Venice is all set to play host to celebrity spectacle, but not without controversy. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez have touched down in the Italian city ahead of their star-studded three-day wedding celebration. While the festivities are expected to draw a high-profile guest list and lavish spending, the event has already triggered protests, sparked venue changes, and raised questions about wealth, privilege, and environmental impact.

Here's a look at the key developments as the celebration unfolds.

Venue change amid protests and security fears

Originally set to host part of their wedding celebration in Venice's bustling Cannaregio district at the historic Scuola Grande della Misericordia, Bezos and Sanchez have shifted their plans. Due to mounting protests and safety concerns, the couple relocated the venue to the Arsenale, a 14th-century shipyard complex in the more isolated Castello district. The Arsenale is better suited for security, with limited access by land and a history of hosting art exhibitions like the Venice Biennale.

"The news that Bezos has run away from the Misericordia is a great victory for us," said Tommaso Cacciari, leader of the No Space for Bezos campaign.

Sources told Reuters that fears of disruptions and demonstrations, especially following the recent US strikes on Iran and Ivanka Trump's attendance, prompted the last-minute shift.

Inflatable crocodiles and canal blockades

The protest movement has been anything but subtle. Activist groups, including Greenpeace, Everyone Hates Elon, and various local organisations, have staged multiple demonstrations around Venice. Their most imaginative threat involved blocking canal access with inflatable crocodiles to prevent guests from arriving at the venue.

"We feel as if we scored a victory," one protester told Guardian. "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."

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Large banner against Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' planned wedding | Photo: AP

Another protest included a float on the Grand Canal featuring a mannequin of Bezos gripping an Amazon box and stuffed with fake cash. Additional banners in St. Mark's Square read, "If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax."

Wedding guests and extravagance

Bezos and Sanchez's guest list reads like a who's who of global elites. Among the 200 expected guests are Leonardo DiCaprio, Mick Jagger, Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Orlando Bloom, Katy Perry, Ivanka Trump, and Bill Gates. According to reports, nearly 90 private jets have requested landing slots at Venice's Marco Polo Airport.

Guests started arriving as early as Tuesday, with Ivanka Trump and her family reportedly staying at the St Regis near St Mark's Square. The couple’s superyacht Koru, valued at $500 million, is also expected to anchor near San Giorgio Maggiore, an island reportedly reserved exclusively for the wedding festivities.

Estimates for the wedding’s total cost, according to NewsNation, range from $9.5 million to $11 million, with top-tier wedding planner Colin Cowie reportedly charging up to 20% of the event budget. According to CEOWorld, his fee alone could reach $2 million. Hair, makeup, floral arrangements, and the bridal dress are expected to cost over $500,000.

Viral wedding invitation sparks reactions

While the wedding is dripping with opulence, the couple’s leaked wedding invitation drew mockery online. Designed with whimsical doodles of doves, gondolas, stars, butterflies, and the Rialto Bridge, the invitation featured an italic font and a layout many compared to Microsoft Word clip art.

Social media users criticised the design, calling it underwhelming given the presumed multi-million-dollar budget.

Interestingly, the invitation explicitly stated there would be no gifts, and highlighted donation pledges to UNESCO’s Venice office, the Corila research programme, and Venice International University, a nod to the city's environmental fragility.

Arrival in Venice and local response

Bezos and Sanchez arrived in Venice on Wednesday, greeted by a wave of photographers and tight security. The couple waved from a water taxi as they approached the Aman Hotel on the Grand Canal, flanked by two security boats.

Their arrival coincided with more protest activity, including a symbolic march planned by the Social Housing Assembly and other groups under the slogan "No Space for Bezos." Protesters say the billionaire's presence exemplifies unchecked wealth and the transformation of Venice into a playground for the ultra-rich.

While some residents and city officials defend the event for bringing attention and funding to the city, others argue it underscores deeper issues—including a lack of affordable housing and the prioritisation of tourism over resident needs.

"Venice isn't a private ballroom," said Cacciari. "These events are driving residents out and condemning the city to death."

Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, however, welcomed the couple, calling the wedding "an honour for Venice" and insisting it would not disrupt city life. Meanwhile, research group Corila confirmed that Bezos’ Earth Fund had made a significant donation to support its lagoon preservation work.

The wedding celebration is expected to conclude on Saturday, amid music, spectacle, and continued protest.

(With inputs from AP)