The NBA has taken care of it! Look at games/show offers at: www.bridesandbasketball.com
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How do you get a guy to go to a bridal show?
March 11th -
Meet Italian Wedding Planner: Angelo Garini
February 6th
The most popular and successful Italian Wedding Planner debuted at Joy Sposi tonight: Angelo Garini charmed a full house made up of aspiring wedding planners eager to hear his stories of planning and staging great events.Garini’s latest civil ceremony in Venice was the backdrop to a comfortable living room talk with the crowd. He patiently streamlined his planning timeline from a creative architect who happened to know the right people to a TV show duo with partner Enzo Miccio. Humble, grateful and generous, Angelo promotes ethics, professionalism, and charity, as an advocate of Children in crisis.
We asked Angelo what that one essential element is in a wedding emergency. He answered, “Calm. You have to keep your cool and make it through the situation without blinking. I’ve had magnificent church decorations crash, ropes catch on fire, candles burn down to the nub and grooms ditching the whole thing at the last minute. All I know is that you have to grin and bear it and it all works out for the best!”
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Valentine Special: Your Wedding in Italy!
February 5th
Valentine’s 2010 says ‘I do’ to a romantic Italy in Positano, on the Amalfi Coast – legal and regal! 5 star Deluxe Suite, legally binding civil ceremony, and a personal wedding planner 24/7. Price? 2,500 euros!
Contact Bonnie Marie for more details.
info@myweddingsandmore.com
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Get married in Italy on the Far Side (says the New York Times)
January 9th
view on the Italian Coast of Gargano
The New York Times published its 31 flavors for 2010 and flavor number 29 is that little bump half way down the Adriatic Coast of Italy called Gargano. Mediterranean pines grow all the way to the shores making this concave part of the boot a great place to pitch a tent. Summertime beckons hoards of Italians to populate the long white beaches and family-friendly resorts of Peschici and you can bet they answer that call in the millions. The popular town of Vieste boasts a windsurf center founded by Italian waveboarder and father of the ‘cheeseroll’ maneuver Cesare Cantagalli and his brother Sergio. Fun and sun guaranteed!
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Wedding in Florence: look it up!
January 8th
Florence Library
If you want to know where the locals go to look stuff up, check out the Florence Public Library ‘Le Oblate”. Located near the Duomo and spread across three stories of an old 3rd century convent, the library offers not only reading material but also three satellite TVs, a playstation area, couches, chairs, and (carpeted) floor, plus a kiddie room for little ones to read, draw, watch movies, listen to songs, or just chill. Publications are in languages other than Italian, too. Membership is free, check out is max 30 days. The library wraps around a central courtyard where readers hang in summer. Very Cool.
child-friendly Florence
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White Christmas in Florence
December 20thOn December 20th Florence woke up to a winter wonderland, covered in 5 inches of fresh snow!
Duomo in Florence on Dec 20th 2009
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Guess who was at the Florence Marathon?
November 30th
Runners were everywhere: stretching, bending, hopping (to keep warm), meditating, chattering nervously as they waited for shuttle buses to take them to the starting point, one of the most scenic terraces in Florence, Piazzale Michelangelo. Impeccable organization and good ‘ole Italian fun made this sunny Sunday a real treat for locals and visitors alike.
Shops were open and the streets were packed with cheering supporters from around the world.
Blessed by the young and well-loved Mayor Matteo Renzi who showed up to kick off the Family Run, a 3k made just for the kids, Firenze Maratona is just one more reason to come and enjoy Italian life in Florence!
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What do Wedding Planners in Italy do in the Winter?
November 30thThey run the Florence Marathon!
Over 10,000 runners ran around the old renaissance town on Sunday in and out of alleys, along the river Arno and through piazzas for 42 kilometers. Our own wedding coordinator Luca ran the race in a record 4 hours 9 minutes – good job!!
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Florence Bridal Show – Work in Progress
November 8th
Despite being the home to fashion icons like Salvatore Ferragamo, Roberto Cavalli, Emilio Pucci, as well as showcasing countless huge names in high-end clothing and accessories like Dior, Prada, Bulgari, Louis Vitton, Luisa Spagnoli, Yves Saint Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana, Florence just can’t seem to attract young couples to the Fortezza da Basso conference center for the annual Bridal Show. Continue reading… -
Give your bride another Italian Chef
November 8th
If you’re connected right now, go to Italian TV and watch young chef Mario Bacherini show you how to make the ultimate pizza. Easy, tasty, and fun.
Young cooks are popping up like bean sprouts and hitting the TV screen by the numbers. We just talked about two of them (see our post on November 7th) and here are two more for you.Aside from Mario Bacherini, a traditional tall, dark and handsome Italian who takes you through the basics of Italian cuisine like how to make batter, pizza, and crackers (wow!), Mattia Poggi entertains the masses with innovative dishes showing how you can cook like a pro on a tight schedule.
Any way you look at it, cooking in Italy is definitely still IN!
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Give your bride an Italian Chef
November 6th
26 year old Italian Chef Simone Rugiati
They’re growing like weeds and popping up like PS3 Slims. Under 30 and going strong, the Italian response to Jamie Oliver are the likes of Simone Rugiati, Pier Giorgio Papini, and a handful of others. Italian boos making the best of what Italy has to offer with the best of what Italian moms have given the world.
In print, Simone Rugiati’s “Shock and Awe in 20 minutes” is a sure way to move your bride towards the pots and pans. Easy and tasteful recipes accompanied by inspiring shots of the scrumptous chef himself.
And if pictures are not enough, a fun DVD gives you some kitchen klues like how to peel tomatoes or make instant crepes, plus a film biography of Simone himself (sigh!).
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Florence Duomo Freed
November 6th
Every Italian wedding photographer’s nightmare begins when couples celebrating their Wedding in Florence pose in front of the city’s major landmark.
If you’ve visited Florence Italy during the past 10 years, your fisheye photograph embracing the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and St. John’s Baptistery all in one shot probably came out defaced by some hideous piece of scaffolding.
Circling this 800 year old monument like vultures over a dying rabbit and climbing up the walls all the way to the dome, the metal stilts and wooden planks sustaining eternal restoration become every wedding photographer’s photoshop horror story as they must be peeled off the backdrop.
The black muck which is scraped from the green, white and red marble slabs adorning the façade of this renaissance treasure comes from tailpipes of the thousands of scooters, motorcycles, cars, tour buses, public buses, taxis, and trucks that every single day of the year have been allowed to drive around an otherwise ‘off-limits’ historic center.
Tired of all the muckraking, Matteo Renzi, the newly elected mayor of Florence, decided that enough is enough and he has successfully (so far) closed down the area around Piazza Duomo, redirecting traffic through adjacent side streets.
A miracle!
View from via de Cerretani (the poles and chains have now been removed)
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Simple Sunflower Wedding in Tuscany
September 14th
Wedding in Tuscany
July is the epicenter of sunflower season in Tuscany and this is when colors erupt and the maize-colored haze flows across the fields like lava. Warm summer breezes fragranced with wheat spikelets glide smoothly over the hillsides, soaking the air with that je ne sais quoi …. young lovers unite and celebrate!
In 2009 Tuscany made a come back as the top place to be even during the warmest months. And as civil weddings in Italy become easier and cheaper, more dreams come true for those brides counting on a magical destination wedding. Whether it be in a castle, a villa, a farmhouse, or in the middle of a sunflower field, an unforgettable Italian celebration is in store for you!
Viva gli sposi!
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What’s with the pizza scissors?
June 21stSo there I am in a packed pizzeria in downtown Florence, sitting next to a table of fellow Americans. Their pizzas are served and then all of a sudden everyone at the table pulls out a pair of scissors ….
The saying goes, ‘when in Rome do as the Romans do’, and you can bet that the only one who pulls out scissors in Rome is grandma when she has to cut up a roasted chicken. No Italian in their right mind would use scissors on a pizza.
There are two ways to eat pizza, here they are:
Pizzas are ordered individually and served that way too. No “give us a pan for 12″, everybody gets to choose their own toppings. Most Italians eat pizza with a fork and knife, like you eat food in civilized countries. In some areas of Italy where the pizza dough is a little more crunchy and therefore easier to handle, or if you’re serving pizza to kiddies, they might cut a slice and pick it up with their hands, kind of the “finger lickin’ good” thing.
No way, no how, nowhere do Italians use scissors to cut up their delightful disc.
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Easter Rave in Italy
April 12th
Oh Easter Tree, Oh Easter Tree …. what? Wrong holiday or wrong plant?
Nothing wrong at all, Italian creativity in holiday home decorating is the Easter tree. Making one of your own is really simple.
The tortuous branches are from a European hazelnut, a small, deciduous tree that star
ts blooming in the spring, so these were cut just before then.
Decorate as desired, we used small Easter eggs and occasional chicks and butterflies. Try some colored basket grass and spray with a little imitation dew.
- hazelnuts – also the base for Nutella
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Give Your Groom an Italian Body
April 5th
Pampering is not just a girl thing, it’s a guy thing too and that’s how those Italian stallions get the bod! So get your groom going with a day at the Spa with the boys and let them indulge in the company of their favorite blonde …. a frothy beer!
Let them soak in the suds and sauna while they sip on 5 different Italian brews served in the tub with snacks and munchies. Just like at the pub, a little more sophisticated since, he IS marrying you
A full 6 hours with tub time, beer tasting and eats, haircut, massage, all for under 100 euros per dude. -
Win a free honeymoon
March 24thWhy not go all the way? Have your Wedding in Italy and then honeymoon in Cancun, Mexico?
That’s what Italian couples are going for at the Wedding Fair on March 28th at Ca’ La Ghironda, just outside of Bologna. Organized by the Association of Bridal Consultants Italian Group, ABC Italia, the online auction presenting donations from the event’s vendors through E-Bay’s charity auction service will raise funds for the Telefono Azzurro child abuse hotline – and the prizes are really hot! Continue reading… -
New trends for Weddings in Italy
March 19th
Medieval Castles and Renaissance Villas are not the only evocative venues for romantic fairytale Weddings in Italy. As jet set trendsetters know, look at what Italians look for and you’re on top of the world of ‘in’. And what’s ‘in’ right now is contemporary ambiance and an immaculate ceremony setting with a backdrop to spur the imagination and invite pondering in the most stylish fashion with a cultural twist. Continue reading… -
Green pick of the month: Wild asparagus
March 10thTis’ the season to pick asparagus, fa-la-la-la-la! After a long, cold, wet winter full of gray skies, rain and snow, last week on Women’s Day – the March 8th female celebration whose mascot is the pom pom-like mimosa flower – the weather all over Italy was sunny and warm - even Florence registered a full 18 degrees celsius! And just like truffle dogs, asparagus hunters wandered into the wood to check out the buds on the spiny, fern-like plant that bears one of the great delicacies for first course pasta dishes.
But first, a little wiki: Continue reading…
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A Wedding in Ravello
March 6thJessica Biel and Justin Timberlake have it right, if there’s anywhere on the Amalfi Coast that merits consideration for a celebrity wedding, it’s Ravello. Continue reading…
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If the shoe fits, it’s Italian
March 3rd
Wedding Choos
It’s all about living your life. Chuck out the computer, put on your walking shoes, come to a country that lives in its own glorious past – luckily, for the rest of us. There is more to life than the straight and narrow … it’s all about comfort and walkability. Continue reading…
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Valentine is Out but Italian Chocolate is In
February 19th
Even after Valentine’s day, Chocolate is Bliss. Chocoholics will swear by it, chefs will too, and now joining the group are Italian Beauticians who believe that just like your inner self, your outer self needs nourishment and comfort and what better substance to abuse of than pure, creamy chocolate. Continue reading…
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Wedding in Italy Early Bird Booking Prize
February 14thWin a Prize for Your Wedding in Italy !
Book your 2009 wedding or honeymoon by March 31st
and get your choice of one of the following for FREE
to enjoy during your stay in Italy:- Romantic dinner for two
- Guided full-day tour of Rome for two
- Private cellar tour, wine tasting and Tuscan lunch, including transportation for two
- Full-day outlet shopping, including transportation for two
- Portrait photo package
Book your 2010 wedding or honeymoon by May 31, 2009
and we’ll throw in one of the following
services for your wedding day for FREE:- Wedding Day Photoshoot on cd rom (no prints)
- Bride and Groom transportation to and from the wedding ceremony venue in a luxury car
- Bridal bouquet, 2 throw bouquets and 4 boutonnieres
(Prizes must be chosen at the time of booking)
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Wedding in a Winter Wonderland
February 2ndIf you’re thinking of getting married in Italy before spring sets in, this year’s theme song is ‘Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!. Sleigh bells are ringing as the alpine resorts haven’t seen this much snow for 50 years and if you want a taste of northern Italian lifestyle and cuisine, the ultimate destination is without a doubt Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Cortina d'Ampezzo 2009
Tucked in a crevice and surrounded 360 degrees by the towering Dolomite Crystal Peaks, Cortina has long been the winter hideaway for Italy’s best as well as a vibrant, energetic pole for year round sports including downhill and cross country skiing, mountain biking, and a leg of the infamous Giro d’Italia bike race. Hosting the 1956 Olympic games launched this small mountain village on the international arena and since then it has become one of the most popular destinations for Winter Wonderland Weddings.
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5 style no-no’s at Italian Weddings
January 14thItalians are historically rebels, partly because they’re constantly being invaded: by foreign armies, by foreign customs, by foreign languages or simply by foreigners in general, ever since the Roman Empire kicked the bucket. This may be the reason why they try so hard to maintain their provincial identities – a trace of feudalism - and gawk at anything not in their code of couth. Continue reading…
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Spaghetti and meatballs
January 9th
Somebody asked ‘why’d you call your blog spaghetti and meatballs’ – I thought you did weddings in Italy.‘I bet you think spaghetti and meatballs are Italian, don’t you?
Well, they’re not.’
This blog wants to tear down the Italian cliches and bring out the truth about what goes on in Italy, how Italians act and think, and anything else readers are interested in finding out before they visit or get married in Italy or just for the heck of it. Where does the information come from? Italy itself, people who live there, real eye-talians.
Now here’s what Italians say about spaghetti and meatballs plus two tourist menu favorites: caprese and spaghetti with tomato sauce: Continue reading…
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Romantic weddings in Italy
December 21stWatch our slide show to the tune of Andrea Bocelli!
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The truth about civil ceremonies in Italy
December 21st
This article was inspired by an episode viewed on a reality TV series where a Wedding Planner was organizing a civil ceremony on the isle of Capri, just off the coast of Naples in southern Italy. Derogatory remarks portrayed the civil ceremony as being ‘medieval’ – read on and judge for yourself.*
Banquets in medieval castles, strolls down the cobblestone streets of ancient villages, flag throwers and mandolin players all set the atmosphere for romance in a fairy-tale journey into the past for an unforgettable Italian Wedding. And while hundreds of years have passed since knights in shining armor roamed the Circus Maximus, the echo of ancient Roman Law[1] governing citizens in the middle ages still rings in the Italian Civil Code today. But it comes as quite a surprise to many couples who choose to unite legally in Italy that those century old articles of law still define the legal process of marriage in a truly modern doctrine for equality and the rights and obligations of the spouses. Continue reading…
