Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former news anchor Lauren Sanchez are set to wed on Friday in a glittering, invitation-only ceremony on the private island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice a celebration attracting global celebrities but also drawing sharp criticism from environmental and social activists.

The couple, accompanied by an entourage of stars including Kim Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, Queen Rania of Jordan, Tom Brady, and Ivanka Trump, have taken over parts of Venice’s lagoon in a wedding affair unfolding like a cinematic dream complete with private islands, Murano glass, and performances by Matteo Bocelli.

But outside the fairytale, locals and activists have projected their frustrations onto historic landmarks, literally with a neon message beaming across St Mark’s Campanile Thursday night: “No Kings, No Bezos.”

Critics argue that while billionaires indulge, Venice, a UNESCO heritage site continues to sink under the weight of climate change, mass tourism, and gentrification.

Rising rents and depopulation have hollowed out the city’s core, making it increasingly inhospitable for residents.

Bezos, 61, reportedly charmed local press with his wonder at Venice’s beauty. “This city seems impossible! It can’t exist… and yet, here it is!” he told La Repubblica.

But for many Venetians, the presence of mega yachts and 95 private jets, the estimated number that flew in guests, highlights an ecological and social toll few can ignore.

Still, the spectacle continues. Sanchez, 55, is rumoured to have prepped 27 outfit changes, while designer Domenico Dolce was spotted entering the couple’s base, the ultra-luxurious Aman hotel, likely for last-minute fittings.

The wedding dinner is being crafted by Michelin-starred chef Fabrizio Mellino, with the cake courtesy of renowned French pastry chef Cédric Grolet.

The festivities began Thursday with a star-studded luncheon on the islet of San Giovanni Evangelista and are expected to close Saturday night, possibly with a grand finale at the historic Arsenale shipyard.

Bezos and Sanchez are said to be donating €3 million to the city and have commissioned local artisans for everything from Murano glass souvenirs to traditional Venetian pastries, a nod, some say to supporting the local economy.

Still, many view the affair through a different lens one of inequality, environmental hypocrisy, and a city caught between spectacle and survival.

Venice may have hosted Hollywood royalty before, from George Clooney to the world’s oldest film festival, but critics argue this wedding is a symbol of something more fraught: the collision of extreme wealth with a world in climate crisis.