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Bezos and Sanchez Stage Symbolic Venice Wedding Facing Environmental Protests

Security fears drove the final gala to the fortified Arsenale, reflecting activists’ objections to the lavish environmental footprint

Overview

  • On June 27 on San Giorgio Maggiore, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez held a symbolic ceremony after marrying legally in the U.S. over a month earlier.
  • Organizers shifted the closing gala from the Scuola Grande della Misericordia to the Arsenale due to heightened security concerns following local demonstrations.
  • Extinction Rebellion and resident activists mounted protests throughout the three-day celebrations, decrying the event’s multimillion-dollar cost and ecological impact.
  • The weekend-long festivities, estimated at $9.5–11 million, drew around 200 guests, including Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, the Kardashian-Jenner clan and other high-profile figures.
  • The couple has donated €3 million to Venice preservation efforts and enlisted London planners Lanza & Baucina to coordinate the luxury, multi-venue celebration.