Amazon magnate Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez exchanged vows on Friday in a lavish ceremony attended by the rich and famous on an island in Venice’s lagoon, strategically hidden from the sight and sound of protestors.
An “enchanted” Bezos, on Thursday, expressed his awe of the city to a La Repubblica journalist, stating, “This city seems impossible! It can’t exist and yet, here it is!” as he navigated the canals by boat.
However, protesters held a contrasting view, questioning Venice’s long-term sustainability. While billionaires celebrated, activists highlighted the city’s fragile state: sinking, overwhelmed by tourism, and experiencing depopulation as locals are priced out by soaring rents. A green neon sign projected onto the St. Mark’s Campanile tower on Thursday night starkly declared, “No Kings, No Bezos.”
Wedding Details and Esteemed Guests Late Friday, Sanchez posted a photo on Instagram under her new name, laurensanchezbezos, depicting her in a flowing white gown and Bezos in black tie, though the location remained undisclosed. The nuptials were celebrated with a star-studded guest list including Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, and Orlando Bloom.
The 61-year-old tech magnate and 55-year-old Sanchez are staying at the Aman hotel, a luxurious 16th-century palazzo on the Grand Canal offering views of the Rialto Bridge. Other A-list guests are accommodated at the Gritti Palace and the St. Regis. According to Italian media reports, the couple exchanged vows during a black-tie ceremony on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore on Friday afternoon, believed to have taken place in a vast open-air amphitheater facing Venice’s iconic St. Mark’s Square. Reports also suggest that the newlyweds were to be serenaded by Matteo Bocelli, son of the renowned opera singer Andrea Bocelli.
Michelin-starred chef Fabrizio Mellino prepared the wedding dinner, while the cake was crafted by French pastry chef Cedric Grolet, as reported by the Corriere della Sera. Sanchez reportedly prepared an extensive wardrobe of 27 outfits for the festivities.
Paparazzi captured various wedding guests boarding boats, including Jordan’s Queen Rania, French luxury goods executive Francois-Henri Pinault, American football player Tom Brady, US fashion designer Spencer Antle, singer Usher, and Ivanka Trump (daughter of US President Donald Trump) with her husband Jared Kushner. Guests reportedly lunched on Thursday in the gardens of Villa Baslini, located on the islet of San Giovanni Evangelista.
The celebrations are scheduled to conclude on Saturday with a party likely held at the Arsenale, a vast shipyard complex that dates back to Venice’s era as a naval powerhouse. Bezos and Sanchez are reportedly donating three million euros ($3.5 million) to the city and are engaging historic Venetian artisans. Rosa Salva, Venice’s oldest pastry maker, is baking 19th-century “fishermen’s biscuits” for party bags, which will also include items by Laguna B, known for its handblown Murano glass. Ivanka Trump and her family reportedly visited a glass-blowing workshop on Murano island on Wednesday, where they were “amazed and enchanted by the magic of glass,” according to owner Massimiliano Schiavon.
Contrasting Views on the Economic Impact and Environmental Concerns Venice, home to the world’s oldest film festival, is accustomed to VIPs and their speedboats, having successfully hosted Hollywood actor George Clooney’s star-studded nuptials in 2014. Some proponents argue that this wedding, too, stimulates local business. Italy’s tourism ministry estimated on Friday that the wedding could generate nearly one billion euros for the city, with approximately 895 million euros attributed to “media visibility.”
However, critics argue that Bezos, one of the world’s wealthiest individuals and founder of a company frequently scrutinized for its labor practices, represents a different case. Protest signs along the canals read, “Tax Billionaires,” and in both English and Italian, declared, “In the time it takes you to read this, Jeff Bezos’s wealth has increased by more than your monthly salary.” Environmental activists have also highlighted the substantial carbon footprint generated by the mega-yachts and dozens of private jets (at least 95) transporting the elite to the city.
Conversely, Samuel Silvestri, a 55-year-old salesman, welcomed the extravagance. He argued that “Over-tourism is caused by those people who come with a backpack and their own food, and contribute very little,” asserting that such events “transform Venice into a mini-Monte Carlo” and “help the image of the city.”
Meanwhile, Italy’s health ministry has issued a red heat alert for Venice for the weekend, as a heatwave impacts much of Southern Europe.
