We know what we're talking about when we talk about getting married in Italy, we've been there, we've done that ourselves!

We had just moved to Florence from Sardinia and we were excited to be back on the mainland. We were thrilled about moving to a city with such rich a cultural and artistic heritage and from the minute we set foot on continental soil we started touring all the places you come to Tuscany to see: the amphitheatrical square in Siena, the leaning tower in Pisa, Lucca's historic center, the towers of San Gimignano, Volterra, Montalcino and its famous Brunello wine - you name it, we've been there!

When it came time to get married, there was a bit of a dilemna: I had always imagined a wedding in Rome so that I could walk out of the Wedding Hall and look at the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, and Traiano's marketplace. Such a majestic backdrop, such a historic location. I had lived there for ten years and I felt it was home.

So when my then hubby-to-be proposed and said, “isn't it great?! We're getting married in Florence!” I couldn't hide my dismay.

That was until I walked into the Red Hall, the civil ceremony wedding hall in the Palazzo Vecchio. From that moment on there was no doubt and no regret. History unfolds as you pass through the double doors leading into the reddest room you have ever seen in your life! The walls are covered with renaissance Flemish tapestries, there are crystal lamps everywhere including a huge chandelier handing from the ceiling; an enormous baroque mirror and period chairs upholstered in red, matching the fabric wall covering; all totally amazing!

Our ceremony was as romantic as I could hope for and now I can sincerely say that the Sala Rossa and Piazza della Signoria come second to none.

There's a little twinkle in my eye now whenever people ask me for advice on where to get married in Italy.

“I just love Rome!” they say. so I answer,

“Then you'll absolutely ADORE Florence!”