The lavish wedding in the heart of Venice of the 61-year-old billionaire descended into chaos as local residents announced they would release inflatable crocodiles to block the entrance for guests.

The wedding of billionaire Jeff Bezos in Venice had to change venues at the last minute, not because of rain or security concerns, but because of inflatable crocodiles. This was a protest action by the group “No Space for Bezos,” who refuse to accept that one wealthy individual can turn an entire city into the stage for his wedding.

Initially, the grand wedding between the Amazon founder and his fiancée, former TV host Lauren Sánchez, was planned to take place at the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a magnificent 16th-century building in the heart of Venice. However, activists declared they would release inflatable crocodiles into the canals surrounding the venue, turning the entrance into a “swamp” to block the path of a star-studded guest list including Elon Musk, Kim Kardashian, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ivanka Trump.

As a result, the wedding venue was moved to the Arsenale—a historic shipyard complex surrounded by fortress walls, more secluded and less accessible to protesters. While local authorities cited security reasons for the change, many believe that social pressure and the “herd of crocodiles” were the real reasons.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée. Photo: The Guardian

Although the specific date and time remain unclear, local press reports that the wedding will take place over three days, beginning Thursday with a vow exchange ceremony at the San Giorgio Maggiore church on the island named after Saint George. The main reception will be held on Saturday, with around 200 guests and nearly 100 private jets arriving at Venice airport.

Earlier, groups like Greenpeace Italia and “Everyone Hates Elon” joined the protest with a giant banner at St. Mark’s Square: an image of Bezos laughing with the bold slogan, “If you can rent all of Venice for your wedding, you can pay more taxes.” Along the streets were posters depicting Jeff Bezos’s head attached to a rocket—a jab at his Blue Origin space travel program.

Protest banners displayed by Venice residents in the square. Photo: The Guardian

The “No Space for Bezos” movement opposes turning Venice—a UNESCO World Heritage site already struggling with over-tourism—into a playground for the super-rich. “One person renting out the entire city for three days? That’s disgusting,” said a member of the movement. Although they couldn’t stop the wedding, they still consider forcing Bezos to change his plans a victory.

While Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro criticized the protesters as “shameful,” the mayor of Soàve—a town of just 7,000 people—quickly seized the opportunity. He invited the couple to hold their wedding in his hometown: “Venice is unique, but getting married in the most beautiful village in Italy isn’t so bad either.”