Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding organizers have come out in defense of the couple after protests erupted in Venice, Italy, citing concerns over over-tourism and anti-capitalism. Event planners Lanza & Baucina Limited said that the Amazon billionaire and journalist explicitly instructed them to minimize disruption during their three-day wedding festivities.
From the onset, Bezos and Sánchez’s instructions were clear: respect for residents, institutions, and employing locals in event planning. The couple plans a high-profile wedding with guests including Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Bill Gates. However, protesters have plastered posters calling Venice “a playground fit for an oligarch” and plan to block canals and streets.
Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro believes the wedding will have a positive impact on the city’s economy, worth millions of dollars. The organizers claim they’ve been working to avoid negative impacts since planning began, months before protests emerged. They also made donations to local charities and sourced 80% of their provisions from Venetian vendors.
Protests were fueled by rumors that Bezos had booked the entire fleet of water transportation, which authorities have denied. “Rumours are entirely false,” said Lanza & Baucina Limited in a statement. The organizers also shut down reports claiming they had taken over the city. Mayor Brugnaro assured that he is working with the organizers to ensure a smooth event.
Source: https://pagesix.com/2025/06/22/celebrity-news/jeff-bezos-and-lauren-sanchezs-wedding-planners-defend-couple-amid-venice-protests