Weather Woes and Protests: The Turbulent Tale of Bezos & Sanchez's Lavish Venice Wedding
BEZOS' WEDDING OF THE CENTURY: BILLIONAIRE'S BIG DAY BEHIND SCHEDULE, BUDGET, AND GOOD WEATHER
The highly anticipated wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez has been marred by a series of mishaps, controversies, and scandals. The A-list couple's three-day extravaganza in Venice is being dubbed the "wedding of a century" due to its sheer opulence and star-studded guest list, but it appears that nothing can go smoothly for these two billionaire lovebirds.
FREAK WEATHER WIPES OUT PRE-WEDDING PARTY
On Thursday night, a freak thunderstorm drenched the guests at the Madonna dell Orto cloisters, forcing them to abandon ship and seek refuge under umbrellas. The downpour was so intense that even Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner were seen scurrying for cover, their designer gowns soggy and bedraggled.
Meanwhile, Bezos' bride-to-be Lauren Sanchez looked like a drowned rat as she made her way onto the waiting boat, surrounded by tuxedo-clad gentlemen bearing blue umbrellas. The TV personality's off-the-shoulder dress seemed to be clinging to her body for dear life as she made her way through the torrential downpour.
"It just goes to show you can have all the money in the world but you can't control the weather," quipped one onlooker, adding wryly, "although an Italian saying says a wet bride is a happy and lucky bride."
SECURITY FEARS AS IVANKA TRUMP POSTS GUEST LIST ONLINE
In another controversy, Ivanka Trump sparked security fears when she posted a photo of her hotel room number alongside several snaps of herself and husband Jared Kushner in their formal attire. The image, which included the word "Dolce Vita" written on the door, was captioned: "Ready to celebrate the love story of our friends, Lauren Sanchez and @JeffBezos."
However, eagle-eyed social media users quickly pointed out that the photo had revealed the location of the couple's hotel room, sparking concerns about security.
"Did you dox the location by posting the photo of that door?" one user replied to her post. "It looks like a potential security risk to me!"
PROTESTS GROW AGAINST BEZOS' WEDDING
As the wedding celebrations continue, protests against Bezos and Sanchez's nuptials are gaining momentum. Around 20 activists were seen holding placards in St Mark's Square on Thursday, with some attempting to climb a post. The protesters waved an Extinction Rebellion flag and held signs reading "We are the 99 per cent we have the power" and "The planet burns."
It is speculated that Bezos and Sanchez will do everything to keep their VIP guests safe during the wedding, which has been described as one of the most high-profile events in Venice's history.
ORLANDO BLOOM'S SHOCK BREAK-UP WITH KATY PERRY
One of the most unexpected stories to emerge from the Bezos/Sanchez wedding celebrations is the split of Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry. The couple, who have been together for nine years, had reportedly been experiencing tensions in their relationship.
News of their break-up came at the start of the Amazon billionaire's lavish three-day wedding celebrations, with sources confirming that they had "amicable" split.
However, a cryptic post shared by Katy Perry on Instagram seems to suggest that things may not be as amicable as previously thought. The pop star re-shared a video from a content creator who teaches followers about the "Laws of the Universe" and how to heal their lives.
Katy indicated her purpose in life is to start new chapters, writing: "The phase of the moon that was during your date of birth determines your purpose."
Meanwhile, Orlando Bloom was spotted enjoying a frisky night out with a mystery woman at Bezos' pre-wedding party on Thursday. The newly-minted bachelor was seen wrapping his arm around the unknown woman as they laughed together in their seats.
SCAFFOLDING SCANDAL HITS BEZOS' WEDDING
In another embarrassment for the couple, it emerged that the historic venue they chose for one of their wedding events is currently covered in scaffolding. The Madonna dell Orto church, where a party was held on Thursday, had its iconic bell tower shrouded in scaffolding, giving guests a rather unsightly view.
"It looks like a construction site," quipped one guest. "Not exactly the romantic backdrop we were expecting."
'CLIP ART' INVITATION SLAMMED BY GUESTS
The invitation sent out to guests has also come under scrutiny, with some describing it as looking like it was made by a 10-year-old using Microsoft Paint.
The document features whimsical cartoon images and computer-generated designs of butterflies, doves, and gondolas, but many guests were less than impressed.
"It looks cheap," quipped one guest. "I would have expected more from two billionaires."
DONATIONS RATHER THAN GIFTS
However, in a bizarre twist, the couple has requested that guests not bring gifts, instead making donations to various causes in their honor.
The text on the invitation reads: "Instead, we're making contributions in your honor and with gratitude to you for making the journey to celebrate with us in Venice. Donations on your behalf are being made to the UNESCO Venice Office to safeguard the city's irreplaceable cultural heritage..."
Despite the controversies surrounding their wedding, it seems that Bezos and Sanchez are determined to make their big day a memorable one – for better or worse.
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