The wedding of Bezos and Sánchez could generate €957 million for Venice

Once again, an Italian city is hosting three days of spectacular festivities for one of the most talked-about weddings on the planet. This time, it is Venice, renamed Bezos City, and a symbol of the climate crisis, that has ‘opened its doors’ to the happy couple: Jeff Bezos, the world's fourth richest man according to Forbes, with a fortune of £230 billion, and journalist Lauren Sànchez. More than 250 guests have been invited, including Ivanka Trump, Bill Gates, Di Caprio, Kim Kardashian, Orlando Bloom and Oprah Winfrey, the American talk show queen, Eva Longoria, Karlie Kloss, Mick Jagger, Elton John, Shakira, Queen Rania of Jordan, Anna Wintour, whose departure after 37 years has been announced, and Dolce & Gabbana.

The bride and groom arrived in recent days by helicopter, as it was impossible to land on the sea in a seaplane for safety reasons. The party cost over £30 million and, according to Italian Tourism Minister Daniela Santanché, could generate a total economic impact of £870 million, according to an estimate by the Veneto Statistical Office, representing nearly 68% of Venice's annual tourism revenue.

But some cannot bear to see Venice held hostage by one of the world's richest tycoons, such as the environmentalists of Extinction Rebellion, who demonstrated on Thursday in favour of a tax regime that taxes the rich at the heart of an increasingly deregulated capitalism, as explained by a 30-year-old activist who climbed a mast in St. Mark's Square for three hours. ‘No Space for Bezos’ is planning a demonstration on Saturday afternoon that combines marriage and the theme of peace, as the arms race in Europe, which has just been launched, will be a lucrative business for the American entrepreneur. In short, the €3 million donation from Bezos and Sánchez to the city of Venice, announced by Luca Zaia, president of the Veneto region, was not enough to change the mood. The funds will go to Corila, the Venice International University and the UNESCO office in Venice to help protect the lagoon's ecosystem.

For the three days, Sanchez has chosen 27 dresses worth €1.5 million. The Aman is hosting the bride and groom in its 24 suites decorated by Tiepolo at a cost of €3,500 each, while the bride and groom's suite, the most expensive and most beautiful, costs €11,000. It is no coincidence that the same hotel was chosen by Amal and George Clooney for their wedding, also organised by Lanza&Baucina, three Italian nobles specialising in extraordinary events.

The first event on Thursday was a party in the private cloister near the Gothic church of Madonna dell'Orto, owned by the Gelmi di Caporiacco family, which was flown over by a drone to avoid any intrusions, then interrupted by a violent storm. Among the other venues chosen for the festivities was Villa Baslini, on the private island of San Giovanni Evangelista, connected to Torcello, to ensure a little privacy, a spectacular location between medieval ruins and gardens where a pyjama party was to be held for a select number of guests. This information was denied by one of the owners, Antonia Baslini, who was contacted by telephone by Luxury Tribune: ‘Journalists were misled by the wedding preparations of the famous Venetian Loredan family. However, Bezos was in Torcello last year, invited to another wedding.’

Friday was the big day, but only symbolic, as the ‘I do's’ had already been exchanged a month ago in the United States. The Venetian setting chosen was the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, a natural amphitheatre, and some guests were able to visit the spectacular cloisters of the Cini Foundation as part of a cultural tour. The exchange of rings, a 30-carat ring worth over $5 million, took place before the bride and groom made their way to the Teatro Verde, restored with the support of Cartier, where Matteo Bocelli, Andrea's son, sang, ending with fireworks. For Friday's menu, it seems that the choice fell on Michelin-starred chef Fabrizio Mellino, with spaghetti alla Nerano, and for the cake, there is talk of French chef Cédric Grolet

For Saturday's wedding party, the Arsenal has been chosen for the gala ball, with Lady Gaga, and although it has not yet been confirmed, Beyoncé may join them.

To add to the excitement, a Bezos lookalike, German Cagdas Halicilar, was on hand in St. Mark's Square, which was flooded with people taking selfies.

The couple, now nicknamed Sanchezos, did not hide their emotion as they boarded the motorboat bound for the island of San Giorgio. Bezos said, ‘Venice is a magical place between sky and sea. An imaginary city, but real,’ and Sanchez added, ‘I'm living a fairy tale.’