Celebrities are arriving in Venice to celebrate the wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, and despite pushback from many locals who are frustrated such a lavish and large event is taking place in their already-overpopulated city, the A-list lineup of guests looked unfazed Thursday as the celebrations kicked off.
The wedding, a three-day party that Reuters estimates will cost upwards of $63 million, has been a tight-lipped affair, with reps for the couple staying mum about the events or guestlist.
Last month, Sánchez shared photos from her bachelorette party, foreshadowing some of the possible guests that might make an appearance in Venice, and Thursday’s arrivals showed lots of overlap.
Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner, who attended the bachelorette party, were both seen boarding water taxis on Thursday, joined by another Kardashian sister, Khloe.
Later in the day, they were seen chatting with actor Orlando Bloom – who came to Venice solo, now that his relationship with Katy Perry is officially over.
Bloom and the reality stars were seen boarding water taxis all dressed up on Thursday evening, presumably heading to one of the first big events leading up to the wedding.
Kendall and Kylie Jenner were spotted, too, heading to the same event.
Best friends Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King were also spotted arriving in Venice, and after some freshening up, climbed aboard water taxis.
Former NFL quarterback Tom Brady arrived in Venice dressed down in a hooded sweatshirt and hat, but later changed into his party clothes.
And fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg was also spotted in a breezy pant suit making her way to the water taxis upon arrival.
First Daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner showed up in Venice earlier in the week and we spotted on a canal Thursday evening.
And singer Usher Raymond was also spotted on a taxi boat.
Little is known about the wedding day itself, with organizers keeping information about potential venues under wraps. Media reports have indicated that several are on hold, and that one will be selected based on factors such as protests and weather, a person close to Venice City Hall said.
On Tuesday, The Guardian reported that the couple switched a wedding event venue due to safety concerns and threats of a protest involving inflatable crocodiles.
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The wedding has divided Venice, 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.
The city administration has strongly defended the nuptials as keeping with Venice’s tradition as an open city that has welcomed popes, emperors and ordinary visitors alike for centuries.
Last week, activists in Venice gathered to organize protests on June 26, 27 and 28 — the expected dates of the wedding — over the risk of disruptions.
— with files from Global News’ Rachel Goodman and The Associated Press
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