While most soon-to-be-married couples might spend the week before their wedding ironing out seating charts or finalizing vows, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez decided to take a more lavish approach—by throwing a wild foam party on a $500 million superyacht in Croatia, all while controversy brews in their upcoming wedding destination: Venice.
Splashing into Wedding Week with a Yacht Party in Croatia
Before heading to Italy for their highly anticipated June 27 nuptials, Bezos and Sanchez took a celebratory detour off the Croatian island of Cres.
They invited a group of celebrity friends aboard the Koru, Bezos’ enormous luxury yacht, for a sunny afternoon filled with foam, paddleboards, and plunges into the Adriatic Sea.
The couple, all smiles and soap suds, looked completely carefree despite the storm of protests awaiting them in Venice.
Photos showed them wrapped up in each other, beaming in swimsuits—Sanchez in a striking black-and-red bikini, Bezos in blue and black trunks.
Birthday, Bubbles, and a Surprise Visit from the Police
While it may have looked like a pre-wedding bash, there was another reason for celebration: Sanchez’s 19-year-old son Evan’s birthday. A “Happy Birthday” sign hung from the yacht, and the party vibe was energetic with younger guests leaping off the yacht and sunbathers soaking up rays on deck. At one point, a police boat reportedly approached the vessel, but the visit was brief and uneventful.
Meanwhile in Venice, Protestors Say “No Thanks” to Bezos Bash
Back on land, things aren’t quite as bubbly. Venice residents are gearing up for major protests against the couple’s lavish wedding.
Anti-capitalist demonstrators have plastered signs across the city saying things like “No space for Bezos” and “Veniceland: A playground fit for an oligarch.”
With wedding celebrations set to take over parts of the city, locals are vowing to block canals and streets to hinder the movement of guests—reportedly around 200 of them—who will be navigating the famously narrow waterways during Venice’s peak tourist season.
Activists Plan to Physically Block Bezos from Wedding Site
Protest organizer Federica Toninello told the New York Times that her group has even infiltrated the event’s plans through insider tips.
They believe a major event is set for the Misericordia venue and are determined to stop it.
“Bezos will never get to the Misericordia,” she told a crowd of protestors.
“We will line the streets with our bodies, block the canals with lifesavers, dinghies, and our boats.”
Locals Say the Wedding Is a Symbol of Venice’s Bigger Problems
At the heart of the protest is growing frustration over the city’s housing crisis, which many residents blame on tourism.
With Venice becoming increasingly unaffordable for locals, the opulent Bezos-Sanchez wedding—expected to cost up to $20 million—has become a symbol of the inequality locals feel.
To make matters worse, Venice is already flooded with tourists this time of year, and now the city’s limited accommodations and resources are being further strained.
Wedding Planners Insist They’re Respecting the City
But according to the couple’s luxury wedding planners, Lanza & Baucina Limited, efforts have been made from the very beginning to minimize disruption.
In a statement to Page Six, the company said that Bezos and Sanchez have prioritized hiring local vendors, showing respect for Venice’s culture, and even donating to local charities in the months leading up to the ceremony.
They also revealed that donations have been made on behalf of the couple’s guests, though they didn’t specify the recipients.
Venice’s Mayor Welcomes the Power Couple
Despite the backlash, Venice’s mayor Luigi Brugnaro has welcomed the couple’s decision to host their wedding in the city.
“It’s an honor that they chose Venice,” he told the Associated Press.
“Venice once again reveals itself to be a global stage.”
While he wasn’t sure if he’d get the chance to meet Bezos personally, he remained supportive of the couple’s plans.
Three Extravagant Events, One Star-Studded Week
According to insiders, the wedding won’t be a one-day affair.
The itinerary includes three main events across different venues: a gala on June 26 at a private cloister near Venice’s Lido, the official wedding ceremony on June 27, and an epic party at a church on June 28.
Guests are expected to begin arriving soon and will likely depart by June 29.
The Guest List Is Packed with A-Listers and Iconic Performers
The couple’s inner circle is stacked with Hollywood royalty.
Names like Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Katy Perry, and Orlando Bloom are rumored to be attending.
Even members of the Trump family may be on the guest list.
And when it comes to entertainment, Lauren pulled out all the stops—Lady Gaga and Elton John are reportedly set to perform.
“It’ll be like a mini vacation for the besties,” a source said.
Gondolas Reserved, Tensions High, and the Countdown Begins
Around 60 water taxis have already been reserved for the week, and a significant portion of Venice’s gondolas may be out of commission for the private festivities.
While Bezos and Sanchez sail through the Adriatic with sun and champagne, their arrival in Venice will be met with tension, passion, and plenty of press.