Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Ask Wedding Guests to Donate to City of Venice Instead of Giving Them Gifts

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are asking A-list pals to make donations to the city of Venice instead of giving them wedding gifts.

Sebastiano Costalonga, local city councillor for commerce and productive activities of the municipality of Venice, tells PEOPLE, “Certainly the message sent by Bezos regarding the gifts to be given was that they should be gifted not to him but to Venice.”

Costalonga adds that the couple is sending “a very important message that should also be extended to the other people who come to get married in Venice, or to celebrate any kind of event here. We are definitely happy to have this funding for the protection of our very delicate city.”

The news that the Amazon founder and CEO, 61, and Sánchez, 55, are giving back to Venice comes as signs have gone up around Venice’s historic center protesting the upcoming wedding amid concerns of significant disruptions and increasing frustrations about the city being overrun by tourists.

Related Stories

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s Relationship Timeline

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s Wedding Draws Protests in Venice Ahead of Couple’s Nuptials

But Costalonga says most locals are at ease with the festivities, noting Venice often plays host to large-scale events, like the Biennale and the annual film festival.

“Venice is used to these events, so the locals are quite serene … many people who work in Venice, artisans, merchants, they are all all excited, in ferment and ready to welcome this event and work for those who love Venice,” he says, adding, “Even the organization at the security level is used to working with major events in Venice, so we are quite calm and prepared.”

He continues: “We have the police teams here who are used to these events, so … they are very ready and they are also used to multiple days of pressure in the city.”

Earlier reports suggested the couple has plans to spotlight Venice’s rich cultural history during their celebration, and will reportedly source about 80% of the provisions for the three-day wedding from Venetian vendors as a show of appreciation. According to The Associated Press, the couple has tapped two historic local companies to supply two of Venice’s most celebrated products — pastries and glassware.

“As for the artisans, the small businesses here in Venice, certainly we are experiencing it in a very happy and active way,” says Costalonga. “We have so many artisans who are involved in this event … ranging from the transporters, the florists, the carpenters, and also a world of artisans including the expert Murano glassmakers that are preparing the gifts to be delivered. Venetians are basically working for this event, so certainly the city is happy.”

Costalonga adds that most locals welcome multi-day events like the Bezos-Sánchez wedding, saying, “Venice has to be experienced as much as possible and loved, as a city it also offers calm and tranquility … Venice definitely lends itself as a location for those people who want to stay in the city and discover other secret corners of the city as well.”