The wedding festivities for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez, initially planned for a central area of Venice, have been relocated to a more secluded and harder-to-access part of the city due to security concerns and the potential for protests, according to sources. The couple had originally chosen Cannaregio, a lively and central district popular for nightlife, to host a post-wedding party. However, worries over possible demonstrations prompted a change in venue. Local residents and activist groups had voiced strong opposition to the event, claiming it would turn the historic and scenic city into an exclusive playground for the wealthy. Some had even threatened peaceful blockades in protest.

Following a wedding ceremony—whose precise date and location remain undisclosed but is expected to occur between Thursday and Saturday—about 200 to 250 VIP guests from various sectors including entertainment, politics, and finance will now attend a reception at the Arsenale, a massive 14th-century complex in the Castello district. This location, surrounded by water and inaccessible by land when its bridges are lifted, is viewed as more secure than the originally planned Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a historic religious building in Cannaregio.

Once a major shipyard for the Venetian Republic, the Arsenale has been restored and now serves as a venue for events like the Venice Biennale art exhibition. Bezos, 61, who currently serves as Amazon’s executive chairman and is ranked fourth on Forbes' billionaire list, became engaged to Sanchez, 55, in 2023, following the end of his 25-year marriage to Mackenzie Scott. The choice of Venice for their wedding echoes other high-profile ceremonies in the city, including that of actor George Clooney and lawyer Amal Alamuddin in 2014.

Tommaso Cacciari, a spokesperson for the protest movement “No Space for Bezos,” celebrated the venue change as a victory, claiming the campaign had successfully pressured the couple to abandon their original plans. The group has announced further protests for Saturday, vowing to disrupt the event throughout the city’s canals, bridges, and alleyways.

In contrast, Veneto region president Luca Zaia criticized the protests, noting that the arrival of around 90 private jets carrying guests could generate up to €48 million in revenue for local businesses. Meanwhile, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, currently vacationing in Tuscany, reportedly visited Ferrari’s factory en route to the wedding, according to a source familiar with their itinerary.