Jeff Bezos ‘Begged’ to See Lauren Sánchez’s Dress Before Venice Wedding. This Was Her Answer (Exclusive)

Jeff Bezos couldn’t wait to see his bride’s wedding dress.

While speaking to PEOPLE in an exclusive interview, Vogue Italia’s Fashion News & Wedding Editor Laura Tortora revealed that the Amazon founder, 61, “begged” to see Lauren Sánchez’s wedding dress before their big day.

“This happened after the fitting at Dolce & Gabbana, so her last fitting, and our insiders saw her immediately after, and she was really, really excited,” Tortora says. “She herself said, ‘It was stronger than I imagined,’ and she told us that Jeff wanted to see this dress.”

“Bezos begged to see the dress. But inside herself she resisted because she wanted to give him this surprise at all costs and so she managed it,” Tortora adds of Sánchez, 55.

During the couple’s Vogue editorial shoot, Tortora says Bezos “was kept in a room that didn’t face the lawn where she was being photographed, so even in that context, attention was paid to this so she could maintain the secret with her future husband.”

Bezos and Sánchez wed on Friday, June 27, on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, Italy, in front of a star-studded guest list.

The children’s book author wore a corseted, mermaid-style wedding dress that was custom-designed by Dolce & Gabbana. The gown featured hand-appliquéd Italian lace and 180 silk chiffon-covered buttons, per Vogue.

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The bride paired the dress with borrowed Dolce Alta Gioielleria Miracolo earrings and a secret souvenir from her Blue Origin space flight as her “something blue.”

She shared photos of her glam process on her wedding day via Instagram with the caption, “Not just a gown, a piece of poetry. Thank you @dolcegabbana for the magic you made.”

Sánchez told Vogue about her final wedding dress fitting, weeks out of their big day. “It was more powerful than I thought,” she said, adding that she “almost gave in” when Bezos asked to see the dress early.

“But I want it to be a surprise. As you get a little older, not many things surprise you. I can’t wait to see his face,” Sánchez added.

Among the celebrities in attendance at their wedding were Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Karlie Kloss, Leonardo DiCaprio and Usher.

Sánchez’s son Nikko, whom she shares with ex Tony Gonzalez, and son Evan and daughter Ella, whom she shares with ex-husband Patrick Whitesell, were also present.