Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are tying the knot this week in Venice, Italy, during what’s expected to be a lavish, multi-day celebration.
It’s believed their wedding will be attended by a slew of Hollywood stars, business moguls, and political figures.
And while the nuptials – which will reportedly be attended by some 200 guests – are set to be a luxe experience, one element has been criticised.
A copy of part of an invitation that was sent out by the couple has been obtained by ABC News, with some saying it looks like it could have been made by a 10-year-old.
The document, which is decorated with whimsical cartoon images says: ‘We’re excited for you to join us! We have one early request: please, no gifts
The invitationalso features what appear to be computer-generated §designs of butterflies, doves, the Venice canals, gondolas, and feathers in purple, gray and pink-hues.
It adds: ‘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, to CORILA to restore the lagoon habitats that protect Venice’s future, and to Venice International University to support research and education for sustainable solutions.’
The document continues: ‘This magical place has gifted us unforgettable memories.
‘Our hope is that through these efforts and by you joining us, Venice will continue to inspire wonder for generations to come.’
Despite the invitation’s positive message, many were critical of the design – with some saying it looked cheap.
One commentator said: ‘Was the invitation made in microsoft paint?’
Another agreed, adding: ‘Wow what an ugly announcement/invitation. With all the money he has they could have at least done something pretty and classy.’
In a similar vein, a third wrote: ‘What in the Microsoft Paint is this? They couldn’t afford an illustrator?’
‘Did chat GPT make the invite?’ another asked.
‘Wow! Did they just send an evite for their multi million dollar wedding?’ asked another.
One strongly worded criticism said: ‘That invite is atrocious. Onviously, money can’t buy taste or class.’
‘Canva for the win,’ a further X (former Twitter) user joked.
Another social media user wrote: ‘Why does it look so goofy?’
And another added: ‘when you’re one of the richest people on the planet but can’t afford a Canva Premium template for your wedding invite.’
The couple have caused some controversy by holding their wedding in Venice – something that was highlighted in the invitation’s note that the couple would be making donations to ‘the UNESCO Venice Office to safeguard the city’s irreplaceable cultural heritage, to CORILA to restore the lagoon habitats that protect Venice’s future, and to Venice International University to support research and education for sustainable solutions’.
Despite this, their arrival in Venice has been far from smooth sailing and the couple is being plagued by protesters who are furious the needs of local residents are allegedly being sidelined to make way for wealthy tourists.
Bezos is worth around $224.6 billion and is thought to be spending tens of millions on his wedding.
‘If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax,’ one gigantic banner read in St. Mark’s Square.
Greenpeace and the UK-based collective Everyone Hates Elon have joined protests in Venice attempting to disrupt, or even prevent, the planned wedding celebrations of Amazon founder Bezos this week.
‘Jeff Bezos is the second-richest man in the world yet is reported to pay a 1.1 percent true tax rate,’ the two groups said in a joint statement. ‘The multi-million-dollar wedding is reportedly happening over three days, with the wedding ring alone worth as much as $5million.’
A spokesperson from Everyone Hates Elon said: ‘As governments talk about hard choices and struggle to fund public services, Jeff Bezos can afford to shut down half a city for days on end just to get married.’
However, Venice mayor Luigi Brugnaro and regional governor Luca Zaia have spoken out in favour of the nuptials, which have been dubbed, ‘the wedding of the century,’ pointing out that the celebrations are expected to bring $23-34million to local businesses.
‘This is a city that handles 150,000 people a day,’ Zaia told Italian daily Corriere della Sera. ‘George Clooney, François-Henri Pinault and Salma Hayek, Alexandre Arnault, Elton John and many others got married here.’
Bezos has also pledged to make sizable charity donations, including $1.16million to Corila – an academic consortium dedicated to studying Venice’s lagoon ecosystem – according to Corriere della Sera and Italy’s ANSA news agency.
