Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée, journalist Lauren Sánchez, touched down in Venice on Wednesday to begin a three-day extravaganza of elite celebrations rumored to mark their wedding, even as local residents voice frustration over the disruption.
Approximately 90 private jets are expected to arrive throughout the week, ferrying a host of high-profile guests from the worlds of entertainment, politics, and finance to what’s being called the “wedding of the century.” The event is estimated to cost Bezos between 40 and 48 million euros ($46–$56 million).
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Bezos and Sánchez were seen entering the ultra-luxurious Aman Venice Hotel on the city’s iconic Grand Canal, where many VIP attendees are also expected to stay.
The celebrations are set to begin Thursday night with an open-air reception in the historic cloisters of the Madonna dell’Orto Church in Cannaregio—a vibrant area known for its nightlife—according to a source familiar with the plans.
However, the festivities haven’t been universally welcomed. Local authorities have cordoned off areas around the event sites to shield guests from protestors who argue that Venice is increasingly being turned into a playground for the ultra-wealthy.
“Everything is about money now. We are the ones losing out,” said local resident Nadia Rigo. “We, who were born here, either have to leave for the mainland or ask permission to use public ferries. They’ve become the new rulers.”
In an apparent effort to ease tensions, Veneto regional governor Luca Zaia announced that Bezos and Sánchez had donated 3 million euros to three local institutions: CORILA (a research consortium focused on the lagoon’s ecosystem), UNESCO’s Venice office, and Venice International University.
“Welcome to Venice, Jeff,” Zaia said, praising the couple’s “extraordinary generosity.”
While speculation continues about whether the couple has already wed in a private ceremony back in the U.S., the main series of events in Venice is expected to host around 250 guests. The second major gathering is planned for Friday on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, across from St. Mark’s Square. The venue, a historic monastery that now hosts cultural events, features a labyrinthine garden and stunning views.
In preparation for the influx of paparazzi, workers at the Aman Hotel have installed a striped, enclosed canopy on the hotel’s floating dock to shield guests from photographers.
The grand finale will take place Saturday at the historic Arsenale in Venice’s Castello district—a massive medieval shipyard now repurposed as an arts venue. Due to its isolated location and water-only access, the Arsenale offers greater privacy and security than an earlier proposed venue, a medieval religious school in Cannaregio.
Bezos, currently the executive chair of Amazon and ranked No. 4 on Forbes’ list of the world’s richest individuals, got engaged to Sánchez in 2023 following the end of his 25-year marriage to MacKenzie Scott.
Their decision to celebrate in Venice continues a trend of celebrity nuptials in the city, echoing the 2014 wedding of actor George Clooney and human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin.
