Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder, and journalist Lauren Collins arrived in Venice, Italy, on June 25, 2025, to kick off a three-day series of extravagant wedding celebrations. However, the events, costing an estimated 46 to 56 million dollars, have stirred protests from locals who feel their city is becoming a playground for the wealthy. Approximately 90 private jets will ferry A-list guests from entertainment, politics, and finance to what many call the “wedding of the century.”
Bezos, 61, and Collins, 55, were spotted entering the luxurious Aman Venice Hotel on the Grand Canal. Consequently, this exclusive venue will host many celebrity attendees. Workers set up a canvas canopy at the hotel’s floating wharf to shield guests from photographers. The couple’s arrival marks the start of festivities, beginning with an open-air party on June 26 at Madonna dell’Orto’s cloisters in Cannaregio, a district known for its vibrant nightlife.
🇮🇹 Guests began arriving in Venice for what some deem the “wedding of the century” as billionaire Jeff #Bezos ties the knot with fiancée Lauren Sanchez.
Bezos has reportedly booked out some of the city’s most iconic venues for the celebrations, much to the chagrin of locals. pic.twitter.com/ReXS6CdHiw
— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) June 25, 2025Venice residents expressed frustration over the event’s impact. For instance, Nadia Rigo, a local, told Reuters that money now dominates the city. She lamented that residents must seek permission to access ferries. Therefore, Venice City Hall cordoned off Cannaregio to protect guests, isolating them from activists protesting the city’s transformation. In response, Veneto governor Luca Zaia praised the couple’s 3 million euro donation to local institutions, including CORILA, Unesco’s Venice office, and Venice International University. He welcomed Bezos warmly.
Wedding Events Escalate
The celebrations continue on June 27 with a party on San Giorgio island, opposite St. Mark’s Square. This historic site, home to the Cini Foundation’s ancient monastery, offers privacy. Finally, the main wedding event on June 28 will occur at the Arsenale, a former medieval shipyard now an art venue. Surrounded by water, the location ensures security as bridges are raised. Although the wedding date remains undisclosed, some speculate a private U.S. ceremony has already occurred.
Billionaire Jeff Bezos and his fiancee Lauren Sanchez arrived in Venice ahead of their marathon wedding party. Activists in the Italian city have been protesting for weeks https://t.co/b3rIuJa4X5 pic.twitter.com/FC60iy91oy
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 25, 2025Bezos, ranked fourth on Forbes’ billionaires list, and Collins, engaged since 2023, follow a tradition of high-profile Venice weddings, like George and Amal Clooney’s in 2014. Their relationship began after Bezos’ 25-year marriage to MacKenzie Scott ended in 2019. Nevertheless, the lavish events highlight Venice’s struggle to balance tourism with local needs. As protests persist, the celebrations underscore the tension between global wealth and community identity.
The wedding’s global attention will likely intensify scrutiny of Venice’s tourism policies. Meanwhile, Bezos and Collins’ donation may ease some criticism, but locals demand long-term solutions. As the festivities unfold through June 28, the world will watch how the couple navigates this milestone amid local unrest. The outcome could influence how Venice manages future high-profile events.
