An Italian Wedding

I have had the fortune of experiencing many weddings of different cultures and all of them amaze me and touch my heart. For those of you who know me, you know that I loooooove weddings. Everything about them. There's just something about the celebration of love bringing together all your loved ones on one special day that is just magical. It's the one day a little girl dreams of all the time, the day a parent bittersweetly shares, and a day that can never be forgotten.

In Italy, I have yet to attend a true Italian Wedding but I have had the pleasure of witnessing all the details of the before and after. My neighbor just got married this past Sunday and it was such a beautiful and heartwarming morning. As usual, she got ready in her home and had hair and make up done at home. The staircase leading up to her home was wrapped in flowers for the Big Day. Then slowly, you would see people starting to gather outside at the bottom of our staircase. My husband and I joined them as we awaited for the Bride to come down. She then showed up at the top of the staircase and was welcomed by an applause by all of us. She was then accompanied down the stairs by her father for pictures and to more applause. Once she got to the bottom of the stairs she was greeted with a bunch of kisses and best wishes from people from the town. And these are just acquaintances, not even guests of the Wedding but people that know her and wanted to give their blessings. A very sweet gesture.

They then set off in their cars to head to the church where her fiance awaited. Of course, all along the way, the train of cars were honking their way through our streets. The Chinese do this as well as other cultures... It's nice to see things in common with different cultures. =)

After about an hour ceremony in the church, they come out and take more pictures and are greeted by more people giving them their best wishes. Then it is off to the reception. However, before heading to the restaurant, they make one more round honking around their home town(s). The honking truly does convey the accelerated excitement that the bride and groom are now married. When arriving back into their hometown they are greeted by some of the town people who have decided to put a ribbon along the street for them. Almost like a ribbon cutting ceremony, they await for the Bride and Groom to come and get out of the car to cut the ribbon and be given even more happy wishes! I love this part. Sometimes a couple can end up coming across a few of theses and are so touched by the overwhelming love and support by the people of the town.

Then they are off honking away to head to the reception where the reception normally starts around 2:00 in the afternoon and ends around 10:00 in the evening! Eight hours of eating. Now, is that a party or what? There are about ten courses in an Italian Wedding and it is truly a party where everyone is eating and drinking and having a good time.

My mother-in-law tells me that we live in the best area. We are in the town center and the newly married always pass our street. And she is right! Even though I may not know the couple, I loooove it. I love coming out to my balcony once I start hearing a plethora of honking and watch as the Bride and Groom come in their car. Then there is always the couple that own the Fish Shop (Pescheria) below us that have the ribbon cutting. Then the Bride and Groom walk to the bar a little more down where the bar owner pops a bottle of champagne for them. Like I said, it's magical. =)