Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos face local resistance as Venice citizens protest wedding plans

Last week, Venetians gathered together to protest the couple's upcoming wedding festivities over fears of disruptions in a city that is already impacted by mass tourism.

"No space for Bezos," one sign read. 

Federica Toninello, a protest organizer, said that one of the venues could be The Misericordia, a famed event hall. 

"Bezos will never get to the Misericordia," she said during a protest. "We will line the streets with our bodies, block the canals with lifesavers, dinghies and our boats."

Despite the backlash, Mayor Luigi Brugnaro told the Associated Press that the city is "very proud." 

"We are very proud,'' Brugnaro said. "I don't know if I will have time [to meet Bezos and Sánchez], or if he will, to meet and shake hands, but it's an honor that they chose Venice. Venice once again reveals itself to be a global stage.''

Officials told NBC that about 30 of the 280 water taxis have been reserved for the wedding festivities, and only three or four hotels will be used for the event.

"The city is fully accustomed to hosting high-profile events of this nature and scale, including other celebrity weddings, international summits such as the G7 and G20, as well as traditional events like the Festa del Redentore and the Venice Biennale," city hall officials said in a statement to NBC.

"The celebrations, attended by 250 guests, will blend into the daily rhythm of a city that, with dignity and respect, welcomes thousands of visitors from around the world while safeguarding the quality of life for its residents, workers, and students."

According to the AP, Bezos and Sánchez are sourcing 80% of their wedding vendors locally. 

In March, the city reassured locals that the wedding would not disturb the day-to-day of its citizens. 

"The many speculations and fake news circulating about Jeff Bezos' wedding are completely unfounded," the city added in a statement, noting that it "is their utmost priority to make sure the city functions as normal, for all, with no abnormal disruption to anyone."

Bezos and Sánchez reportedly met in the mid-2010s but didn't go public with their relationship until 2019 - once Sanchez separated from her then-husband, Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell, and Bezos divorced Mackenzie Scott.