Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée, former journalist Lauren Sanchez, are set to tie the knot in a lavish three-day wedding celebration in Venice. The festivities are expected to begin on Thursday and run through Saturday, with a private ceremony at a still-undisclosed historic location. Among the rumoured venues for the nuptials are the Abbey of Misericordia and the Arsenale, a centuries-old shipyard symbolising Venice’s rich maritime history. Security has been tightened across the city, with authorities and planners working to keep the details of the ceremony under wraps.
Star-studded guest list
The celebration is expected to host around 200 high-profile guests, many of whom have already begun arriving in Venice aboard superyachts and private jets. According to Italian media, at least 95 private planes have requested landing permissions at Venice’s Marco Polo Airport. Bezos’ $500 million mega-yacht “Koru” is expected to dock near the San Giorgio Maggiore island, which has reportedly been booked out exclusively for the event.
The guest list reportedly includes a glittering array of A-listers such as:
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Kim Kardashian
- Oprah Winfrey
- Mick Jagger
- Orlando Bloom
- Ivanka Trump
Venetians protest against the wedding
While the event has dazzled the global media, it has sparked outrage among many Venetians. Local activists argue that the city, already grappling with overtourism, depopulation, and environmental threats, should not be used as a playground for billionaires. Protest group No Space for Bezos, led by activist Tommaso Cacciari, has criticised the event’s impact on daily life and called the wedding an example of how Venice is being treated like a “private ballroom.” Demonstrators have vowed to stage disruptive protests, including blocking canals with boats and inflatable animals.
Environmentalists, including Greenpeace, have also criticised the event for its carbon footprint, calling it a symbol of excess during a climate crisis. They particularly targeted Sanchez, who has advocated for climate action while participating in a space flight aboard a rocket from Bezos’ Blue Origin.
While city officials like tourism councillor Simone Venturini have downplayed the scale of the wedding, noting it is “just one of many events,” others are more skeptical. Critics say the event highlights the gap between wealthy elites and local residents struggling to remain in Venice amid rising housing costs and overtourism.
Still, some locals support the festivities. A counter-group dubbed “Yes Venice Can” has emerged, defending the wedding’s potential economic benefits. “Events like this bring money to the city,” said resident Michele Serafini, who believes the added exposure can be positive if managed well. Despite its scale, the wedding will also feature Venetian traditions. Local artisans have been commissioned to contribute, including Rosa Salva, the city’s oldest pastry maker, who is preparing 19th-century fishermen’s biscuits for the guests’ party bags. The gifts are also expected to include Murano glass items from Laguna B.