Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez to tie the knot this week as lofty plans for $600M Aspen wedding unveiled
ASPEN, COLORADO: Get ready for a star-studded "winter wonderland" because Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are reportedly tying the knot in Aspen right after Christmas.
The Amazon billionaire, 60, and his stunning former TV anchor fiancee, 55, seem to be pulling out all the stops for their extravagant wedding, which insiders are already labeling as the society event of the year.
According to sources spilling to the Daily Mail, Bezos and Sanchez have reserved the swanky sushi hotspot Matsuhisa in the luxurious Colorado ski town for either December 26 or December 27.
But the main event is slated for Saturday, December 28. The lovebirds have been hush-hush about the whole affair, ever since Bezos popped the question aboard his $500 million superyacht back in May last year.
Whispers of Aspen grandeur
Three insiders confirmed to Daily Mail that the wedding date is locked in for December 28. One Aspen local spilled that Jeff Bezos and his entourage made their grand entrance via private jet last Saturday, December 14.
The buzz around town is that the wedding might take place at none other than Kevin Costner’s 160-acre Dunbar Ranch.
And if you thought Bezos was keeping it low-key, think again. Another source suggested the price tag for the glitzy wedding could hit a jaw-dropping $600 million.
Sanchez might have let the tiniest detail slip during her 'Today' show interview last month, revealing she’d picked out her wedding dress.
She said she was "very excited about it" and was "thinking about the dress". She also gave us a glimpse into her bridal prep. “I have to say, I do have a Pinterest. I’m just like every other bride,” she confessed.
Beyond that, however, the couple has been a steel trap of secrecy. But here’s what we do know: guests will be living it up in Aspen’s most luxurious digs, including the five-star St Regis Hotel and some posh private mansions around town.
The couple has allegedly planned an entire weekend of festivities expected to culminate in a jaw-dropping mountain-top ceremony. Think spectacular winter views and snow-dusted romance.
Of course, the Matsuhisa buyout will also feature on the agenda—Bezos and Sanchez have been spotted dining at its Malibu counterpart, Nobu.
Ironclad NDAs and imported luxury
To maintain a veil of secrecy, the couple has reportedly flown in vendors from across the country — all bound by airtight non-disclosure agreements.
Aspen event planner Janie Lemons revealed, “You’d outsource pretty much everything except transportation and lighting.” From Parisian cakes to New York hairstylists and Los Angeles string bands, nothing is off-limits for Bezos’ dream wedding.
Another Aspen wedding guru Sarah Rose Attman painted a vivid picture of what to expect: "They’ll cherry-pick their favorite things from around the world and fly them into Aspen, whether it’s a cake from Paris, a hairstylist from New York, or a string band from LA."
She also noted that while the vibe might appear “rugged” and “low-key,” the floral budget alone for such events often runs into the hundreds of thousands.
Aspen isn’t about flashy displays of wealth like Beverly Hills or Palm Beach. Lemons described it as having a “rugged old money” charm.
"People go to Aspen, not to be in Palm Beach, Beverly Hills, or Manhattan to be glitzy and showy with their wealth," Lemons said. "The whole MO of Aspen is to kind of be this rugged old money, 'I just love hopping in my Jeep with my golden retriever to go see the horses' kind of feel."
Bezos and Sanchez nailed that aesthetic on a Vogue cover last November, posing on his West Texas ranch in casual yet stylish ensembles. But don’t be fooled—Sanchez’s massive 30-carat pink diamond engagement ring was front and center in the shots.
"We’re still thinking about the wedding," Sanchez told the magazine. "Is it going to be big? Is it going to be overseas? We don’t know yet."
When asked if Bezos had a say in the planning, he quipped, “Oh, God, no. Do I look that dumb?”
Speculation on the weekend’s events and guest list for Jeff-Bezos-Lauren Sanchez wedding
Janie Lemons hinted that a western-themed welcome dinner could kick off the festivities, with multiple events throughout the weekend. Meanwhile, Sarah Rose Attman speculated that their love for chic cowboy hat boutique Kemosabe might play a role.
"I have noticed from paparazzi photos they seem to be fans of Kemosabe, so I bet that is incorporated into their festivities somehow," she said. "Perhaps a hat bar of some type or definitely a gorgeous, custom his-and-her cowboy hat for one of the events — with lots of diamonds for her!"
Activities like skiing or hiking might also be on the menu for guests.
The picturesque Dunbar Ranch remains a strong contender for the venue. Lindsey Morgan of ByBello Events noted, “It’s a beautiful property, and it’s really close to the town of Aspen, which makes it unique.”
But there’s also speculation the event could take place at a friend or family member’s Aspen mansion.
Jeff Bezos’ parents are well-known in Aspen circles, with his mother Jackie and her husband Miguel reportedly owning a home in the exclusive Red Mountain neighborhood.
"The best venue in Aspen is the backyard wedding because it’s probably at someone’s billionaire mansion," Lemons said.
"Usually, these people have homes themselves in Aspen. A lot of people stay with their family or friends who have mansions here," the wedding planner explained. "Jeff Bezos’ dad is very famous in Aspen for being a really kind sweet guy, he’s been around for decades and involved with Aspen Institute."
If their engagement yacht party in Positano last August is anything to go by, we must expect some A-list faces. Attendees at that event reportedly included Bill Gates, Wendi Murdoch, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Kris Jenner, according to the Daily Mail.
