Inside Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s Venetian vows

Welcome back! It’s a hot one, so I’m sure you’re cooling down with water. Turns out, picking the right bottled water isn’t all that easy. One reporter tested out seven kinds and crowned his favorite.

On the agenda:

• Seven successful men shared with BI how they optimize their mornings.
• Luxury gyms are becoming the new third space for many young people.
• Partiful, Luma, Paperless Post: How online invitations became a splintered mess.
• Newly built homes are changing, but homebuyers really want these four features.

But first: Wedding bells.

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This week’s dispatch

Inside a billionaire’s Venetian vows

We’re all just nosy, huh? It’s why the world has been watching as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former newscaster turned philanthropist Lauren Sánchez got married in a not-so-private event spanning three days in Venice.

“This magical place has gifted us unforgettable memories,” Bezos and Sánchez, who met in 2019 and got engaged in 2023, said on their wedding invitation about the floating city.

Some 200 guests were expected to attend the festivities in one of the most romantic cities in the world, the city said in a statement. And A-listers were spotted as they touched down, including Tom Brady, Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, and Ivanka Trump with Jared Kushner.

There’s no telling how much the billionaire’s wedding celebration will cost, but reported estimates range from $11.5 million to $35 million.

Luxury wedding planner and founder of Italian Knot, Roberta Camille Lione, told BI that although the latter figure feels a bit high, it’s “not impossible — especially if the couple is sparing no expense across accommodations, logistics, entertainment, and design.”

Still, not everyone is thrilled that Bezos and Sánchez have picked Venice for their wedding. Local protesters have erected signs across the city, including one that reads, “No space for Bezos.” (Get it? Because he founded Blue Origin.) They’ve also said they plan to disrupt the nuptials.

However, Jessica Testoni, who runs a small souvenir stall in Venice, told our senior reporter on the ground, Joshua Nelken-Zitser, that she hopes it’s not the last celebrity wedding to happen in her town. “On this occasion, I’m happy Bezos and Sánchez are getting married here,” she said. “It helps businesses like mine.”

It’s an interesting perspective given this behemoth of a wedding is happening during so much economic anxiety. That said, whether you’re watching on purpose or by sheer force, despite the secretive nature of the nuptials, here’s one thing we know for sure: this type of extravagance may only come once in a lifetime.

Morning routines FTW

Seven successful men — from across industries including venture capital, equity research, and advertising — shared their morning rituals with BI, from running long distances to making latte art.

Most said they’re early risers, waking up between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. Many said they started their days with exercise, though some shared creative habits like journaling.

Tea or coffee is essential.

The all-inclusive third space

For many people, luxury gyms have become more than just a gym. Popular franchises like Equinox or Life Time offer amenities that go beyond fitness, like complimentary childcare services, tidy workspaces, and sometimes, poolside bars.

Even if it takes extra saving or tight budgeting to afford a $200+ a month membership, these luxury gym goers say it’s worth it.

More than a gym.

Only threw this Partiful 4 u

Young people are sending invites to everything from “Love Island” watch parties to scheduled cry sessions. There’s a whole class of apps to support this invitation overload — Partiful to Luma and Apple Invites, to name a few.

While it might not matter which platform your party invite is on, the glut of invitations is making it harder to understand what’s expected of us at each social gathering.

The new RSVP etiquette.

Hot home trends for 2025

American homes look a lot different these days. Many newly built homes are not just pricier, but they’re smaller, too. That doesn’t mean buyers are sacrificing comfort and quality, though.

The National Association of Homebuilders surveyed 3,000 recent and prospective buyers and found four home trends shaping homebuying right now.

From smart tech to large kitchens.

What we’re watching this weekend

• “Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything”: This Hulu documentary puts a spotlight on the legendary broadcast journalist who never held back on asking tough questions, whether it was a world leader or a famous star.
• Marvel’s “Ironheart”: This Disney+ miniseries picks up with Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne), aka Ironheart, following the events of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
• “The Bear”: The much-anticipated fourth season of the acclaimed Hulu series is finally here and follows Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) as he continues his dream to run one of the best restaurants in Chicago.

What to shop

• Heels you won’t kick off at dinner: Our beauty editor walked for a mile in each pair she tested for our guide to the most comfortable heels. After a lot of distance and blistering, she narrowed it down to 18 styles.
• Sweat in style: Ditch the ratty old gym tee — investing in the right workout clothes will move with you no matter what exercise you’re engaging in. These are the best brands to find them for women, from matching sets to workout dresses.
• Budget-friendly vacuums: After years of testing dozens of models, we know that you don’t need to spend hundreds for reliable performance. The crumbs won’t know how much you saved on these affordable vacuum cleaners.

More of this week’s top reads:

• Snack duty at my child’s preschool nearly broke me. Then I decided to stop caring about kale chips.
• A woman did yoga every day for 5 years. Here’s how her body and diet changed.
• I shopped at Walmart and Target to compare their Pride Month collections. They weren’t easy to find.
• I made detailed plans for my 4-day solo trip to Spain, but some of the best moments happened when they fell apart.
• A man gained weight eating ultra-processed foods he thought were healthy. Now, he’s 50 pounds lighter thanks to three habits.
• Pixar just had its worst opening weekend ever with ‘Elio.’ Are original movies dead?
• HENRYs with kids say 6-figure salaries just aren’t cutting it.
• Getting tickets for fitness competitions like Hyrox is almost as hard as seeing Taylor Swift.

The BI Today team: Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Akin Oyedele, deputy editor, in New York. Grace Lett, editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York.

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