Does Jeff Bezos “renting” the whole of Venice for his wedding sit right with you?

The wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez in Venice, scheduled for next June, promises to be one of the most exclusive and spectacular events of the year. The founder of Amazon, one of the richest men in the world, and journalist and entrepreneur Lauren Sanchez will celebrate their love aboard their $500 million superyacht, the Koru, in an event that will take place in Venice, which, for the occasion, has been almost entirely "rented out" by the multi-billionaire for three full days, from June 24th to 26th. Each evening, about 250 guests will be invited to attend dinners, cocktail parties, and other celebrations at different locations throughout the city. The London agency Lanza & Baucina, which has extensive experience in organizing high-profile events, has been tasked with handling the entire wedding. The same agency had previously worked on the wedding of Indian magnate Agarwal’s daughter in 2011, an event that saw 800 guests and a performance by Shakira. Now, Lanza & Baucina must guide one of the world's most powerful men to his big day, executing a logistical plan that promises to be worthy of Bezos's fame and power.

Despite the absolute secrecy surrounding the event, some details have leaked. It is known that Bezos and Sanchez have booked five of the most prestigious hotels in Venice to host their guests: the Gritti Palace, the Hotel Danieli, Aman Venice, Belmond Hotel Cipriani, and The St. Regis Venice. Essentially, the entire five-star hotel circuit in the city. Guests will also have access to what seems to be the entire fleet of water taxis in the city. The level of security for the wedding is expected to be comparable to that of a state visit, with special measures that could include the presence of FBI agents. Media attention will be extremely high, both because of Jeff Bezos's prominence as the founder of Amazon, owner of the Washington Post and Metro Goldwyn Mayer, and because of the importance of the wedding itself, which represents a worldwide social and media event. But the logistical details don't stop there. It is said that the couple is looking for a unique and traditional location in Venice for the reception, preferring a "typical" cloister of the city to a palace on the Grand Canal, which might seem too predictable for such a high-profile event. Among the potential venues for the wedding, the name of the Cini Foundation on the island of San Giorgio is being mentioned, as its secluded location and beautiful cloister would ensure both privacy and security without sacrificing the elegance and beauty of the place. The catering, which remains a mystery, could be entrusted to chefs like Massimo Bottura, Massimiliano Alajmo, or Cristina Bowerman, while the dresses worn at the ceremony will certainly be custom-made by some designer. Our bet is on Dolce&Gabbana, whose show the Bezos-Sanchez couple attended a few seasons ago.

And then, of course, one of the most fascinating aspects of this wedding will surely be the guest list. According to rumors, the names include Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Pattinson, Barbara Streisand, Kris Jenner, Eva Longoria, Oprah Winfrey, and Kim Kardashian, who formed a close friendship with Lauren Sanchez in 2023. Additionally, there is talk of the possible presence of Ivanka Trump, who has been friends with Sanchez for a long time. Not only celebrities but also high-profile politicians and internationally renowned entrepreneurs have been invited, including possibly former U.S. President Donald Trump, as Bezos and Sanchez were seen together at the White House inauguration. If political commitments allow, his participation in the Venetian event would not be so surprising. The impact of this wedding will not be limited to Venice but will also have global economic repercussions. The Mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, has already emphasized the importance of the event for the city, which will have a positive effect on tourism and the local economy. The economic fallout from the event could prove to be millions, bringing great international visibility to the lagoon city. The mayor also mentioned that the event represents a unique opportunity to promote Venice as a place capable of hosting prestigious and important events.

But even with a multi-billion dollar fee, akin to the GDP of a small country, some are questioning whether, beyond Bezos's wedding, there is also talk of the "commodification" of Venice. The lagoon city, which has long been at the center of debates over the suffocating overtourism it faces, as well as being the stage for world-renowned events like the Film Festival and the Biennale, certainly does not need more publicity and represents, in addition to a place where people live, a cultural heritage whose sale seems somewhat unpleasant - especially for an American elite that no longer hides its tendency to regard Europeans as "free-loaders". But this wedding, more than a ceremony, seems more like an unofficial takeover of the entire city, much like what happened last year in Portofino with Anant Ambani. Not that such celebrations are a bad thing – however, it's impossible to shake the feeling that entire cities in our country are nothing more than amusement parks rented out to the world's most privileged elites, with little regard for the residents or shopkeepers, delivered to the billionaire of the moment almost like a restaurant. As long as someone pays the hefty bill.