Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez kicked off their three-day wedding celebrations in Venice on Thursday, drawing a host of international celebrities and sparking a mix of fascination and protest in the historic Italian city.
Dubbed the “wedding of the century,” the estimated $50 million event is being held under tight security, with access restricted in key parts of Venice. Some 200 to 250 high-profile guests from the worlds of politics, finance, and entertainment are expected to attend.
Among those already spotted in the floating city are Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Hollywood actor Orlando Bloom, and Queen Rania of Jordan. American television personalities Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, and Khloe Kardashian have also joined the festivities. Former US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner arrived earlier in the week and were seen enjoying the sights of Venice.
Bezos, 61, and Sanchez, 55, arrived by helicopter on Wednesday and are staying at the Aman Venice, a luxury hotel situated along the Grand Canal, where rooms cost upwards of €4,000 per night.
The celebrations officially began Thursday evening at the cloisters of Madonna dell'Orto, a medieval church in the Cannaregio district known for its Tintoretto masterpieces. City authorities cordoned off pedestrian and waterway access to the area from 4:30pm until midnight to ensure the privacy and safety of the guests.
The couple is expected to exchange vows on Friday on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, located across from St. Mark’s Square. However, officials have confirmed the ceremony will hold no legal weight under Italian law, prompting speculation that the couple may have already wed in the United States.
The grand finale—a lavish reception—is scheduled for Saturday at Venice’s historic Arsenale complex, a former shipyard now used as a cultural venue.
Protests and public response
While the spectacle has captured the attention of the global media, it has also sparked criticism from some quarters in Venice. On Thursday, an activist from the "No Space for Bezos" movement scaled a pole in St. Mark’s Square and unfurled a banner reading “The 1% ruins the world,” in protest against what they describe as the commodification of the city for the benefit of billionaires.
Critics argue that such high-profile events contribute to Venice’s transformation into an exclusive playground for the ultra-wealthy, sidelining the needs of local residents. The protests reflect broader concerns over mass tourism, rising costs, and limited access to public spaces.
However, many local officials and business owners have defended the event. “If you look at what the Bezos wedding brings for the good of Venice, there are only advantages and no disadvantages,” said Mattia Brandi, a local tour leader. “It is the protesters who are disrupting the peace of the city.”
Supporters of the event contend that such high-end tourism is more beneficial for Venice’s fragile economy than the flood of low-spending daytrippers that has long been a point of contention.
Venice’s celebrity appeal
The city has a history of hosting high-profile weddings. In 2014, American actor George Clooney and human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin were married here. In 2011, Indian billionaires Vinita Agarwal and Muqit Teja also held their wedding celebrations in Venice without controversy.
Bezos, currently ranked fourth on Forbes’ list of billionaires, proposed to Sanchez in 2023, four years after ending his 25-year marriage to MacKenzie Scott.
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