The wedding celebrations of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former broadcaster Lauren Sanchez officially began Thursday in Venice, drawing a constellation of celebrities.

The guest list glittered with global names. Kim Kardashian, flanked by her sister Khloe and mother Kris Jenner, was seen socializing with Orlando Bloom. Oprah Winfrey, Tom Brady, Bill Gates, and Leonardo DiCaprio were among the elite boarding sleek water taxis for the evening’s kickoff held at the medieval Madonna dell’Orto cloister. The cloister was closed to foot traffic under a special city ordinance, giving the event an added layer of exclusivity.

Guests were dressed to dazzle. Kardashian wore skintight snakeskin, while Ivanka Trump appeared in a cherry blossom cocktail dress by Oscar de la Renta. The bride, Lauren Sanchez, turned heads in a shimmering brocade corset dress from Schiaparelli’s couture collection. The style parade is expected to continue through the weekend.

With over 200 guests attending and costs estimated at €40–48 million, Venice’s economy stands to gain a reported €20–30 million in spending. But as superyachts line the docks and paparazzi line the canals, the city remains divided—awed by celebrity glamour, yet wary of its growing price.

The event came with last-minute twist. Organizers were forced to relocate one of the high-profile events following pressure from local protest groups opposing the extravaganza in the historic city center.

The opening evening gala, originally planned for a grand central location, was moved to a former shipyard on Venice’s outskirts after activists from the group No Space for Bezos threatened to disrupt the event with canal blockades. The shift underscores growing tension between global elites hosting lavish events in the lagoon city and Venetians concerned about tourism’s toll on their environment and culture.