Venice Readies for Bezos Wedding Amid Mixed Reactions
When George and Amal Clooney exchanged vows in Venice in 2014, they captivated the world, turning the lagoon city into a glamorous spectacle filled with celebrities and the incessant flash of paparazzi. Venetians proudly showcased their hometown’s beauty and romance, embracing the attention as the Grand Canal became a temporary tableau for love. Fast forward to this week, and news of another high-profile wedding set to take place in Venice has sparked a divide among its residents. Jeff Bezos, the billionaire founder of Amazon, and his fiancée Lauren Sánchez, a former TV journalist, are set to say 'I do' in a lavish three-day event scheduled from June 24 to 26.
The plans for this opulent affair reportedly began with Italian fashion designer Domenico Dolce, who suggested to Morris Ceron, chief of staff at Venice's city council, that the couple was searching for a magical wedding destination. Recent reports reveal that wedding planners have nearly filled five of Venice's most luxurious hotels and reserved almost all of the city's fleet of water taxis. It is speculated that hundreds of guests may attend, potentially including high-profile names such as former US President Donald Trump.
Venice has faced significant challenges with overtourism since the Clooney wedding, leading to the implementation of an access charge last year for day-trippers. Despite this, Luigi Brugnaro, the city’s mayor, openly welcomed the Bezos wedding, stating that it would bring substantial economic benefits to the city. "The event will have economic repercussions worth millions of euros for our city," he told the Veneto edition of Corriere della Sera.
However, not all Venetians share the mayor's enthusiasm. Francesca, a local tour guide, expressed frustration, saying, "It's going to be a great big nuisance. I think most people are of the same opinion. We are exasperated by a whole series of problems related to overtourism and this is just another thing foisted on the city that we have to suffer."
While she acknowledges that the Clooney wedding was also a disruption, she recalls the couple’s kindness and easygoing demeanor, contrasting them with the expectations surrounding Bezos and Sánchez, stating, "We have no idea what kind of behavior to expect from this lot."
Among the rumored guests are celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, Eva Longoria, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Katy Perry, alongside Trump’s daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, raising eyebrows and excitement about the wedding’s possibilities.
One potential venue for the event could be the iconic Doge's Palace, which served as the historic seat of power during Venice’s republic era. Giusi Giudice, another tour guide, argued that Venice is accustomed to hosting grand events and questioned the negativity surrounding the wedding. She said, "Are they just envious of the rich? It didn’t seem to matter with the Clooneys, but here we have a billionaire who is a Trumpian and he may be perceived as less pleasant."
Matteo Secchi, who heads a residents' activist group named Venessiacom, emphasized that everyone—rich or poor—should be welcomed in Venice. However, he expressed discomfort at the implication that the city bends over backwards for wealthy individuals. "We are the city that sells itself to the highest bidder," he noted.
The social media account of the group Venezia Non è Disneyland (Venice Isn’t Disneyland), launched by young Venetians to address visitor impact, has been buzzing with commentary regarding the upcoming nuptials, with one user humorously suggesting imposing tariffs on weddings in Europe.
As the city braces for this extravagant celebration, local activists have decided to hold off on further comments until more details are revealed. One of them stated, "The city hosted Pope Francis last year. Therefore, I think we can tolerate this kind of wedding too."
As Venice prepares for yet another high-stakes wedding, the debate continues on how much the city and its residents are willing to compromise for opulence and fame.
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