Venue Changed Due to Security Concerns
'Wedding of the Century' Unfolds Over Three Days
At Least 62.4 Billion Won Spent on Ceremony
The lavish three-day wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has finally begun. Amid this, local tourism businesses such as hotels and food and beverage companies, as well as authorities, are reportedly filled with anticipation, believing that the wedding of the billionaire, who boasts immense wealth, will benefit the regional economy. On June 27, Yonhap News, citing a report by the U.S. daily The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), stated that despite opposition and protest rallies from some civic groups, the authorities in Venice, where tourism is a major source of income, hope that Bezos's wedding will lead to long-term investment in the Venice region.
In particular, local accommodation providers, confectionery businesses, glass artisans, and event companies are welcoming the billionaire's wedding as a 'once-in-a-lifetime' business opportunity, according to the WSJ. Amid a mix of tension and excitement, Bezos and his fianc?e Lauren Sanchez appeared on the Venice canals on the 25th, and by the 26th, when a welcome party was held ahead of the ceremony, celebrity guests invited to the wedding were arriving one after another by yacht or private jet, further heightening the atmosphere.
According to the WSJ, famous personalities spotted in Venice so far include Ivanka Trump, daughter of former U.S. President Donald Trump, and her husband Jared Kushner, former senior advisor to the White House; Tony Gonzalez and his wife, with Gonzalez being the ex-boyfriend of bride Sanchez and a former NFL star; broadcaster Oprah Winfrey; model Kim Kardashian; and actor Orlando Bloom. Microsoft founder Bill Gates, singers Mick Jagger and Katy Perry, and Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio are also expected to attend.
Famous personalities spotted in Venice include Ivanka Trump, daughter of former U.S. President Donald Trump, and her husband Jared Kushner, former senior advisor to the White House; Tony Gonzalez and his wife, with Gonzalez being the ex-boyfriend of bride Sanchez and a former NFL star; broadcaster Oprah Winfrey; model Kim Kardashian; and actor Orlando Bloom. Photo by AP and Yonhap News.
The welcome party on the first day was held at the Madonna dell'Orto Church in the Cannaregio district of Venice, and on June 27, the wedding ceremony itself will take place at the San Giorgio Maggiore Church, located on San Giorgio Maggiore Island in Venice. The wedding song will be performed by Matteo Bocelli, son of the famous Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.Immediately after the wedding, the reception will be held at the Arsenale exhibition hall in the Castello district at the eastern end of Venice, a site renowned for medieval shipbuilding. The reception was originally planned to take place at the grand medieval building 'Scuola Grande della Misericordia' in central Venice, but the venue was reportedly changed due to security concerns.
Local civic groups have strongly opposed Bezos's wedding, which involves enormous expenditures, viewing it as turning Venice into a "playground for the wealthy." Photo by AFP and Yonhap News Agency
Previously, local civic groups have strongly opposed Bezos's wedding, which involves enormous expenditures, viewing it as turning Venice into a "playground for the wealthy." Under the slogan "No Space for Bezos," these groups have recently put up protest posters throughout the city and continued their demonstrations. Luca Zaia, governor of the Veneto region where Venice is located, estimates that the costs involved in Bezos's wedding are at least 40 million euros (approximately 6.24 billion won).
Meanwhile, after ending his 26-year marriage with ex-wife MacKenzie Scott in 2019, Bezos became engaged to Sanchez, who is a former broadcast journalist. In response to the backlash surrounding the wedding, the Bezos-Sanchez couple announced that they had made donations to three organizations supporting Venice, in an effort to quell the controversy. In invitations sent to approximately 200 guests, the couple wrote, "This magical place has given us unforgettable memories," and added, "Through these (donation) efforts and your participation, we hope that Venice will continue to inspire wonder for generations to come."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
