Overview

• The three-day nuptials, estimated to have cost between $20 million and $55 million, wrapped on June 28 after ceremonies on San Giorgio Maggiore and final receptions at the Arsenale.
• Local activists have continued to unfurl banners and stage demonstrations, demanding higher tourism taxes and stricter visitor limits to protect the city’s infrastructure and heritage.
• Celebrity figures Rosie O’Donnell and Charlize Theron have publicly condemned the display of wealth, with O’Donnell criticizing guests like Oprah Winfrey and Theron calling the event tone-deaf.
• Event planners Lanza & Baucina say logistical shifts, venue secrecy and local sourcing efforts minimized disruptions despite threats of blockades.
• Venice officials emphasize that the festivities injected millions into the local economy and cite recent tourist taxes and group-size restrictions as steps towards sustainable tourism.