NEW YORK, June 29: Just one day after Anna Wintour announced she would step down as editor-in-chief of Vogue’s U.S. edition, the magazine released a digital cover story featuring Lauren Sánchez — now Lauren Sánchez Bezos — in her wedding dress. The exclusive piece details her final dress fitting and the intricacies of the gown itself.

The article opens with a dramatic description: “The bride is corseted and cosseted in her high-necked, hand-appliquéd Italian lace wedding dress on the grounds of an 18th-century brick villa outside of Milan. ‘I’m gonna cry!’ says the soon-to-be Lauren Sánchez Bezos.”

Sánchez had previously been featured in a 2023 Vogue profile titled, “Lauren Sánchez Is Looking to the Future,” complete with a lavish photo spread.

The coverage of the high-profile wedding hasn’t been limited to Vogue. The New York Times has published at least nine stories over the past week, capturing everything from fashion trends and social reactions to the cultural and economic implications of what some are calling the “wedding of the century.” Articles include titles such as “Italian Destination Weddings Are Having a Moment — Again,” “At Bezos’ Venetian Wedding: Buzz, Bling and Backlash,” and “The Bezos-Sánchez Wedding and the Triumph of the Tacky.”

Estimated to cost up to $50 million, the three-day wedding celebration has drawn criticism from local Venetians and activists. Many have voiced frustration over the disruption caused by the billionaire's high-profile event and the presence of Amazon, which they argue pays minimal taxes in many European nations. Detractors claim the lavish celebration underscores a widening gap between the ultra-wealthy and the public.

Despite the backlash, the wedding went smoothly. Sánchez shared a joyful photo from the ceremony on Instagram, revealing her gown and confirming her name change — somewhat undercutting Vogue’s planned digital exclusive.