Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and one of the wealthiest people on the planet, and fiancée Lauren Sánchez have officially touched down in Venice.
The couple will host a spectacular three-day wedding, drawing a glittering crowd of celebrities. The event is also stirring plenty of buzz and a bit of controversy across the city.
Billionaire Couple Touches Down in Venice
A Reuters reporter spotted Bezos on Wednesday entering the exclusive Aman Venice Hotel on the Grand Canal, where many VIP guests will stay.
Sánchez was photographed arriving later that day.
Have a look at some more photographs that have surfaced on the internet.
Private Jets and Superyachts Bring In Star-Studded Guests
More than 90 private jets will land in Venice ahead of Thursdayâs festivities. Some are already calling it the âwedding of the century,â with rumors swirling about everything from pajama parties to elegant dinners.
Among the first guests spotted: Ivanka Trump, husband Jared Kushner, and their children. The family is staying at the nearby St. Regis, close to St. Markâs Square â one of several five-star hotels fully booked for the roughly 200 wedding guests.
According to local reports, other VIPs have already arrived quietly. Bill Miller, American fund manager and Amazon investor, has docked his 60-meter yacht Arience near St. Markâs. Pakistani-American billionaire and Fulham FC owner Shahid Khan has moored his superyacht Kismet in the city.
A-List Guests â and a “Wedding in Three Acts”
High-profile names believed to be on the guest list include Kim Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, Eva Longoria, Orlando Bloom, and possibly Bill Gates, Mick Jagger, and Elton John.
Local papers have warned Venetians to brace for the sound of suitcases rolling along the cityâs narrow lanes. Guests will reportedly need multiple outfits for what insiders are calling “a wedding in three acts.”
Inside the Wedding Venues: Basilica and Historic Shipyard
Details of the celebration remain under wraps, with staff told not to discuss the event (even on calls). The New York Times reports that the couple will exchange vows Friday at the 16th-century Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore.
Guests are expected to explore the basilicaâs Renaissance treasures, including Jacopo Tintorettoâs The Last Supper, enjoy a concert in the islandâs small amphitheater, and wander its famous maze.
The Washington Post reports the main reception will take place Saturday at the Arsenale, a historic Venetian shipyard complex. The party was initially planned for a 16th-century venue in central Venice, but it was relocated for security reasons.
A Pricey Affair â and Dividing Venice
As per a report in Reuters, the â¬40-48 million (roughly $43-48 million) wedding is the cityâs highest-profile celebration since George and Amal Clooney married there in 2014. But unlike the Clooneys, whose nuptials were warmly received, Bezos and Sánchezâs celebration has stirred controversy.
Posters showing Bezosâ head on a rocket â a jab at his Blue Origin space company â have appeared across Venice. To give back, Bezos is expected to make several charitable donations, including â¬1 million to support research on Veniceâs fragile lagoon system, according to reports in Corriere della Sera and news agency Ansa.
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