Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's Venetian wedding takes a twist: venue change amid protests

The fourth-richest person in the world, Jeff Bezos, and his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, have reportedly changed the venue for their upcoming wedding celebration in Venice after protesters threatened to disrupt the festivities. 

The nuptials, originally set to be held in the historic Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a stunning 16th-century building in the heart of the city, are now scheduled to take place in Arsenale, an elaborate complex of shipyards encircled by fortified walls.

The "No Space for Bezos" protest group has claimed partial victory after expressing concerns that the extravagant wedding would reinforce the perception of Venice as a playground for the wealthy.

Activists had made plans to disrupt the festivities by flooding the nearby waters with inflatable crocodiles, blocking high-profile guests from entering the venue. 

"We feel as if we scored a victory ... The crocodile initiative would have given a bad impression of the city; this is why the venue was changed, even if the authorities might try to claim it was because of the war," one activist reported. 

The change of venue also arises from heightened security risks following recent geopolitical tensions, particularly after the US escalated its involvement in conflicts between Iran and Israel.

The arrival of Ivanka Trump, daughter of US President Donald Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, further intensified concern, prompting local authorities to bolster security measures. 

As the city braces for an influx of 200 guests, including celebrities such as Elon Musk, Orlando Bloom, Katy Perry, Mick Jagger and Leonardo DiCaprio, air traffic has surged, with an estimated 95 private planes flying into the city's Marco Polo airport for the wedding festivities.

Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, reality stars Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kris Jenner and fashion guru Diane von Furstenberg and her husband Barry Diller have already arrived. 

Unlike typical weddings, guests have been instructed not to bring gifts.

Instead, Bezos and Sánchez have pledged to make donations to several local institutions, including the UNESCO Venice Office, CORILA and Venice International University.

While the exact dates of the exchange vows remain under wraps, the couple is believed to seal their commitment on Friday, June 27, at the San Giorgio Maggiore basilica, with the main celebration slated for Saturday, June 28.

Meanwhile, the "No Space for Bezos" campaign now focuses its efforts on a planned “no Bezos, no war” march.

The campaign against Bezos gained traction since Venice’s millionaire mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, announced in March that the Bezos' wedding would take place in the iconic city.

Protesters argue that such lavish events overlook ongoing issues like overtourism and the displacement of locals grappling with high housing costs and climate change impacts.

Defending the decision to host the wedding, Brugnaro said the wedding aligned with Venice’s longstanding tradition of hospitality to both nobility and ordinary visitors.

"We will always respect the right to speak out, but we reject every form of intolerance and prejudice. No one in Venice can claim the right of deciding who can enter, who can love, who can celebrate," reported Italian newspaper "Il Foglio Quotidiano".