June
30th
Starting July 1st, foreigners visiting the renaissance capital of the world – Florence, Italy – will find an extra charge on their hotel bill when they leave: a hefty 3 euros per day for staying in a hotel downtown. The new ‘bed’ tax is being appealed by hotelliers, but there’s no guarantee they’ll win.
In the meantime, if you’re planning a wedding in Florence and you want to avoid being charged for sleeping over, just move your party to the outskirts – which just happens to be the nicest area to stay in anyway!
The Chianti countryside is made up of neighboring cities where the bed tax is not applied, so you save up to 30 euros when you check out. Plus, pricing is more competitive and the welcome is Italian family style. A short drive takes you there and your civil ceremony can be held in the quaint, tuscan town halls of your choice.
Contact Bonnie Marie for more information: info at myweddingsandmore dot com
Tags: civil wedding in Italy, getting married in italy, wedding in Florence, Wedding in Tuscany, wedding planner in tuscany
Posted in Italian News, Italian Wedding Ideas, Stuff about Florence, Tips for Weddings in Italy, Weddings in Florence, Weddings in Italy, Weddings in Tuscany | No Comments »
June
30th
The Florence City Council ruled in favor of applying a 3 euro/night tax on all non-residents staying in hotels. The maximum charge is limited to 30 euros (10 days). Hotels in the city have joined together and are appealing the ruling, which is effective from July 1st.
Tags: getting married in italy, wedding in Florence, wedding planner in italy, wedding planner in tuscany
Posted in Italian News, Stuff about Florence, Tips for Weddings in Italy, Weddings in Florence, Weddings in Tuscany | No Comments »
June
30th
Hurray!! Delta and Alitalia announced they are reinstating a non-stop flight between the Leaning Tower and the Big Apple. Six flights a week during summer up to October 28th. Get your tickets now (starting from $995/E840)!
Tags: Fun Weddings in Italy, getting married in italy, travel in Italy, Wedding in Tuscany, wedding planner in tuscany
Posted in Italian Ideas, Italian Wedding Ideas, Tips for Weddings in Italy, Weddings in Italy | No Comments »
May
16th
One of the most beautiful brides I’ve ever seen in my decade of planning weddings in Italy inspired style rule #6 for Italian brides. Jewelry should be minimal and should not overshine the radiance of the wearer. Parures are ok if tasteful and in tune with the wedding gown. The no-no is a wristwatch: however designer, whoever the giver, whenever the ceremony. The only one keeping time on your wedding day should be your planner.
Tags: getting married in italy, Italian Wedding Accessories, Italian Wedding Style, wedding planner in italy, weddings in italy
Posted in Italian Wedding Style no-no's, Tips for Weddings in Italy, Weddings in Italy | No Comments »
April
26th
Just too unique. Sorry my photographer friends, I took these myself and wanted to post them right away because the emotion behind being in Venice is overwhelming …
Ok, so there are way too many tourists
Way too many boats
never enough gondoliers
but then there are amazing storefronts
authentic restaurants
wondrous ways to dispose of rubbish
a universal language
oh yes, and one of the most breathtaking backdrops for your wedding
and then some
Tags: civil wedding in Italy, getting married in italy, romantic weddings in italy, wedding in venice, wedding planner in italy, weddings in italy
Posted in Diary of a Wedding, Weddings in Italy, weddings in Venice | No Comments »
April
10th
My all time favorite for Italian wedding gowns is Atellier Aimee’ (pronounced a-tell-yeah em-ay). They have three collections: Precious Princess Glamour, Young Romantic Dreamer, and Sophisticated Chic Elegant. Their idea for young brides is a bold statement: springtime patterns, vivacious colors, sensual fabric. The 10 year anniversary album shows off slendering corsets and fluffy up-dos, plus classic lace and tender pinks. Yummy!
Tags: getting married in italy, Italian Wedding, Italian wedding gowns, romantic weddings in italy, wedding planner in italy, weddings in italy
Posted in Diary of a Wedding, Italian Gowns, Tips for Weddings in Italy, Weddings in Italy | No Comments »
April
1st
I just couldn’t resist. The markets are full of crates upon crates of strawberries. How could I not make some simple vanilla pudding to put my fresh cut and sugared strawberries on? So I made two, one for me and one for my hubby (he should really go on a diet!)
fresh strawberries sprinkled with a little cane sugar, no lemon, no wine
Freshly made pudding
Recipe for the pudding:
Whisk together 2 egg yokes in a bowl. Pour 1/4 sugar, 2 T cornflour, pinch salt into saucepan and stream in 1 cup milk while stirring over medium heat. When mixture thickens pour about 3/4 cup into bowl with yokes, whisk and transfer back into saucepan. Cook for a few more minutes, fold in 1tsp vanilla, let cool then refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Tags: getting married in italy, Italian foodies, Italian recipes, wedding planner in italy, wedding planner in tuscany
Posted in Diary of a Wedding, Italian Ideas, Real Italian Food | No Comments »
March
20th
Carneval culminates in sugary treats – frittelle or fritters are sold piping hot at local fair for 14 euros a chilo, recipe follows
100 gr rice
1/2 liter milk
lemon rind
sugar
1T rum
3 eggs
50 gr flour
Oil for frying
powdered sugar
Overcook the rice in the milk, about 30 minutes, add a little sugar and lemon rind to flavor. Cool the rice and add the rum, egg yokes, and flour. Let stand for a few hours. Beat egg whites until stiff and add to dough, mixing well. Drop dough into hot oil by the tablespoonful and fry until done but not too browned. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Tags: event in Florence, getting married in italy, Italian foodies, Italian recipes, Real Italian Food
Posted in Diary of a Wedding, Events in Italy, Real Italian Food | No Comments »
February
22nd
Somebody twittered me @weddingitaly and asked, “why’d you call your blog spaghetti and meatballs? I thought you did weddings in Italy… ”
And I answered the same thing I always do and said, “I bet you think spaghetti and meatballs is Italian, right? Well, it’s not.”
Sometimes it’s hard to explain what it’s like living abroad, but this morning I came across a really cute blog post via Italytutto by a fellow-Californian who lives in Venice. Italy to Los Angeles and Back is an easy read and consolation for expats. Thanks Marie :0)
To get back on topic, spaghetti and meatballs is an attempt to tear down the cliches about Italy and Italians 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 about before they visit or get married here. The information on this blog comes from Italy itself, from people who live here (like me), and from real eye-talians.
Now here’s what Italians say about spaghetti and meatballs plus two other tourist menu favorites: caprese and spaghetti with tomato sauce: Continue reading…
Tags: Fun Weddings in Italy, getting married in italy, Italian foodies, Italian Wedding, wedding planner in tuscany
Posted in Diary of a Wedding, Italian Ideas, Real Italian Food, Tips for Weddings in Italy | 2 Comments »
December
2nd
I couldn’t believe it when I walked into her room – there she was, big as life, one of my all time favorite movie stars!
Tags: getting married in italy, Italian Wedding, wedding in iItaly Florence, wedding planner in italy
Posted in Diary of a Wedding, Weddings in Italy, Weddings in Tuscany | No Comments »
