The Amazon founder and Lauren Sanchez, his fiancée, are set to marry in an extravagant wedding ceremony on the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. The pair have chosen the picturesque capital of the Veneto region as the setting for their September nuptials. They intend to have the signing ceremony during the period of either June 24-26 or June 26-28. Though information about the actual venues is still under wraps, the event has already sparked a tidal wave of media coverage and public excitement.
An estimated 200 guests, including major A-list celebrities, are expected to attend the ceremony. Oprah Winfrey, Mick Jagger, and Katy Perry are just a few of the big names invited. Singer Katy Perry, who is engaged to actor Orlando Bloom, shares a special bond with Sanchez. They flew into space together on an April Blue Origin flight.
Local Protests Erupt
Despite all the excitement surrounding the fairytale wedding, local community members and environmental watchdogs such as Greenpeace have made it known that they are not happy. In response to growing concerns about the effects of over-tourism, whose detrimental effects have begun to disrupt everyday life in Venice, these protests have gone up. Local residents contend that such high-profile events are erasing the city’s cultural legacy. In fact, they argue that these gatherings disrupt the flow of urban life.
The protests shed light on more systemic issues related to the nature of tourism in Venice. Residents often have a hard time coexisting with the inundation of guests. The wedding of Bezos and Sanchez has intensified these discussions, as locals strive to maintain their way of life amidst increasing commercial activities.
Personal Backgrounds
Yet both Bezos and Sanchez carry with them plenty of baggage as they step into this new act. Sanchez was last married to Hollywood power agent Patrick Whitesell with whom she was together for 14 years before they separated and filed for divorce in April 2019. Together, they have one son, Nikko Gonzalez, born from Sanchez’s previous relationship to ex-NFLer Tony Gonzalez.
Jeff Bezos could not have been married to MacKenzie Scott for 25 years. As a couple, they have two children together. Their high-profile divorce in 2019 opened a new chapter for both, turning a painful moment in their highly-publicized personal lives into something transformative.
Commitment to Local Community
Both Sanchez and Bezos are investing in their local economy. Further, they have committed to utilizing at least 80% Venetian businesses and organizations for their wedding planning. This decision shows a strong desire to fold their celebration into existing community activities rather than force a presence on the community.
As plans develop for this much-anticipated celebration, the new couple remains busy negotiating their own poignant personal milestones with the challenging feelings of their community on the ground. The wedding promises to intermix celebrity glamour with authentic Vegas culture. Though an interesting proposition in itself, it faces concerted protests and concerns from the residents of Venice itself.
