Venice Activists to Protest Jeff Bezos’s Lavish Wedding Over Tourism Concerns
As Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez gear up for their grand wedding in Venice, Italy, the billionaire couple is facing more than just typical pre-wedding jitters. Instead of fretting over flowers or seating charts, they’re dealing with angry locals, canal blockades, and some very large boats.
A Fairytale Wedding… with Protests
Bezos and Sánchez chose Venice as their dream wedding destination, but not everyone’s thrilled. Locals and activists see the high-profile event as a symbol of excess and disregard for the city’s struggles with over-tourism.
“This wedding represents everything wrong with Venice today,” said activist and teacher Marta Sottoriva. “Our city is being sold to the highest bidder, again.”
Activist groups have planned large-scale protests, including physically blocking canals with boats and inflatables. One protestor even vowed, “Bezos will never get to the venue.”
Meanwhile, Greenpeace laid out a massive banner in St. Mark’s Square that read:
“If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax.”
Police quickly removed it.
City Officials Defend the Event
Despite the backlash, local officials are trying to put a positive spin on things. Tourism councilor Simone Venturini said Venice should be proud to host an event of this scale, brushing off protestors as “professional complainers.”
The couple’s wedding planners, Lanza & Baucina, denied claims they’re “taking over” the city, insisting their goal is to minimize disruption.
Locking Down Venice for the Big Day
Security is tight, and last-minute changes are being made to keep the couple’s movements secret. TMZ reported that even local water taxi operators are being kept out of the loop. Hotel rooms at the luxurious Aman Venice, where guests are rumored to be staying, are completely booked, with nightly rates running as high as $10,000.
There’s talk that the wedding might take place aboard Bezos’ 417-foot yacht, Koru, the same vessel where he proposed. But due to safety concerns, plans to anchor close to the city may change.
Interestingly, while Venice has closed its airspace for the wedding, private helicopters are reportedly still allowed—just in case a world leader decides to drop in.
Who’s On the Guest List?
It’s a star-studded affair, with invitations reportedly going out to:
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Oprah Winfrey & Gayle King
- Bill Gates
- Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, & Corey Gamble
- Barbra Streisand, Eva Longoria, Katy Perry (who can’t attend), and Orlando Bloom
- Queen Rania of Jordan
- And possibly even former President Donald Trump (unclear if Melania got a plus-one)
Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and other high-profile names are also expected.
Yachts Galore — But Gondolas Are Too Slow
Nine yacht ports around Venice are fully booked. Even non-celebrity billionaires are reportedly steering clear due to the media frenzy. Unfortunately, traditional gondoliers are sitting this one out—too slow to keep up with the glittering chaos.
As one gondolier said:
“We’re not part of it. We just don’t move fast enough.”
Whether it’s luxurious hotels, billionaire yachts, or canal-blocking protests, this isn’t your average wedding. Love it or hate it, the Bezos-Sánchez wedding is turning into one of the most dramatic events Venice has seen in years.
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