Dainty deserts, a viral pastry chef and Stanley Tucci’s favourite pasta: is this the recipe for a happy marriage?
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are certainly hoping so, as they fork out €1,000 on every one of their 200 guests for their spectactular wedding breakfast.
The celebrity-rich celebration is set to be catered by hot-shot star chef Fabrizio Mellino – one of the youngest cooks to ever achieve three Michelin stars – who will be serving recopies passed down his family for generations.
And it will conclude with a show-stopper wedding cake from social media star and French pastry chef Cédric Grolet, whose eccentric creations include deserts disguised to look like fruit.
But while the Amazon billionaire and his soon-to-be wife may be picking revolutionary chefs to work their magic among the Venice canals, their menu is steeped in tradition.
Each course is set to be based in the south of Italy, with Mellino’s restaurant ‘Quattro Passi’ based in Nerano, Naples.
Among the main courses of the menu will his signature dish of spaghetti alla Nerano, a recipe based on fried courgettes and a smoked cheese called provolone.
The traditional meal shot to fame when Devil Wears Prada actor-turned-gastronomic aficionado Staley Tucci featured it in his hit series Searching for Italy.
The Naples restaurant he visited is now reportedly so popular with American tourists that they can order simply by saying ‘Tucci’ to the waiters.
The scale of the nuptial do means it’s been dubbed the ‘wedding of a century’ by some, with the 61-year-old Amazon founder – one of the world’s richest men – and his bride-to-be, 55, having invited some 200 guests for a three-day celebration
Spaghetti, cheeses and desserts, all made from the Campania region around Naples will be served for the lucky 200 guests for an eye-watering €1,000-a-head
While for the all important wedding cake, which will be cut by the newlyweds, they have gone for famous French pastry chef Cédric Grolet (above), known for his theatrical creations
Patisserie Minori Sal De Riso, also from near Naples, is then providing tiny mignon pastries, desserts in a glass and single portions of lemon and ricotta and pear.
For the all important wedding cake, which will be cut by the newlyweds, they have plumped for Grolet, who is known for his theatrical creations and has venues in Paris, London, Singapore, Saint-Tropez and Val-d’Isere.
He has 12.6million followers on Instagram alone, with his patisseries created in the shape of fruits including strawberries, papayas, peaches and even peanuts.
The scale of the nuptial do means it’s been dubbed the ‘wedding of a century’ by some, with the 61-year-old Amazon founder – one of the world’s richest men – and his bride-to-be, 55, having invited some 200 guests for a three-day celebration.
However, despite the opulence and extravagance of the event, it has not been all smooth sailing so far, and the couple has already faced a number of issues.
Many are unhappy about Bezos and Sanchez choosing Venice at the location for the wedding, and the run-up to the festivities has been beset by protests, carried out by anti-capitalist and environmental advocates.
Tensions have been brewing over the past week as locals and protest groups object to the $46 million Venice nuptials due to fears it will ‘take over the city’.
The couple have already been forced to change one of the venues due to ‘rising global tensions’, but as news of protests continued to threaten the wedding, the couple still found themselves mired in controversy.
Tensions have been brewing over recent days as locals and protest groups object to the $20 million Venice nuptials
Protestors made several complaints against Bezos, with some pointing saying: ‘If you can rent Venice for your wedding then you can pay more tax’
Around 20 activists were seen on Thursday holding placards in St Mark’s Square, the iconic heart of Venice, with some trying to climb a post.
Elsewhere, there is a potential issue with the venue, which includes the fabulous 15th Century Madonna dell Orto church in Venice’s quaint Cannargio district.
The structure, however, is undergoing some maintenance; meaning that what guests will first see when they arrive is the historic bell tower covered in scaffolding.
Ahead of the do, in preparation, security guards blocked off entrances to the closure where the party was set to be held.
However, it is believed that the first thing guests would have seen upon arrival at the venue was the iconic bell tower covered in scaffolding.
Meanwhile, partygoers were hit by a freak thunderstorm last night leaving guests soaked and forced to cower under umbrellas.
The couple’s A-list guests like Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner were forced to take cover from the rain, forcing Thursday night’s star-studded soiree into an early close.
Bride-to-be Lauren was snapped surrounded by tuxedo-clad gentleman carrying blue umbrellas over her as she carefully stepped on to her awaiting boat.
Bride-to-be Lauren Sanchez (pictured) cowered under an umbrella after a freak thunderstorm hit the couple’s first pre-wedding party on Thursday
Another element of the nuptials that has come under scrutiny is the invitation sent out to guests. A copy of part of the material sent out by the couple had 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
It also features what appear to be computer-generated designs of butterflies, doves, the Venice canals, gondolas, and feathers in purple, gray and pink-hues.
One of the most unexpected stories that has gained headlines during the Bezos/Sanchez wedding celebrations was the split of Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry – who had reportedly been together for nine years.
News of the pop princess and hunky actor’s shock break-up came at the start of the Amazon billionaire’s lavish three-day wedding celebrations.
The headline-grabbing break-up comes after nine years together, six of which the now ex-couple – who share a four-year-old daughter together – spent engaged.
The bell tower of the 15th Century Madonna dell Orto church in Venice’s quaint Cannargio district is currently covered in scaffolding
This explains why 48-year-old Bloom attended the Bezos and Sanchez wedding without Perry, 40, and why he was seen appearing to wrap his arms around a mystery woman at a lavish pre-wedding party on Thursday.
A source has told US weekly that the split was ‘amicable’.
‘Katy and Orlando have split but are amicable’, said the source, adding that the break-up was so far ‘not contentious’.
‘Katy is of course upset but is relieved to not have to go through another divorce, as that was the worst time in her life’ they said.
