Venice: Lauren Sánchez made her first public appearance on the day of her wedding to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, as the couple prepared to host what has been described as the "wedding of the century."

The 55-year-old was seen leaving the five-star Aman hotel en route to the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, where she is set to exchange vows with the 61-year-old billionaire tech mogul.

The grand celebration is drawing global attention, with nearly 200 VIP guests arriving in Venice for three days of extravagant festivities. Sánchez and Bezos are believed to have already tied the knot in a legal ceremony prior to today’s highly anticipated event.

A-listers arrive in style ahead of ceremony

Hollywood stars including Orlando Bloom, Usher, Sydney Sweeney and members of the Kardashian family were spotted enjoying the city just hours ahead of the wedding. Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and Oprah Winfrey are among the many A-list attendees who jetted into Italy earlier in the week to join the celebrations.

Pre-wedding festivities rocked by thunderstorm

The couple's pre-wedding party, held inside the historic Madonna dell’Orto cloisters, was momentarily disrupted by a freak thunderstorm. Guests, including Kylie Jenner, were reportedly forced to take cover as the weather turned unexpectedly severe.

Despite the downpour, the festivities continued, with the celebrations reflecting the opulence expected from the world’s third-richest man and his bride-to-be.

A proposal aboard a $500 million superyacht

The wedding comes two years after Bezos proposed to Sánchez aboard his $500 million superyacht. Since then, the couple has been the subject of widespread media attention, with their relationship often making headlines for both its glamour and grandiosity.

Protests and a last-minute venue change

However, the road to the couple’s big day has not been entirely smooth. Protests reportedly prompted a last-minute change in venue, as activists planned demonstrations aimed at disrupting the celebrations.

(With agency inputs)