The lavish wedding<\/a> of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and book author and helicopter pilot, Lauren S\u00e1nchez, is expected to take place next week in Venice. Most reports<\/a> say the event will host 200 guests and last three days, from June 24 to June 26, though the couple has not confirmed.<\/p>\n But Venice residents have been protesting against overcrowding and mass tourism, something that they say is negatively affecting the small (the main island is about 2 square miles) city that receives about 20 million visitors yearly<\/a>. The overcrowding has become so bad that the city charges a 5 Euro daily entrance fee<\/a> on some high-season dates. (It’s also not just Venice \u2014 in Spain, tourists are being shot with water guns<\/a> on crowded streets.)<\/p>\n Related:<\/b> Jeff Bezos’ Neighbors Just Sold Their Land. Here’s How Much It Costs to Live Next to the Amazon Founder.<\/a><\/p>\n And now the Bezos-S\u00e1nchez wedding is in the crosshairs.<\/p>\n People gather to protest against the wedding of Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez in Venice on June 13, 2025. ANDREA PATTARO\/AFP | Getty Images<\/sup><\/p>\n For the past few days leading up to the wedding, protesters have been making signs and chanting<\/a>, “No space for Bezos,” in an obvious play on words regarding the space company Bezos founded, Blue Origin<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, the AP<\/i> reports<\/a> that, despite the protests, the betrothed have used local vendors for about 80% of the provisions, and the businesses they spoke to were happy about the extra orders.<\/p>\n The 6th-generation owner of Rosa Salva<\/a>, <\/i>a bakery that has been making pastries since 1876, told the AP<\/i> that his business made a selection of items for the goody bags for the wedding and was happy to see the city in the national spotlight.<\/p>\n “Events like this bring quality tourism to Venice,” he said. “I don’t see how an event with 200 people can create disruptions. It’s responsible tourism. It’s prestigious that a couple like this, who can go anywhere in the world, are getting married in the city.”<\/p>\n The mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, is also excited for the event.<\/p>\n Brugnaro told the AP<\/i> this week that it was “an honor” that Bezos and S\u00e1nchez chose Venice.<\/p>\n “Venice once again reveals itself to be a global stage,” he said.<\/p>\n Related:<\/b> Jeff Bezos Is Selling Billions Worth of Amazon Stock, According to a New Filing<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/assets.entrepreneur.com\/images\/misc\/1750190970_Bezos-protests-2219248296.jpg?width=1000\")
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