Bezos-Sanchez Extravaganza Descends on Venice: A "Wedding of the Century" Sparks Local Outcry

The historic canals of Venice are abuzz, not just with gondolas, but with an unprecedented influx of private jets and celebrity arrivals as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez kick off what's being widely dubbed the "wedding of the century." The couple, who arrived in the romantic lagoon city on Wednesday, are set to host three days of lavish VIP parties, a spectacle estimated to cost a staggering 40-48 million euros ($46-$56 million).

This grand affair, featuring an anticipated 90 private jets ferrying A-listers from the worlds of show business, politics, and finance, has, however, not been met with universal acclaim. While the rich and famous are flocking to the city, local residents have voiced strong protests, arguing that the celebrations are turning their beloved city into a private amusement park for the ultra-wealthy.

The couple was spotted entering the exclusive Aman Venice Hotel on the Grand Canal, a likely base for many of the high-profile guests. Festivities were expected to commence on Thursday night with an open-air gathering in the cloisters of Madonna dell'Orto, a medieval church in the central Cannaregio area. In a move to shield the wedding party from protestors, Venice City Hall issued a directive on Wednesday, cordoning off the area.

Local activist Nadia Rigo encapsulated the sentiment of many Venetians, lamenting, "There's only one thing that rules now: money, money, money, so we are the losers." The protests, which have been ongoing for weeks, highlight growing concerns about overtourism and the increasing commercialization of Venice.

Amidst the criticism, Jeff Bezos has reportedly made a 3 million euro donation to three local institutions: CORILA, UNESCO's local office, and the Venice International University, perhaps a gesture aimed at placating disgruntled residents.

While the precise date and venue of the official wedding ceremony remain shrouded in secrecy, speculation abounds that Bezos and Sanchez may have already tied the knot in a private ceremony in the United States. However, a significant second wedding party is slated for Friday on the picturesque island of San Giorgio, directly opposite the iconic St. Mark's Square. This event is expected to welcome the majority of the 250 invited guests.

The extravagant celebrations are set to culminate on Saturday with the main wedding bash at one of the halls of the Arsenale, a historic shipyard complex. This location change from a previously considered venue was reportedly made for security reasons, as the Arsenale can be made unreachable by land when its connecting bridges are raised, providing a safer and more private environment for the high-profile gathering.

Bezos, currently the fourth richest person on Forbes' billionaires list and executive chair of Amazon, became engaged to Sanchez in 2023, four years after the highly publicized dissolution of his 25-year marriage to Mackenzie Scott. Their choice of Venice for their nuptials follows in the footsteps of other celebrity couples, most notably U.S. actor George Clooney and human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin, who famously married in the floating city in 2014.