Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are celebrating their wedding in Venice in a lavish three-day event with top global celebrities in attendance.
Amazon’s founder, Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez are exchanging vows in a stylish, star-studded wedding weekend in Venice. Though their official ceremony may have taken place in the U.S., the pair chose Italy for the celebrations, centring the main event on San Giorgio island, set against the iconic backdrop of St. Mark’s Square.
The wedding festivities are anything but low-key. Performances by Matteo Bocelli, Elton John, and Lady Gaga are expected to light up the celebrations, which are estimated to cost around $50 million. Close to 250 elite guests—including Oprah, Tom Brady, and the Kardashians—have made their way to the floating city.
Although businesses are enjoying the spotlight, not all locals are thrilled. A protest group calling itself “No Space for Bezos” says the city is being used as a luxury stage for the world’s rich, while real Venetians face rising costs and shrinking living space.
Demonstrators took to St. Mark’s Square with banners and chants like “We are the 99%”, staging symbolic acts to highlight their disapproval. One activist even climbed a pole to unveil a bold protest banner. Police quickly moved in to disperse the group.
Due to the protests, officials changed the location of Saturday’s final celebration to a more private spot inside the Arsenale, Venice’s historic shipyard. The security presence has been significantly ramped up, though activists still plan another march on the final day.
Despite the backlash, many leaders and locals from the business community have welcomed the event. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro praised the couple and even sent them symbolic wedding gifts, including white roses and a luxury bottle of wine.
Economic Buzz Beyond the Vows
Italy’s tourism department estimates that the total economic value of the event, including global media coverage and local spending, could reach nearly €1 billion. While not everyone agrees on the benefits, one thing is clear—Bezos’ wedding has made Venice the centre of the world’s attention once again.
