Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez have already been legally married for over a month in the United States, according to multiple sources, even as the couple hosts a multi-day, star-studded celebration in Venice that many assumed was their official wedding. The ceremony scheduled in Italy this week holds no legal weight under Italian law, according to city officials and insiders familiar with the planning.
"They have been married for at least a month, more than a month. The marriage is fully legal and took place in America under American law," a source close to the couple told the Daily Mail. "Whatever happens at the wedding on Friday, it will not be a wedding," the source said. "Under Italian law, it will not be a wedding celebration, any vows said or rings exchanged will have no legal meaning."
A city official in Venice confirmed to The Times of London that no civil ceremony had been registered or authorized in the city. "I can totally rule out that they will have a civil ceremony in Venice under Italian law," the official stated.
The couple's decision to marry privately in the U.S. is believed to be partly due to legal simplicity and prenuptial protections. A Florida-based attorney cited by Page Six explained, "Often, a marriage in [a] foreign country is not valid in the USA, or creates other issues, so yes, it is likely they are already married."
Multiple reports indicate that Bezos and Sanchez executed a prenuptial agreement before their American marriage, a move expected after Bezos' high-profile 2019 divorce from MacKenzie Scott, which cost him tens of billions in Amazon stock. The prenup, reportedly already signed, is designed to be enforceable regardless of where the couple held their ceremony.
"They can get married anywhere as their prenup would generally be drafted to include its enforceability everywhere," a legal source told Page Six. Jurisdiction for any potential future divorce, however, would depend on the couple's primary residence. "If they live in Florida, no matter where they marry or what the prenup says, they would have to divorce in Florida," the Florida attorney explained.
Despite the lack of legal substance, the celebrations have drawn significant attention. On Thursday, Bezos and Sanchez were photographed sharing a kiss aboard a water taxi en route to a welcome party. The couple, dressed elegantly but casually, were joined by a roster of A-list guests, including Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Oprah Winfrey, and Orlando Bloom.
Security for the Venice festivities has been tight. According to Page Six, Bezos dispatched elite security teams to sweep their hotel and event venues prior to arrival. The couple also reportedly booked multiple venues across different dates to mislead paparazzi and avoid protest disruption.
"The couple has deliberately kept multiple options open, booking several venues across a range of dates," a source told Page Six. "The strategy serves both to mislead paparazzi and protesters, and to ensure contingency plans in the event of last-minute logistical setbacks."
Their attempt to outmaneuver local protests came after opposition from a dozen Venetian organizations, who criticized the use of historic city locations for billionaire weddings. Banners reading "No Space for Bezos" and "IF YOU CAN RENT VENICE FOR YOUR WEDDING YOU CAN PAY MORE TAX" were displayed across parts of the city. The couple eventually moved their main celebration from the Scuola Grande della Misericordia to the Arsenale in response.
Bezos and Sanchez, who first met in 2016 and confirmed their relationship in 2019, kicked off the celebration earlier this week with a foam party aboard Bezos' yacht. The billionaire proposed last year with a 30-carat pink diamond ring estimated to be worth several million dollars.
