Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Emmy-winning journalist Lauren Sánchez are set to wed this week in Venice, Italy, drawing both international fanfare and local controversy as the high-profile event unfolds.
The multi-day celebration, which marks the union of one of the world’s wealthiest individuals with a former television anchor and helicopter pilot, is expected to blend celebrity glamour with Italian cultural traditions.
While exact dates remain unconfirmed, the Associated Press reported the festivities will take place between June 24 and June 26.
The couple, who became engaged in 2023 after five years of dating, reportedly sent out wedding invitations in May, according to ABC News, requesting guests make charitable donations to three Venetian nonprofits in lieu of bringing gifts.
Wedding Venue, Local Impact
While details of the ceremony remain largely private, Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro confirmed the couple chose the historic city as their wedding destination, dispelling earlier reports that they would marry in Aspen, Colorado.
“The many speculations and fake news circulating about Jeff Bezos’ wedding are completely unfounded,” Brugnaro said in a statement obtained by People, adding that only 200 guests are expected and that the city’s daily life will continue with minimal disruption.
“We are mutually working and supporting the organizers, to ensure that the event will be absolutely respectful of the fragility and uniqueness of the city,” the statement continued.
In keeping with the city’s traditions, Bezos and Sánchez are sourcing around 80 percent of wedding provisions locally, including pastries from the 140-year-old Rosa Salva bakery and custom Murano glassware by design house Laguna B, as reported by the Associated Press.
Guest List, Dress Speculation
The wedding guest list includes a number of high-profile names from business, politics, and entertainment. According to People, confirmed invitees include Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Karlie Kloss and Joshua Kushner, other attendees may include Oprah Winfrey, Salma Hayek Pinault, Barbra Streisand, Robert Pattinson, who have attended previous engagement parties, and Katy Perry, who flew on a Blue Origin space mission with Sánchez earlier this year.
The designer of Sánchez’s wedding gown has not been officially announced.
Protests, Public Sentiment
Despite assurances from city officials and wedding planners that the event will be low-impact and largely integrated into Venice’s daily rhythm, the wedding has triggered backlash among some locals and activist groups concerned with over-tourism and income inequality.
Protesters have staged demonstrations across the city, hanging banners and placing signs reading “No Space for Bezos” throughout the historic center, including at St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge.
Greenpeace, which has long criticized Bezos’s wealth and Amazon’s labor practices, unfurled a banner showing the billionaire laughing, accompanied by the message: “If you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax.”
Venice officials have responded by reaffirming their commitment to managing the event responsibly.
“The city is fully accustomed to hosting high-profile events of this nature and scale,” the city said in a statement to NBC News, citing international summits and film festivals. According to the statement, 30 of the city’s 280 water taxis have been reserved for the wedding.
In response to the protests, Antonio Rosa Salva, whose family pastry business is contributing to the celebration, told the Associated Press the event is “responsible tourism.”
“I don’t see how an event with 200 people can create disruptions,” he said.
“It’s prestigious that a couple like this, who can go anywhere in the world, are getting married in the city.”
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