You are cordially invited to critique Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s wedding invitation
Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos’ extravagant Venice wedding plans have sparked unexpected drama in the historic Italian city. The wedding ceremony, estimated to cost between $23-$34 million, has faced significant pushback from locals despite the economic benefits it promised to bring.
When Jeffrey Bezos, the 61-year-old executive chair of Amazon and fourth richest person on Forbes’ billionaires list, announced his intentions to marry in Venice, we certainly expected luxury. The three-day celebration could ultimately cost between $64 million to $76 million, with approximately 200 guests including celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Diane von Furstenberg, and Mick Jagger set to attend. However, Venice’s residents, particularly the fewer than 50,000 people living in the historic district, quickly organized protests against what they viewed as a disruption of their community.
Consequently, what should have been a fairytale wedding has transformed into a logistical nightmare, with activists threatening to block canals and streets. Despite promises that the event would generate up to 48 million euros ($55.69 million) for local businesses, the controversy has forced last-minute changes, including moving the wedding to a more isolated location. Furthermore, with at least 95 private planes requesting permission to land at Venice’s Marco Polo airport, the environmental impact has become another point of contention.
The original wedding plan and why Venice was chosen
Venice represents a dream wedding destination for the world’s elite. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez chose this “floating city” for its timeless romantic appeal and rich cultural heritage. The couple noted in their wedding invitation that “this magical place has gifted us unforgettable memories”, reflecting their personal connection to the city.
A symbolic city for celebrity weddings
Venice’s reputation as a celebrity wedding hotspot influenced Bezos and Sanchez’s decision. George and Amal Clooney wed here in 2014, while other notable couples including Elton John, Salma Hayek and François-Henri Pinault, and Alexandre Arnault also exchanged vows amid the city’s famed canals.
The Aman Hotel on the Grand Canal, where the Clooneys married, was reportedly booked by Bezos and Sanchez. This prestigious venue, along with other luxury hotels like the Gritti Palace, The St. Regis, Belmond Cipriani, and Hotel Danieli, were reserved to accommodate their guests.
Initial venue: Scuola Grande della Misericordia
Initially, the couple selected the Scuola Grande della Misericordia as their primary celebration venue. Built in 1310, this magnificent structure once represented the “Seven Scuole Grandi” whose members were high-society dignitaries in Venice.
The venue boasts walls decorated by Venice’s greatest Renaissance artists and was reimagined in 1532 by renowned architect Jacopo Sansovino, who blended Roman basilica elements with traditional Venetian design. This grand hall can accommodate up to 1,000 people and has hosted both a papal conclave in 1799 and a G7 summit in 1987.
Expected guest list and luxury details
Although the guest list remained largely confidential, approximately 200-250 carefully selected attendees were expected. The star-studded roster reportedly included tech titans like Bill Gates, media personalities such as Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Oprah Winfrey, and Gayle King, plus celebrities including Eva Longoria, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, and Mick Jagger.
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, along with Joshua Kushner and Karlie Kloss, were also invited. Essentially, the event promised unparalleled luxury, with an estimated cost between $10-20 million.
The logistical arrangements were equally impressive. Around 90 private jets were expected across Venice and nearby airports. Additionally, at least 30 water taxis were chartered to transport guests through the city’s iconic canals. Bezos and Sanchez also committed to sourcing approximately 80% of wedding provisions from local Venetian vendors.
The rise of protests and local resistance
As wedding preparations began, a passionate opposition movement emerged across Venice. Unlike traditional celebrity wedding publicity, the billionaire’s plans sparked widespread local resistance and international activist support.
Who organized the protests?
About a dozen Venetian organizations united under the banner “No Space for Bezos” — a clever play on words referencing Lauren Sanchez’s recent space flight. This coalition included housing advocates, anti-cruise ship campaigners, and university groups. Federica Toninello, a protest organizer with the Social Housing Assembly network, vowed dramatic action: “We will line the streets with our bodies, block the canals with lifesavers, dinghies and our boats”.
Key messages from activists
Throughout June, protesters hung anti-Bezos posters and banners across the city, including on the bell tower of San Giorgio Maggiore basilica and the iconic Rialto Bridge. Their primary message focused on the perceived privatization of public spaces. “Bezos is basically going to treat the whole city as a private ballroom, as if the citizens are not there,” explained protester Alice Bazzoli. Tommaso Cacciari, a leading activist, stated more bluntly: “Bezos arrogantly believes he can take over the city and turn it into his own private party venue”.
Why locals felt excluded
Residents argued the wedding exemplified broader municipal governance failures, specifically the prioritization of tourism over local needs. Many pointed to Venice’s housing crisis, noting the city is “steadily depopulating” while catering to wealthy visitors. Moreover, environmentalists highlighted that Venice is “actively sinking due to rising sea levels and mass tourism”, making the influx of private jets and mega-yachts particularly offensive.
The role of Greenpeace and other groups
On June 23, Greenpeace Italy joined forces with UK group “Everyone Hates Elon,” unfurling a massive banner in St. Mark’s Square featuring Bezos laughing alongside the message: “If you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax”. Greenpeace emphasized their goal was highlighting “the low taxes many billionaires pay, while allegedly exacerbating the climate crisis through their unsustainable lifestyles”.
Security concerns and the last-minute venue change
The threat of protests dramatically altered Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos’ wedding plans, forcing a last-minute venue change. As activists promised to make the event a “nightmare,” security concerns mounted, ultimately leading to substantial modifications to the celebration.
Wedding Guests and Plans
the couple's wedding planners insisted they had always prioritized minimizing disruption
New venue: The Arsenale and its significance
The celebration was relocated to the Arsenale, a historic complex situated beyond Venice’s congested center. This vast 14th-century former shipyard served the Venetian Republic’s maritime empire and has subsequently been restored as an exhibition space for the Venice Biennale art fair. The Arsenale proved a far more strategic choice than the initially planned Scuola Grande della Misericordia because it is completely surrounded by water and impossible to reach by land when connecting bridges are raised. This feature effectively neutralized protesters’ plans to disrupt the event.
