J and I have experienced our first Italian wedding, and oh my goodness, was it a wedding! Nicolo is a trainer for Fiorentina and is also the son of the head coach of the team. We have gotten together with Nicolo and his now wife, Veronica, a few times. We were excited that we got to attend to their wedding!
We carpooled to the wedding with 2 other couples. The ceremony was held just outside of Milan and the reception was on Lake Maggiore (a lake next to Como).
We were not prepared for the scene when we arrived... It seems that the whole town came out for the wedding, hoping to catch a glimpse of a player. We were pretty overwhelmed.
Veronica and Nicolo were married in a large church. There was a small section that was roped off for the guests and then the rest of the church was a free for all. People filled the pews and lined the side aisles. It was so odd. Some people were dressed up, some were wearing their Fiorentina gear and others simply walked in off the street.
This picture shows the crowd that started to assemble prior to the start of the service.
Many people in the crowd spent the entire wedding watching this guy. The star striker for Fiorentina, Alberto Gillardino. Alberto was sitting two rows in front of us, so I am sure that we are in the background of a lot of pictures!
This picture didn't turn out well, but check out the media! There were at least 10 photographers and 4 people video taping. At one point, there was a camera aimed right at us, and of course we were just sitting there clueless while the congregation spoke really fast in Italian.
Coming out of the ceremony, we really felt like we were celebrities. Everyone thought that J was a player, so he was repeatedly asked for his autograph. He had to say over and over, " non sono giocatore." (I am not a player.) He disappointed many children, maybe he should have just signed the autographs!
The happy newlyweds!!
After fighting the crowds of people leaving the church, we made our way to the reception. It was held at a beautiful villa on a little hill looking over Lake Maggiorie. It was absolutely spectacular!!
This entire wedding was a "fairy tale" wedding. The bride and groom arrived at the reception in a horse drawn carriage. Everything was over-the-top and extravagant, except in a very tasteful and elegant way.
The reception began with a champagne happy hour and little hors d'oeuvres that were served by men in tuxedos. Then they set up the antipasti tables. There were half a dozen tables set up with different themes. Tuscan meats, cheese, sushi, fried cheese balls, bread, tempura veggies, and on and on. We definitely ate our fill! It was so delicious!
After a while, we headed inside this beautiful villa to eat some more! For the primi piatti (first course) we were served risotto and ravioli (yummy). Then came the secondi (second course) filet mignon, potatoes and vegetables. It's a good thing my dress was loose, otherwise I think my pants would have burst open!! It was so so much food, but so so good!! Even though we didn't understand much of what was said during the speeches, it was still a blast being at this happy occasion!
After stuffing ourselves silly, we made our way back outside for the wedding cake and dessert buffet. (yes, MORE food!!) The wedding cake was extraordinary - it was very similar to strawberry shortcake!
After the couple cut the cake, the fireworks display began. Yes, fireworks. This was a top of the line, Fourth of July, production. I think J and I stood with our jaws dropped the whole time. It was beautiful. I know fireworks pictures never turn out, but I had to put this on to prove it really happened!
For the dessert buffet, they had numerous tables set up with many tasty treats. This was J's favorite table. Scotch/whiskey and cigars (we don't smoke, but we couldn't get over the idea of offering expensive cigars). They even had a gelato cart with 5 different kinds of gelato.
They had a live band for the rest of the evening. It was really fun watching everyone. The wedding was very similar and yet very different at the same time.
It was funny, for the bouquet toss, Nicolo's father (the head coach of Fiorentia) got in the mix and caught the bouquet!! We all had a good laugh, then he gave the flowers back and Veronica threw them again. Then Nicolo tossed the garter and Mister (his father) caught that too!!! Then we really all had a laugh. It was awesome to see all these "Italian hotshots" acting like normal, silly people!
Nicolo and Veronica. What a beautiful couple!
This has to be the cutest "conga-line" I have ever seen. Look at the cute little flower girls. aw.
This was a fabulous Italian wedding. If I have to sum it up in one word, it would definitely be food. I think it took us at least 6 hours to eat all the food. Italian weddings, just like Italian life, revolve around food and eating.
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