Guests began arriving as early as Thursday evening (June 26), gathering at the terrace of Madonna dell’Orto, a 14th-century church in Cannaregio known for Tintoretto masterpieces.
City officials blocked off nearby streets and canals from 4:30 p.m. to midnight to ensure privacy and security ahead of Friday’s ceremony and Saturday’s reception.
Sánchez wore a high-neck lace and tulle wedding gown by Dolce & Gabbana, inspired by Sophia Loren’s wedding dress in the 1958 film Houseboat, she told Vogue. She paired it with diamond earrings loaned by the same brand—a nod to the tradition that borrowed items bring brides good fortune.
She also wore two additional gowns: a high-neck pink dress inspired by Gilda (1946) for the rehearsal dinner, and a crystal-encrusted cocktail dress embellished with 175,000 Swarovski crystals by Oscar de la Renta.
Bezos, marrying for the second time, wore a classic black tuxedo, though the brand was not disclosed.
According to Thansettakij, citing Reuters, local business and political leaders in Venice hailed the extravagant event—estimated to cost €40–48 million (approx. 1.8 billion baht)—as a benefit to the local economy.
Veneto Governor Luca Zaia praised the celebration, attended by around 200–250 guests. Italy’s Ministry of Tourism estimated the wedding’s total economic impact at €957 million (US$1.12 billion or approx. 40 billion baht), including €896 million in media value.
The guest list read like a celebrity who’s who: Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Bill Gates, Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, Queen Rania of Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Kris Jenner, and Khloé Kardashian. The ring exchange took place on San Giorgio Maggiore Island, across from St Mark’s Square, accompanied by a performance from Matteo Bocelli, son of tenor Andrea Bocelli.
However, not all Venetians were celebrating. On June 28, approximately 1,000 protesters marched from Venice’s central train station to the Rialto Bridge, where a large banner read “No Space for Bezos”. Many objected to what they perceive as performative philanthropy.
Bezos is a hypocrite, said Alice Bazzoli, a 24-year-old student, referring to his €3 million donation to Venice, which she sees as inconsistent with the pollution from his private jets and mega-yacht.
“I want Venice for Venetians, not tourists. We need affordable housing,” she added, lamenting that students are being priced out by short-term holiday rentals.
Filmmaker Andrea Segre, 49, born in Venice, echoed the concern: “People aged 25–35—those starting families—can’t afford to live here anymore. That drains the city of diversity and vitality.”
The city’s population has halved in 50 years, now under 50,000 residents in the historic centre, compared to over 100,000 in the 1970s.
Venice’s mayor Luigi Brugnaro dismissed the criticism, saying: “The protesters go against Venice’s history, which is about commerce and connectivity. Bezos embodies that spirit—he’s more Venetian than they are.”
Yet the backlash was notably stronger than previous high-profile weddings, such as that of George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin in 2014—largely due to Bezos’ corporate influence and political ties.
Ranked the world’s fourth-richest person by Forbes, Bezos has been linked to US President Donald Trump. In Italy, Amazon has faced union protests over labor practices and tax compliance scrutiny.
“No matter how he arrives—even on a rowing boat with just a few people—I’d still protest,” said Tommaso Cacciari, leader of the “No Space for Bezos” campaign. “He is involved materially, politically and financially in Trump’s return to power.”
The three-day wedding encapsulates a growing dilemma for global tourist cities: economic gain from billionaire events versus rising inequality, loss of housing, and erosion of local life.
— News Original —
Bezos-Sánchez wedding sparks economic boost and backlash across Venice
Guests began arriving as early as Thursday evening (June 26), gathering at the terrace of Madonna dell’Orto, a 14th-century church in Cannaregio famed for Tintoretto masterpieces.
City officials cordoned off nearby streets and canals from 4.30pm to midnight to ensure privacy and security ahead of Friday’s ceremony and Saturday’s reception.
Sánchez wore a high-neck lace and tulle wedding gown by Dolce & Gabbana, inspired by Sophia Loren’s wedding dress in the 1958 film Houseboat, she told Vogue. She paired it with diamond earrings lent by the same brand—a nod to the tradition that borrowed items bring brides good fortune.
She also donned two more gowns: a high-neck pink dress inspired by Gilda (1946) for the rehearsal dinner, and a crystal-encrusted cocktail dress embellished with 175,000 Swarovski crystals by Oscar de la Renta.
Bezos, marrying for the second time, wore a classic black tuxedo, though the brand was not disclosed.
According to Thansettakij, citing Reuters, local business and political leaders in Venice hailed the lavish event—estimated to cost €40–48 million (approx. 1.8 billion baht)—as a boon to the local economy.
Veneto Governor Luca Zaia praised the celebration, attended by around 200–250 guests. Italy’s Ministry of Tourism estimated the wedding’s total economic impact at €957 million (US$1.12 billion or approx. 40 billion baht), including €896 million in media value.
The guest list read like a celebrity who’s who: Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Bill Gates, Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, Queen Rania of Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Kris Jenner, and Khloé Kardashian. The ring exchange took place on San Giorgio Maggiore Island, across from St Mark’s Square, accompanied by a performance from Matteo Bocelli, son of tenor Andrea Bocelli.
Yet not all Venetians were celebrating. On June 28, roughly 1,000 protesters marched from Venice’s central train station to the Rialto Bridge, where a large banner read “No Space for Bezos”. Many objected to what they see as performative philanthropy.
Bezos is a hypocrite, said Alice Bazzoli, a 24-year-old student, referring to his €3 million donation to Venice, which she sees as incompatible with the pollution from his private jets and mega-yacht.
“I want Venice for Venetians, not tourists. We need affordable housing,” she added, lamenting that students are being priced out by short-term holiday rentals.
Filmmaker Andrea Segre, 49, born in Venice, echoed the concern: “People aged 25–35—those starting families—can’t afford to live here anymore. That drains the city of diversity and vitality.”
The city’s population has halved in 50 years, now under 50,000 residents in the historic centre, compared to over 100,000 in the 1970s.
Venice’s mayor Luigi Brugnaro dismissed the criticism, saying: “The protesters go against Venice’s history, which is about commerce and connectivity. Bezos embodies that spirit—he’s more Venetian than they are.”
Yet the backlash was notably stronger than previous high-profile weddings, such as that of George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin in 2014—largely due to Bezos’ corporate influence and political ties.
Ranked the world’s fourth-richest person by Forbes, Bezos has been linked to US President Donald Trump. In Italy, Amazon has faced union protests over labour practices and tax compliance scrutiny.
“No matter how he arrives—even on a rowing boat with just a few people—I’d still protest,” said Tommaso Cacciari, leader of the “No Space for Bezos” campaign. “He is involved materially, politically and financially in Trump’s return to power.”
The three-day wedding encapsulates a growing dilemma for global tourist cities: economic gain from billionaire events versus rising inequality, loss of housing, and erosion of local life.