Bezos' wedding takes a turn

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his then-fiancée, Lauren Sanchez, have had to change their wedding plans at the last minute.

Venice vs. Bezos

This is because some residents—and several activist groups—in Venice, Italy, have taken a stand against the extravagant celebrations.

Wedding plans

Bezos's rumored plan is to celebrate his wedding on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, across from the historic San Marco Square. The celebration is expected to last three days, starting June 26, according to the BBC. CNN reported that the wedding budget is close to $10 million.

The most difficult life for the locals

An event of this magnitude makes life very difficult for locals. Protesters told Sky News that authorities are planning to close off parts of the city, hampering their mobility.

Yachts are an environmental threat

Added to this, the arrival of Bezos' yacht and others raises concerns about the use of these types of vessels within the canals.

No 'Space' for Bezos

An activist group called "No Space for Bezos," made up of self-described young Venetians, protested the businessman's wedding, according to CNN.

His yacht will not enter Venice

One of the most obvious changes is to Koru, the tycoon's superyacht, estimated to be worth $500 million, which was planned to enter Venice so the couple could make it to their wedding. However, that will no longer be the case, according to the Daily Mail.

He will stay in another country

Bezos' superyacht will remain parked in the seas off Croatia, where the couple is still located and where they believe it will be "safer."

An extravagant arrival on an island

However, this hasn't stopped Bezos and Sanchez from hoping for a grand entrance. The couple has planned to use a helicopter to enter the city. According to the Daily Mail, one of the few islands with a helipad is Lido, which they could reach.

A 'modest' arrival at her wedding

Afterwards, the bride and groom would have to take a water taxi to reach the island of San Giorgio Maggiore.

A safe island

The security situation on the island is high, as it is owned by a foundation, and international events have already taken place nearby. One of them, a meeting of G7 leaders, according to the Daily Mail.

It's not a giant wedding

Although there have been reports that the celebrations would be large-scale, sources have insisted to the newspaper that the wedding will not be that large. Fewer than 200 people have been invited.

The local government in favor of Bezos

For their part, the state government—the mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro—and the regional governor, Luca Zaia, have spoken out in favor of the wedding and against the citizens' participation. The governors have insisted that the celebration will generate an economic impact of up to 30 million euros for local businesses.

Bezos's gift

Bezos had promised a donation to various charities, according to the Corriere della Sera newspaper.

No gifts for the ceremony

The wedding invitation, published by People magazine, asks guests not to bring gifts. Instead, the couple stated that they will make donations to various local charities in the guests' names. "Donations will be made in your name to the UNESCO Office in Venice to safeguard the city's irreplaceable cultural heritage," explains an excerpt from the invitation.

Several organizations have joined

But the organizations aren't satisfied. Both Greenpeace and the 'Everyone Hates Elon' group have joined the protests.

Greenpeace also stated

Greenpeace also gave its opinion about, "Bezos embodies an economic and social model that is leading us towards collapse".

Against the exploitation of the city

The groups aren't against marriage per se, but rather have spoken out against the privatization and "exploitation" of the city. "Basically, [Bezos] will treat the entire city as a private events area, as if the citizens aren't there," Alice Bazzoli, one of the activists, told Sky News.

The alleged ceremony

Although authorities have not confirmed the information to the media, the group asserts that the wedding will take place at the Abbey of Mercy. However, the activists assert that they will not allow the plan to go ahead.

Bezos will not be coming to church

Federica Toninello, another activist, told CNN that the businessman will not be allowed to enter the church. "We will block the canals with inflatable boats, launches, and ships. And we will fill the streets with our bodies," the activist revealed.

Call attention to a broader problem

But this protest isn't just against Bezos; activists hope to draw attention to the city's more serious problems, particularly the local housing problem, which has been replaced by vacation rentals.