'll both turn up. Drama? What drama!
Donald Trump
Luca Zaia, President of Veneto (an area of Italy that includes Venice), hinted the President of the United States could even attend the wedding, when defending the couple from accusations that their event is disrespecting the local community.
"This is a city that handles 150,000 people a day. George Clooney, François-Henri Pinault and Salma Hayek, Alexandre Arnault, Elton John and many others got married here," he shared. "Of course, Donald Trump [who will be in Europe for the NATO summit] could also come to this wedding."
Given Bezos and Sánchez were both front and centre at Trump's inauguration ceremony earlier this year, it's not a totally far-fetched suggestion (but equally Trump is very much in the thick of the worrisome Iran-Israel conflict right now).
Mick Jagger
The Rolling Stones legend is reportedly attending, as per the Associated Press. Bezos and Sánchez were spotted chatting to Jagger and his ballet dancer and author partner, Melanie Hamrick, at the Vanity Fair Oscar party.
Diane Von Fürstenberg
The famed fashion designer was spotted arriving in Venice today via the Venice Marco Polo airport. Could this be a hint at who the bride will be wearing?
Sophie Williams is a Freelance Journalist and Copywriter, covering everything from Fashion to Entertainment to music, Lifestyle and Features. She has interviewed a range of musical artists and authors including Alyssa Edwards, Courtney Barnett, Confidence Man, The Vaccines, Loyle Carner, Gabrielle, and John Niven, and has written for publications like Metro, Reader's Digest, ITV's Woo! and Vice’s NBGA. She is also working on a book for HarperCollins about Taylor Swift, due to be published in 2024.
