'Kisses yes, Bezos no': protest in Venice over wedding bonanza

Hundreds of protesters marched through Venice's central streets on Saturday, 28 June, to say ‘No’ to billionaire Jeff Bezos, his bride and their wedding extravaganza, which reached its third and final day amid celebrity-crowded parties and the outcries of tired residents.

On Friday, 27 June, the world’s fourth-richest man and his bride Lauren Sanchez Bezos tied the knot during a private ceremony with around 200 celebrity guests on the secluded island of San Giorgio.

The wedding, however, angered many Venetians, with some activists protesting it as an exploitation of the city by the billionaire Bezos, while ordinary residents suffer from over-tourism, high housing costs and the constant threat of climate-induced flooding.

96 private jets full of corrupt elites and celebs flying into Venice, a city destroyed by tourism, to celebrate the wedding of the world’s most shameless tax dodger: Jeff Bezos.

Well, it's the perfect anecdote for future historians writing about this Second Gilded Age --> 🧵

— Rutger Bregman (@rcbregman) June 27, 2025

As the two newlyweds prepared for the final party on Saturday evening, hundreds of Venetians and protesters from across Italy filled Venice's tiny streets with colourful banners reading ‘Kisses Yes, Bezos No’ and ‘No Bezos, no War’.

The demonstration contrasted with the expensive wedding bonanza, seen by critics as an affront to the lagoon city's fragile environment and its citizens, overwhelmed by throngs of tourists.

“We are here to continue ruining the plans of these rich people, who accumulate money by exploiting many other people… while the conditions of this city remain precarious,” Martina Vergnano, one of the demonstrators, said.

Too funny! 😂The locals in Venice are so unhappy that Jeff Bezos & Lauren Sanchez are having their elaborate wedding 3-day wedding, with 200 guests, that protestors have placed ‘Jeff Bezos mannequins’ throughout the canal city: pic.twitter.com/cOESCKIiFN

— Marla Hohner (@marlahohner) June 27, 2025

The protest organisers claimed a victory after Saturday’s wedding party, which was initially to be held in central Venice but was later moved to a former medieval shipyard, the Arsenale.

Bezos has donated 1 million euros (USD 1.17 million) each to three environmental research organisations working to preserve Venice, according to Corila, the Venetian environmental research association. But many protesters blasted the move as a clear attempt to appease angry residents.

Protesters float Jeff Bezos dummy ahead of his wedding in Venice pic.twitter.com/8lrFjTA64t

— Piyush Mittal 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇬🇪🇨🇦🟧🌊🌈 (@piyushmittal) June 25, 2025

Amazon made extra $1 bn in profit via secret pricing algorithm: US FTC

“We want a free Venice, which is finally dedicated to its citizens. Those donations are just a misery and only aimed at clearing Bezos' conscience,” Flavio Cogo, a Venetian activist who joined Saturday's protest, said.

Details of the exclusive wedding ceremony on Friday night were a closely guarded secret, until Sanchez Bezos posted to Instagram a photo of herself beaming in a white gown as she stood alongside a tuxedo-clad Bezos.

Athletes, celebrities, influencers and business leaders converged to revel in extravagance that was as much a testament to the couple's love as to their extraordinary wealth.

Bezos spars with Biden on Twitter over taxing the wealthiest

This is oligarchy. This is obscene.

While 60% live paycheck to paycheck & kids go hungry, Jeff Bezos, worth $230 billion, goes to Venice on his $500 million yacht for a $20 million wedding & spends $5 million on a ring while his real tax rate is just 1.1%.

End this oligarchy.

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) June 24, 2025

The star-studded guest list included Oprah Winfrey and NFL great Tom Brady, along with Hollywood stars Leonardo Di Caprio and Orlando Bloom, tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Bill Gates and top socialites, including the Kardashian-Jenner clan.

Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner and their three children also joined the celebrations.

The bride and groom stayed at the Aman Venice hotel on the Grand Canal, where Bezos posed for photos and Sanchez Bezos blew kisses to the press.

“The planet is burning but don't worry, here's the list of the 27 dresses of Lauren Sanchez,” one protest slogan read, a reference to the bride's reported wedding weekend wardrobe.

It featured a mermaid-lined wedding gown by Dolce and Gabbana and other Dolce Vita-inspired looks by Italian designers, including Schiaparelli and Bottega Veneta.

The city administration has strongly defended the nuptials as being in keeping with Venice's tradition as an open city that has welcomed popes, emperors and ordinary visitors alike for centuries.

Will Venice be listed as an endangered UNESCO site?