Venice Hosts the Wedding of the Century as Jeff Bezos Ties the Knot with Lauren Sánchez

Scores of celebrities and members of the world's super-rich are arriving in Venice by air and sea for the wedding of Jeff Bezos, the billionaire Amazon founder, and Lauren Sánchez, a former TV journalist. More than 90 private jets are expected to land in the Italian city before the celebrations officially begin on Thursday, bringing in guests for a three-day jamboree that some have called the wedding of the century, rumored to involve everything from pajama parties to elegant dinners. Among the first guests to arrive were Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka, her husband Jared Kushner, and their children. The family is staying at the St Regis, close to St. Mark's Square, one of a host of five-star hotels booked out by the 200 or so wedding guests. According to local press reports, some of the more low-profile invitees arrived in the lagoon city even earlier. Arience, a 60-meter yacht belonging to American fund manager and Amazon investor Bill Miller, moored by St. Marks earlier this week. Kismet, a superyacht owned by Shahid Khan, a Pakistani-American billionaire and the owner of Fulham FC, is also moored in the city. Venice authorities are rolling out a huge security operation, including at Marco Polo airport, as concerns rise over geopolitical instability, as well as threats by activists from the 'No Space for Bezos' campaign group to clog the canals with inflatable crocodiles in order to impede guests. Other VIPs believed to be on the guest list include Kim Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, Eva Longoria, and Orlando Bloom, along with possible appearances from Bill Gates, Mick Jagger, and Elton John. While the clatter of wheeled suitcases being dragged along Venice's narrow lanes is among the grievances of the city’s ever-dwindling band of residents, local newspapers have warned them to prepare for the stacks of luggage the Bezos guests will need to bring, containing the many outfits required for what is said to be a wedding in three acts. Details of the celebrations remain under wraps, and all staff involved have been warned not to mention the nuptials when speaking on the phone. However, it is believed the couple will exchange vows on Friday in the San Giorgio Maggiore basilica on the Venetian island of the same name. The main wedding reception is expected to be held on Saturday in the Arsenale, a historic complex of shipyards surrounded by fortified walls. The big party was originally set to take place in a 16th-century building in the city center but was switched due to security concerns. The wedding, said to cost between $40 million and $48 million, is the most high-profile to take place in Venice since George and Amal Clooney were married in the city in 2014. Yet, while the Clooneys were warmly welcomed, the Bezos nuptials have stirred controversy, with posters featuring Bezos's head on a rocket blasting into space in reference to his Blue Origin venture plastered across the city. Protesters argue that the event risks turning the world heritage site, which has long suffered from the effects of excessive tourism, into a playground for the elite. Greenpeace Italia and the British activist group 'Everyone Hates Elon' have joined the protests, unfurling a huge banner in St. Mark's Square on Monday with a picture of Bezos laughing and a sign reading, "If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax." A similar banner was pinned to a huge crane in front of Hotel Danieli, where some guests are staying. Venice's millionaire mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, has condemned the protesters as shameful. Meanwhile, reports in Corriere della Sera and news agency Ansa indicate that Bezos plans to make sizable charity donations, including $1 million towards a project that studies Venice's lagoon system. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2