Amazon billionaire and his wife-to-be Lauren Sanchez married on Friday in a lavish affair against the scenic beauty of Venice's lagoon. The elite affair, attracting the city's international A-list, took place away from the sounds and images of surrounding protests in the metropolis.
It is an impossible city! It cannot exist and here it is!" Bezos exclaimed to a La Repubblica reporter on Thursday while taking a leisurely ride along Venice's famous canals.
As the tycoon couple soaked up romance and revelry, local opinion was split. Activists condemned the excesses, saying that Venice's delicate ecosystem is already under strain from mass tourism and increasing rents, which have pushed residents out of the city. Protesters cast a glowing green message reading "No Kings, No Bezos" onto the iconic St. Mark's Campanile on Thursday night.
A Star-Studded Affair
Late Friday night, Sanchez posted a wedding photo on Instagram under her new handle laurensanchezbezos. She sported a white tulle dress while Bezos wore a traditional black tuxedo, though the location of the photo wasn't specified.
The two, who started dating in 2019, held their wedding at a black-tie ceremony on San Giorgio Maggiore, a tranquil island directly across from St. Mark's Square. Italian media reports that the couple exchanged their vows at an outdoor amphitheatre.
Among the A-list visitors were Khloe and Kim Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom, Queen Rania of Jordan, Tom Brady, Usher, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, luxury titan Francois-Henri Pinault, and fashion designer Spencer Antle.
The bride and groom are residing at the luxurious Aman Hotel, a 16th-century palazzo with a view over the Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge. Other visitors stayed at Venice's most upscale hotels such as the Gritti Palace and the St. Regis.
It started earlier with an intimate luncheon on Thursday in the gardens of Villa Baslini, situated on the islet of San Giovanni Evangelista. The celebrations will culminate in a big finale party on Saturday at the Arsenale — a historic boatyard that was once the hub of Venice's maritime supremacy.
Demeaning Details and Cultural Contributions
Matteo Bocelli, the son of international tenor Andrea Bocelli, was said to be performing during the ceremony. Michelin-starred chef Fabrizio Mellino prepared dinner, while French pastry master Cedric Grolet made the wedding cake. Sanchez, according to local sources, had an incredible 27 outfit changes planned for the multi-day celebration.
As a good-will gesture, Bezos and Sanchez are giving €3 million (about $3.5 million) to Venice, as Veneto's regional president Luca Zaia has confirmed. They have also brought on board local artisans to assist with the event, including Rosa Salva — the oldest pastry shop in the city — which is creating original 19th-century "fishermen's biscuits" for gift bags. Italian glass master Laguna B is also donating bespoke hand-blown items.
Ivanka Trump and her entourage stopped by a Murano glass workshop earlier during the week. Owner Massimiliano Schiavon described their response: "They were amazed and enchanted by the magic of glass," adding they even got to try glass-blowing themselves.
Venice, where George Clooney got married in 2014, is no one's stranger to celebrity weddings. Italy's tourism ministry estimates Bezos and Sanchez's wedding could create as much as €1 billion in economic value, with the majority coming from the international media coverage.
Protests and Environmental Concerns
In spite of the glamour, criticism has been loud and ongoing. Protesters carried signs that said "Tax Billionaires" and underscored income inequality with slogans such as, "In the time it takes you to read this, Jeff Bezos's wealth has grown by more than your monthly salary."
Green groups also raised concerns over the ecological cost of the top-shelf gathering, complaining of a minimum of 95 private planes and some mega-yachts descending upon Venice, greatly contributing to the carbon load.
Nevertheless, not everyone resident in the city was unhappy. Samuel Silvestri, a 55-year-old salesperson, spoke up for the event: "Too many tourists are brought about by those individuals who bring a backpack and some victuals with them, and do very little," he said. "Not those individuals who turn Venice into mini-Monte Carlo. This union benefits the reputation of the city."
At the same time, Venice was under a red heat warning ordered by Italy's health ministry as large parts of southern Europe experience a scorching heatwave over the weekend.
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