Bezos' Venice Wedding Superyachts, Celebs, and a City's Fury

Glamour and Gripes: Celebrities Descend on Venice for Exclusive Bezos Wedding

The canals of Venice are buzzing with more than just gondolas this week. A-list celebrities in sleek superyachts are converging on the historic city for the highly anticipated, three-day wedding celebration of Amazon's Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez.

While the impending nuptials promise glitz and glamour, they've also stirred controversy among locals who feel Venice is being treated as a playground for the ultra-rich.

The Star-Studded Guest List and Secret Ceremony

The tech magnate and his bride-to-be have reportedly invited around **200 guests** to their multi-million dollar wedding extravaganza. Festivities are believed to have kicked off on Thursday, culminating in a ceremony on Saturday at a currently undisclosed location. Security is understandably tight, fueling speculation about the venue, with whispers pointing towards the historic Church of the Abbey of Misericordia or the vast Arsenale shipyard complex.

Rumors abound about the celebrity attendees, with names like:

• Leonardo DiCaprio
• Mick Jagger
• Kim Kardashian
• Oprah Winfrey
• Orlando Bloom
• Ivanka Trump

Reportedly, at least **95 private planes** have requested landing permission at Venice's Marco Polo airport, as reported by Corriere della Sera. Bezos's mega-yacht, Koru, is expected to moor off San Giorgio Maggiore island, directly opposite St. Mark's Square, with the island reportedly booked entirely for the occasion.

Venice Divided: A City Under Strain

The lavish celebration has ignited a debate within Venice, where some fear the influx of A-listers and their entourages will exacerbate the challenges already faced by the city, which is grappling with overtourism.

Consider these facts:

• During peak seasons, Venice accommodates around **100,000 overnight tourists**.
• Tens of thousands more arrive daily, many disembarking from cruise ships.
• Meanwhile, the city's population is steadily declining.

While Venice previously hosted George Clooney's star-studded wedding, some protesters argue that Bezos, as one of the world's wealthiest individuals and the head of a company often criticized for its labor practices, represents a different situation. Environmentalists have also raised concerns about the carbon footprint associated with the guests' travel.

Protests and Counter-Arguments

Greenpeace has criticized the billions being spent on opulent partying while Venice is "sinking under the weight of the climate crisis." Sanchez herself has faced scrutiny for advocating for climate action while participating in a space flight aboard a Blue Origin rocket, developed by Bezos's company.

Activists unfurled a banner in St Mark's Square featuring a picture of Bezos and the message: "If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax."

Tommaso Cacciari, leader of the "No Space for Bezos" movement, expressed concerns that Venice is being treated as a "private ballroom" rather than a living city with residents and problems. He warned that such events are "condemning Venice to a definitive death" by driving out residents.

However, not everyone is against the wedding. A counter-group called "Yes Venice Can" has emerged, arguing that the event will bring much-needed revenue to the city.

Minimizing Disruption and Supporting Local Artisans

The couple's wedding planner has reportedly been instructed to minimize disruption to the city. Venice's tourism councillor, Simone Venturini, has stated that the event is "one of many events that the city hosts on a daily basis" and "relatively small in terms of the number of people involved."

Bezos and Sanchez have also made charitable donations to support Venice and are employing historic Venetian artisans, including Rosa Salva, the city's oldest pastry maker, and Laguna B, renowned for its handblown Murano glass.

Ultimately, the Bezos-Sanchez wedding serves as a microcosm of the challenges and complexities facing Venice today – balancing its allure as a global destination with the needs and concerns of its local community. As the celebrations unfold, the world watches to see how this delicate balance plays out.

Source: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/articles/glamour-gripes-celebs-head-venice-033429351.html