Jeff Bezos’ Multi-Day Venice Wedding Sparks Backlash Over Lavish Scale

In 2025, several high-profile celebrity breakups were announced, including Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson ending their decade-long marriage and Jessica Alba separating from Cash Warren after 16 years. Meanwhile, the year also saw numerous celebrity weddings, such as Hailee Steinfeld and Josh Allen's Santa Barbara ceremony, Kristen Stewart's private wedding, and Demi Lovato's marriage to Jutes. The most prominent wedding news revolves around billionaire Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's extravagant multi-day celebration in Venice, Italy, estimated to cost between $23 million and $34 million. Their lavish event has sparked significant local backlash due to concerns over overtourism and environmental impact on the fragile city, with residents organizing protests and creative blockades to express their displeasure. Experts suggest that such mega-weddings often evoke strong public reactions tied to broader economic frustrations and debates about social status signaling, while the tradition of European castle weddings among American celebrities is seen as losing its exclusivity and charm. Despite the criticism, Bezos and Sánchez proceeded with their festivities, highlighting tensions between celebrity extravagance and local community interests.