Just as tech billionaire Jeff Bezos and his fiancé Lauren Sanchez prepare for their upcoming wedding in Venice, Italy, some details about the luxury wedding event have been revealed – some residents say they are concerned about the scale of the event.
The couple's representatives remained relatively nervous about the wedding, which was scheduled later this month, and one guest reportedly told CNN Style that attendees had to sign an NDA.
Despite all this confidentiality and mystery, there are still many packaging. The multi-day feature is run by boutique event planners Lanza and Baucina (the Italian duo behind George and Amal Clooney’s 2014 wedding).
George and Amal Clooney left the Palazzo Ca Farsetti after taking a civil ceremony in Venice on September 29, 2014.
AFP Photo/Pierre Teysot (Pierre Pierre Pierre Teysot/Getty Images
supplier
Bezos and Sanchez reportedly employ mainly local suppliers, and 80% of wedding suppliers are said to be from the region.
On this list is the oldest pastry in Patseri, the city's Pastry Salva, which has been run by the same family for nearly 150 years. Its owner, Antonio Rosa Salva, has been commissioned to create “about 200 candy bags” for wedding guests and said he is used to preparing orders of up to 1,000 baked goods.
The couple also received unique hand-blown glass from fashion and design clients, Laguna B, a design studio known for its unique hand-blown glass, according to the Associated Press.
Meanwhile, according to NBC, about 30 of Venice's 280 high-end water taxis are believed to be retained by the couple.
A driver told CNN that he had booked a “large wedding” from June 25 to 30, but did not elaborate.
In addition, nine yacht ports in the city are believed to be booked during the event, while Bezos' yachts, Cru and Abena are currently in the Adriatic Sea, which is the waters where Venice is located.
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The city's airspace will be reportedly closed by drones and unauthorized air traffic, although emergencies have been caused for private helicopters and high-profile individuals, such as senior political leaders.
Koru and Abeona, the yacht of Jeff Bezos, were seen on June 13, 2023 in Portofino, Italy.
Robino Salvatore / Getty Images
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Little is known on the wedding day itself, and organizers keep information about the potential place for the package. A person near the Venice City Hall said media reports indicated that several venues were shelved and one would be selected based on factors such as protests and weather.
Some speculate that the Cini Foundation on San Giorgio Magior Island might be the place to hold a wedding. This huge complex has previously held grand gatherings, including G7 events and private concerts.
Aerial view of the helicopters of San Giorgio Maggiore island, a small island opposite the Piazza San Mark in Venice, Italy.
Fabrizio Villa / Getty Images
guest
While the guest list was retained, social media posts of the Bride Paris Bachelor Party last month may have glimpses of insight. Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Katy Perry and Eva Longoria all appeared in photos shared by Sanchez on Instagram.
According to the Associated Press, among the 200 guests were Oprah Winfrey, Mick Jagger and Ivanka Trump.
According to NBC, only three to four hotels will be used to accommodate those attending the event, which will reportedly begin on June 24.
Protests
Some locals expressed concern about the scale of celebrations in cities that have been traveled.
Last week, militants in Venice gathered on June 26, 27 and 28 (the wedding date) to organize protests.
Large banners, graffiti and stickers are displayed around the city, with “Space without Bezos” written on it, with the image of the spacecraft that seems to mention ownership of Bezos, a U.S.-based space technology company, Blue Origin.
The radicals gathered in Campo San Giacomo di Rialto to organize protests against his wedding, which took place in Venice on June 26, 27 and 28.
Stefano Mazzola/Getty Images
Although many details surrounding the upcoming wedding remain secret, a Venetian resident told The New York Times, “We have our moles.”
One of the venues could be Misericordia, a large space dedicated to Venetian culture and activities, protest organizer Federica Toninello told the newspaper.
“Bezos will never reach Misericordia,” she said. “We will line up the streets with our bodies, blocking the canal with lifeguards, Dinghays and our ships.”
“Let's make sure Venice is remembered as the postcard place for Bezos' wedding, but the city that hasn't bent over the oligarch,” another protester, Na Haby Stella Faye told The Outlet. “We have the opportunity to ruin a $10 million wedding – let's do it.”
The city said it is accustomed to hosting large events and crowds, with about 20 million tourists flocking to Venice every year.
“The city is completely accustomed to hosting high-profile events of this nature and scale, including other celebrity weddings, international summits such as the G7 and G20, as well as traditional events such as the Festa del Redentore and the Venetian Biennale,” it said in a statement.
“The protests are by no means representative of the majority of citizens, who are proud that Venice was chosen as the wedding venue,” the statement concluded.
Despite opposition, Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said Venice was honored to host the wedding.
“We are very proud,” Brugnaro told the Associated Press, hoping he would have a chance to meet Bezos. “I don't know if I'll have time, or if I'll meet and shake hands, but it's their honor to choose Venice. Venice once again reveals that it's a global stage.”
Brugnaro told People that the report said the couple had booked a large number of hotel suites and city services, including gondolas, which was wrong.
“We are working on each other and supporting organizers to make sure the event absolutely respects the vulnerability and uniqueness of the city,” he told The Outlet.
The city added in a statement: “Many of the speculation and false news about Jeff Bezos’ wedding was completely unfounded.
– Documents with Katie Scott of the Associated Press and Global News
