Venice in turmoil: protests against Bezos' opulent wedding!

Venice in turmoil: protests against Bezos' opulent wedding!

The preparations for the wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are causing excitement and counter-protests in Venice. The celebrations will take place between June 26 and 28, 2025 on the Venetian island of San Giorgio Maggiore, a location already known for high-profile weddings, including those of George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin in 2014. According to vol.at In addition to prominent guests such as Katy Perry, Oprah Winfrey and Mick Jagger, Ivanka Trump is also among the wedding guests.

The preparations for the event are elaborate: 80 percent of the food and drinks come from local Venetian businesses. The city's oldest pastry shop, Rosa Salva, contributes around 200 gift packages with traditional Venetian sweets, including “Bussolà” and Zaletti. Additionally, design studio Laguna B will provide gifts made from hand-blown Murano glass.

Protests against the celebrations

Apart from the festive mood, there is considerable resistance in the city. Activists from the group “Laboratorio Occupato Morion” and other protest movements have announced actions to demonstrate against the wedding. Under the slogan “No Space for Bezos,” they are mobilizing to block access to the “Scuola Grande della Misericordia” palace on June 28th. These protests accuse the city administration under Mayor Luigi Brugnaro of putting private interests above public concerns. Critics fear that such events are increasingly turning Venice into a “playground for the super-rich,” and also highlight the negative impact on the local population and safety regulations.

A demonstration is planned to take place on the wedding day in particular, as mass tourism is expected to increase further as a result of the event. The reservation of five luxury hotels and the rental of all water taxis for the event have only increased residents' worries. The protesters argue that this endangers the working and housing rights of the local population, and they also criticize the existing problems caused by mass tourism.

Marriage contract and engagement at a luxury level

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez have been dating since 2019 and got engaged during a vacation in the south of France in 2023. The engagement party took place on a superyacht in Positano. Before getting married, Bezos plans to have a prenuptial agreement prepared to secure his estimated $220 billion fortune, which is also causing a stir on social networks. A leaflet with the message “No place for Bezos, no place for oligarchs!” Spreads quickly on social media and strengthens the protest movement.

The relationship between wealth, power and the realities of life in Venice is now in focus. The upcoming celebrations promise not only glitz and glamour, but also an intense debate about social justice and the future of one of the world's most famous cities.