Venice has become the glittering backdrop for the highly anticipated wedding celebrations of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sánchez. The three-day affair, estimated to cost between 40 to 48 million euros ($46-$56 million), commenced this week, drawing an exclusive list of 200-250 VIP guests from the worlds of entertainment, politics, and finance.

The arrival of guests has triggered an unprecedented influx of private jets into Venice Marco Polo Airport. Flight-tracking data and eyewitness accounts confirm the landing of numerous high-profile aircraft. Kim Kardashian's Gulfstream G650, valued at approximately $65 million, touched down on Thursday morning, having departed Los Angeles ten hours earlier. She was accompanied by her sister Khloe Kardashian and mother Kris Jenner, who were photographed boarding a water taxi. Other notable arrivals included Oprah Winfrey's G700, broadcaster Gayle King, NFL legend Tom Brady, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, media mogul James Murdoch, hedge fund billionaire John Griffin, and Queen Rania of Jordan on a government G650. Kylie Jenner's Bombardier Global 7500 and Bill Gates' G650 also landed in Venice, alongside Hollywood agent Ari Emanuel and his wife, fashion designer Sarah Staudinger. Aviation data firm WingX noted a significant rise in business-jet activity, with 33 arrivals into Venice and nearby Treviso on Sunday, nearly double from the previous week, and over 90 private jets expected in total.

The pre-wedding festivities began on Tuesday with a foam party aboard Bezos's $500 million superyacht, Koru, off the Croatian coast. Early arrivals spotted at Venice airport included Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. Upon reaching Venice, Lauren Sánchez was seen in a vintage Alexander McQueen one-shoulder gown, hinting at the sartorial elegance expected throughout the event. While details of her wedding gown remain a closely guarded secret, luxury Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana and Oscar de la Renta are speculated as potential designers.

The wedding's schedule is reportedly fluid due to the threat of disruptive protests from the 'No Space for Bezos' group, who oppose Venice becoming a playground for the wealthy. Pedestrian traffic around the medieval Madonna dell’Orto cloister, the planned venue for Thursday night’s open-air gathering, was cordoned off by Venice City Hall to manage protests. The group’s threat of canal blockades has already caused one of the weekend's events to be moved from a grand, centrally located space to the Arsenale, a large former shipyard converted into an art space on Venice’s perimeter, providing a more secure and private location for the main wedding event on Saturday. Friday's second party is expected to be held on San Giorgio island, renowned for its historic monastery and views of St. Mark’s Square. The exact wedding date and specific venue for the ceremony itself remain confidential, with some speculation that Bezos and Sánchez may have privately married in the U.S.

Despite local frustrations, the couple has made significant contributions to the city, donating 3 million euros to local institutions, including a lagoon ecosystem study group and UNESCO’s Venice office. The regional governor welcomed Bezos, praising the gesture as one of