Bezos' Star-Studded Venice Wedding Kicks Off Thursday Amid Protests and Glamour
Venice | June 25, 2025:
Superyachts in the lagoon, private jets filling the skies, and an army of Hollywood elites descending on Venice — Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s extravagant three-day wedding celebration is making headlines for more than just glamour.
The opulence has triggered a fierce local backlash from Venetians and climate activists who accuse the Amazon founder of turning their fragile city into a billionaire’s playground.
Also Read: Venice Divided Ahead of Jeff Bezos and Laura Sánchez’s ‘Wedding of the Century’
Bezos and Sanchez, set to wed between Thursday and Saturday, have reportedly invited around 200 celebrity guests, with speculation swirling around the venue: either the historic Abbey of Misericordia or the centuries-old Arsenale shipyard. High-profile attendees are said to include Leonardo DiCaprio, Kim Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, Mick Jagger, Orlando Bloom, and even Ivanka Trump.
Nearly 95 private jets have filed for landing slots at Venice Marco Polo Airport, and Bezos’ $500 million megayacht Koru is expected to anchor near San Giorgio Maggiore, which has reportedly been reserved exclusively for the wedding festivities.
Also Read: Jeff Bezos Dethroned! Oracle’s Larry Ellison Is Now the World’s #2 Richest
The celebration’s extravagance is being met with mounting criticism. Venice, a UNESCO World Heritage site, continues to battle the effects of climate change, rising housing prices, and over-tourism, with many locals accusing Bezos of exacerbating these crises for personal luxury.
Also Read: Inside the Summer’s Most Extravagant Wedding: Jeff Bezos & Lauren Sánchez
Greenpeace took aim at the wedding, calling it hypocritical. “If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax,” read a giant protest banner in St. Mark’s Square, featuring an image of Bezos laughing.
Lauren Sanchez, who has previously advocated for climate action, has also come under fire for her spaceflight aboard Blue Origin, the rocket company owned by Bezos.
Venetian activist Tommaso Cacciari, leader of the No Space for Bezos campaign, condemned the wedding as symbolic of a larger crisis.
“Venice isn’t a private ballroom. These events are driving residents out and condemning the city to death,” he said.
Activists are planning canal blockades using inflatable toys, kayaks, and even their own bodies to protest the arrival of high-profile wedding guests.
While protesters condemn the glitz, others see opportunity. Pastry shop Rosa Salva is crafting traditional 19th-century fishermen’s biscuits for wedding favours, to be paired with artisanal pieces from Murano glassmakers.
Venice’s tourism councillor Simone Venturini tried to downplay the uproar, calling it “just one of many events” the city manages. Wedding organizers say they are employing local artisans and taking steps to limit disruption.
Some Venetians have even launched a counter-campaign titled Yes Venice Can, arguing that high-profile events like this generate valuable economic and cultural attention.
As the celebration begins, one thing is clear: Jeff Bezos’ wedding has become a microcosm of Venice’s ongoing identity crisis — torn between luxury tourism and cultural preservation.
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Jeff Bezos wedding, Venice protests, Lauren Sanchez wedding, Bezos Venice backlash, climate hypocrisy, No Space for Bezos, Greenpeace protest Venice, celebrity weddings, Venice tourism crisis, Amazon founder wedding
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