By Elma Aksalic
Celebrities are taking Venice by storm, as they arrive in droves for the wedding in Italy of billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former journalist Lauren Sánchez.
The three-day celebration began on June 26 with a pre-nuptial welcome party at the Madonna dell’Orto church in the historic city.
The church dates back to the 14th century and was the home parish of Italian Renaissance painter Jacopo Robusti, best known as Tintoretto, and his family.
From Hollywood stars to musicians, athletes, television personalities, business tycoons, and royalty, there are many famous faces among the approximately 200 guests expected to attend.
The guest list includes Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, Tom Brady, Orlando Bloom, the Kardashian-Jenner clan, Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, and more.
The fuss over their arrival brought disapproval from some locals and activist groups, who are protesting the lack of privatization in Venice and government officials seemingly prioritizing tourism over its residents.
The demonstrations drew a response from Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro.
“We will always respect the right to speak out, but we reject every form of intolerance and prejudice,” he said.
“No one in Venice can claim the right of deciding who can enter, who can love, who can celebrate.”
Regional governor Luca Zaia touted the wedding as an economic and reputational boon for Venice, with a hefty price tag of nearly $50 million for the entire three-day extravaganza.
Bezos, 61, and Sánchez, 55, will tie the knot today with a ceremony at Teatro Verde, an outdoor performing arts theater set in the gardens of the island of San Giorgio Maggiore.
Matteo Bocelli, son of the Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, will perform at the exchange of vows.
The reception will be on Saturday in the Venetian Arsenale, a sprawling complex of former shipyards and armories dating back to the 12th century. Elton John and Lady Gaga are said to be performing at the party.
There has been a request for no gifts.
The couple, who got engaged in May 2023, have been known to donate hundreds of millions of dollars to charities over the years.
To celebrate their wedding, Bezos and Sánchez have pledged more than $3 million in charity donations to UNESCO’s Venice office, the Consortium for the Coordination of Research Activities concerning the Venice Lagoon System, and Venice International University.
Additionally, artisanal contributions to the festivities will be made by local historic companies, which include Rosa Salva, the city’s oldest pastry maker, and Laguna B, a design studio known for its handblown glassware.