Dancing until morning, wine by the river, endless fun - this is a typical Italian wedding. At the holiday, the Italians miraculously coexist with ancient traditions, religious rites, and modern trends.

About all the national features of the Italian wedding Yulia Prokofieva, CEO of Italy Lux Group, spoke in an exclusive interview.

Julia Prokofyeva

Italy Lux Group
italyluxwedding.com
Work experience: 20 years in tourism,
10 years in organizing exclusive weddings and events in Italy.

- Julia, tell us about the main wedding traditions of Italy…

An Italian wedding is famous for its fun, dancing, entertainment, delicious food, excellent wine and many traditions. The traditions and customs of each region of the country are a real wealth, and every Italian tries to observe them in order to maintain a connection with his native land. Most of the traditions are common not only in Italy, but also in Europe, and even in Russia.

Traditions

The bride's wedding dress must remain top secret until the day of the wedding.

The wedding veil has been a traditional element of the bride's attire since the times of Ancient Rome. In the past, the veil was intended to protect the bride from evil spirits, and only at the end of the ceremony could the groom lift the bride's veil.

A common tradition is when the bride needs to wear something old - this symbolizes the past and connection with her family, something new - which represents the future of a married couple, something blue - a symbol of love and fidelity, and borrowed, preferably from a happy bride !

A true Italian tradition - the bride gives a sprig of an olive tree to her mother-in-law as a sign of unity and peace.

A common tradition since the 14th century is the throwing of the bride's garter. And if earlier the groom untied the garter, today he must pull it off and throw it to unmarried friends. The one who catches the garter will soon get married and will dance with the girl who caught the bridal bouquet.

A widespread custom in Sicily: the preparation of the bed of spouses is entrusted only to young unmarried and chaste girls, symbolizing purity.

Ceremony

- I read that the happiest day for a wedding in Italy is Sunday. What is it connected with?

Italians have a whole science of lucky and unlucky days of the week for a wedding. For example, it is not advised to marry on Tuesday and Friday. Sunday is the day of the Lord, which means it is ideal for marriage.

-Is it true that in addition to the dance of the bride and groom in Italy, the bride must perform a separate dance?

Now this tradition is more preserved in southern Italy, where the bride is invited to perform a sultry and fast tarantella dance. Masterfully perform "tarantella" - an art. In the north and center of Italy, there is a tradition of a bride dancing with her father.

- Tell us about the requirements of Italian brides: what is the most important for them when organizing a wedding?

As in the rest of the world, the wedding venue and the wedding dress come first for Italian brides. There are a lot of beautiful and romantic places in Italy for any budget: ancient villas and medieval castles, royal palaces and traditional agritourism. The same goes for choosing a dress. The range of exquisite models of wedding dresses from famous couturiers is huge and can satisfy any taste. There is a special tour to Italy, during which young people go to Italy to an Italian designer to order a wedding dress and suit.

Wedding day

- Tell us about the schedule of the wedding day in Italy?

The morning of the bride, as a rule, begins at 10:00. It takes a lot of time to prepare, so the groom goes to the church or to the city hall (depending on the type of ceremony chosen) around 15:00 and waits for the bride there with all those invited to the wedding. The bride arrives arm in arm with her father and goes to the groom, after which the father escorts the bride to the groom and the marriage ceremony begins.

After the registration ceremony, the newlyweds are waiting for a rain of rice, as a wish for good luck and a future full of happiness and prosperity. In some regions of Italy, coins, rose petals and confetti are added to the rain of rice. There is a widespread tradition of breaking a plate when a married couple leaves as a sign of prosperity and happiness. It is usually filled with rice, salt and grains. Then everyone goes to the place where the wedding is celebrated. Here guests will find a rich aperitif with all kinds of snacks, music, entertainment. While the guests enjoy an aperitif, the newlyweds are photographed. Then the guests congratulate the young and the holiday begins. As a rule, artists, magicians, musicians, singers are invited to the wedding: you won't be bored! The holiday ends with dances, songs, cutting of the wedding cake and colorful fireworks. At parting, guests receive elegant bonbonnieres with fragrant almond glaze.

In 1700, the bonbonniere became part of the Italian tradition: at the wedding of the Prince of Naples, Vittorio Emanuele and Elena Montenegro, the guests received boxes of sweets as a gift. Today, making bonbonnieres in Italy is considered a real art: boxes can be of the most unusual shapes and decorated with silver and gold elements, becoming a very valuable gift.

wedding omens

- Do the brides and grooms of Italy have special wedding signs?

Wedding signs are another interesting side of marriage. There are a great many of them:

• On the day of the wedding, before the ceremony, the bride should not look in the mirror in her wedding dress. If you really want to, then you need to remove one shoe, earring or glove.
• Buying engagement and wedding rings at the same time brings bad luck.
• It does not bode well for putting on a wedding ring on a finger before marriage.
• A bridal veil brings good luck when given as a gift from a happily married bride.
• The groom can give the bride at the end of the ceremony an ear, as a symbol of the earth and fertility.
• The groom, leaving the house, and heading to the church, should not return back. To do this, it is better to have a friend or a witness nearby to help in emergencies.
• Try not to drop your wedding rings during the ceremony. But if this happened, they must be raised by the person performing the ceremony.
• Sposa bagnata, sposa fortunata - this proverb translates as "Wet bride, happy bride" - rain is a symbol of wealth and fertility, which "falls" on the young from the sky.

Russians in Italy

If a couple from Russia wants to organize a wedding in Italy, how long before they need to start preparing? Are there any difficulties in processing marriage documents?

It is advisable to start preparing for a wedding in Italy a year in advance. Particularly popular wedding and event venues in Italy are sometimes booked earlier.

A marriage concluded in Italy is considered valid on the territory of Russia. Documents must be prepared in advance and obtain permission from the Italian Consulate General for marriage. In addition, for the official ceremony, the choice of venues is limited. Many couples prefer to sign in their homeland, and in Italy to arrange a beautiful symbolic wedding ceremony and celebration.

What would you recommend to brides and grooms, what places to choose for a wedding in Italy, what to visit, what to try…?

The beauty and diversity of landscapes, rich cultural heritage, ancient temples and medieval castles, delicious cuisine, world famous wines are the best conditions for a perfect wedding. The lakes of Northern Italy are very popular: Garda, Como and Maggiore. During the flowering period, they turn into a piece of paradise. Ancient castles and villas on the picturesque hills of Lombardy, Tuscany and Umbria are in great demand. In winter, it can be the Alps, and for lovers of sea holidays - a huge selection of sites on the coasts of Italy or sunny Sicily.

A wedding in Italy is not only a fabulous ceremony, it is also exciting trips to ancient towns, excursions, tasting of delicious products that are produced on agricultural farms, and noble Italian wine. Each region of Italy has its own beauties, its own cuisine, its own meat delicacies, its own cheese and its own wine. The Italians are very proud and appreciate it, passing on their wealth and craftsmanship from generation to generation.

Steffy writes:

Good day to all!

I need to prepare a congratulation for the bride and groom in Italian ... and in parallel in Russian, but with Italian it’s not so simple for me)) for example, the expression "Viva gli sposi" is like our "Advice and Love to the Newlyweds!" ..? interesting, but the analogue of our "Bitter!" there is in Italian ... tell me who knows!

Thank you in advance!

Viva gli sposi - Long live the bride and groom!

Here are some congratulations from the Italian site dedicated to the wedding and everything connected with it:

Tantissimi auguri affinché questo giorno sia l'inizio di un felice e lungo futuro insieme.

Best wishes for this day to be the beginning of a long and happy future together.

Augurissimi al fortunato sposo ed alla bellissima sposa!

Congratulations to the lucky (lucky) groom and beautiful bride

I nostri migliori auguri ad una coppia stupenda nel ricordo del vostro giorno più bello.

Our best wishes to the amazingly beautiful couple on your special day.

Il vostro futuro sia luminoso come questo giorno. Auguri.

May your future be as bright as this day.

I nostri auguri per una vita ricca di felicita e di amore. Siete una coppia bellissima.

We wish you much happiness and love in your life. You are a very beautiful couple.

Un "Sì" che cambia la vita. Una vita di felicita immensa and il nostro augurio

The word yes is life changing. Our wish for you is unlimited happiness in life.

You can find more phrases in Italian by googling Frasi d "augurio per matrimonio

Italian wedding- the dream of many newlyweds, because Italy, with its lush nature, breathtaking landscapes, cultural and historical attractions, is simply created for love and a beautiful, unforgettable start to life together. Romantic Venice, sunny Sicily, monumental or fashionable Milan - the choice is truly limitless. It is in Italy that girls can realize their childhood dreams of a wedding in a fabulous medieval castle, on the terrace of a villa with a gorgeous view of the azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea, or on the green lawn of a baroque palazzo on the picturesque shore of Lake Garda.

If your dreams come true and wedding in Italy not far off, our article will help you prepare for this event, take into account all the possible nuances, and also provide useful practical information to guests invited to an Italian wedding who are unfamiliar with local customs.

As for organizing a wedding in Italy, our team has prepared a unique all-inclusive wedding package for newlyweds.

Wedding in Italy = the wedding of your dreams for only 2,890 €!

1. Modern Italian wedding - what is it like?
2. Pre-wedding preparations
3. Sending invitations
4. Date picker
5. Bachelorette and bachelor party
6. Number of guests
7. What to give for a wedding in Italy
8. Wedding outfits
9. wedding superstitions
10. Church and civil ceremonies
11. Where is the wedding feast
12. wedding menu
13. Wedding toasts
14. Entertainment
15. Honeymoon in Italy

1. Modern Italian wedding - what is it like?

Modern Italian wedding does not require strict adherence to the canons adopted in ancient times, although in Italy, as in a Catholic and patriarchal country, they pay more attention to observing the established order and established traditions. Many of them are probably already familiar to you - thanks to globalization, the differences between countries and peoples are gradually being erased, and wedding rituals, the standards of which were set back in Ancient Rome, are increasingly being unified.

Like Russians (in the broad sense of the word, Russian-speaking people), it is customary for Italians to get married in a white dress, arrange stag and hen parties, organize photo shoots for the newlyweds, cut the wedding cake and throw a bouquet at the end of the banquet. Despite the outward similarity, a wedding in Italy has its own characteristics and differences, the knowledge of which will help future spouses to weave the color and customs of this country into wedding celebrations as much as possible, and their guests, who are unfamiliar with local traditions, will feel comfortable.

Photoshoot in the style of a Sicilian wedding of the 60s for Vanity Fair Italy

It must be taken into account that Italian wedding traditions differ from region to region, although not as significantly as back in the 19th century, at a time of political and cultural fragmentation. In our article, we will focus mainly on the traditions of southern Italy on the example of the island of Sicily, because it is this truly paradise that many couples choose to organizing a wedding ceremony in Italy.

2. Pre-wedding preparations

A wedding for Italians and especially Sicilians is almost the main event in life. Not without reason, it is the wedding that serves as the plot of Mario Puzo's "The Godfather" - on the wedding day of the daughter of Constance, don Vito Corleone meets numerous guests on the threshold of his mansion, and on the sidelines receives petitioners who come to the "godfather" for protection and a fair trial.

It is customary to prepare for a wedding in Italy much in advance - a year or even two, because the organization of a large-scale celebration at the highest level is associated with serious and painstaking preparation. A classic Italian wedding requires everything to be honorable, that is, a quick ceremony in the style of Las Vegas, where you can get married literally on the same day on which the idea of ​​tying the knot occurred to the young at all, without the presence of witnesses and numerous guests , here they will not understand and even condemn.

The wedding is preceded by a long period of courtship (in some particularly neglected cases, this period may even be too long - in Italy, divorce is not an easy and quick matter, so many couples delay marriage as long as possible and get married, as a rule, after 30 years, which at the same time it is a guarantee of strong relationships and real feelings). The first step towards living together An offer of marriage usually performed in a romantic setting. A man confirms the seriousness of his intentions by giving the lady of the heart an engagement ring (a ring with one large diamond - as a symbol of unique and only love; another popular option is a veretta ring with small diamonds arranged in a circle, which symbolizes the eternity of love). The promise is necessarily sealed with a kiss, and if the lady accepts the proposal of her gentleman, then from that moment the couple is considered engaged.
Interestingly, the tradition of betrothal dates back to Ancient Rome, when a preliminary wedding agreement was considered as a legal procedure and provided with an exchange of rings, after which only death could terminate the wedding agreement. In those days, the decision to marry was not made by the girl herself, but by her father or guardian on the basis of political or financial considerations, in order to expand and strengthen the influence of the family. Of course, in the modern world there are no such restrictions, and marriages are most often made by mutual consent and love without the direct intervention of parents.

After getting engaged, the couple announces their upcoming wedding at a special engagement party to which relatives and friends are invited. It is customary for the parents of the future spouses to get to know each other before the wedding - as a rule, this happens at a family dinner or dinner, to which one party invites the other.

3. Sending invitations

According to the rules of etiquette, all guests need to send out invitations a few months before the wedding date, and not by e-mail, but in the old fashioned way - by real mail in an envelope with stamps. Invitations, the design of which can be specially designed for a particular wedding, indicate the names of the newlyweds, the date and place of the event, the preferred style of clothing if the wedding is themed. Interestingly, the start time of the ceremony is marked an hour earlier, so that none of the guests is guaranteed to be late.

After receiving an invitation, guests should respond as soon as possible whether they can attend the wedding, as this information is important for planning the celebration and organizing the banquet.

4. Choosing a date for a wedding in Italy

Italians place great value on choice. wedding dates. The most undesirable dates in this Catholic country are those that fall on Advent (the time preceding the feast of the Nativity of Christ), Lent before Easter and May (just like ours: if you get married in May, you will toil all your life). Tuesday, whose patron planet and ruler is Mars, is considered an unlucky day for the wedding ceremony - if the young people get married on Tuesday, they will often quarrel and fight with each other. Of all the days of the week, Sunday is considered the best, when all the saints give their blessing to the young for marriage.

Although people get married in Italy all year round, the main wedding season lasts from mid-April (after Easter) until the end of October. Choosing wedding month in italy, August should be avoided, especially dates starting from August 15, when Italians celebrate Ferragosto (Ferragosto - Assumption of the Virgin) and go on vacation in droves, which automatically means crowded hotels, traffic jams and a price tag that is 20-25% higher. If you want to save money, then it is preferable to consider less popular months - many hotels and restaurants offer good discounts during the off-peak season.

5. Hen and stag parties in Italy

An important part of the pre-wedding period are parties for future newlyweds who say goodbye to the last days of a carefree single life. In Italy, hen and stag parties are organized like this: friends take the groom (or bride) to a certain place and arrange a surprise for him or her, and for the groom it can be a really daring bachelor party in the spirit of the movie "The Hangover", while for the bride more often of all, a more modest entertainment is arranged, although a cheerful dinner with girlfriends. In both cases, as the English say, bittersweet, or "bitter joy," the feeling that arises from the fact that life will change once and for all in the near future, is not complete.

6. Number of guests

“The huge garden already accommodated several hundred people: some danced on a wooden stage strewn with flowers, others sat at long tables densely packed with all kinds of food, spicy and spicy in the southern style, and jugs with dark home-made wine. The bride, Connie Corleone, in all her wedding splendor, was seated at a special table on a separate platform, along with the bride and groom, bridesmaid and groomsmen. They presented a picturesque spectacle in the old Italian style. Although the groom did not really like it, Connie agreed to celebrate the wedding in the old fashioned way in Italy, in order to please her father, whom she did not please by the very choice of her husband.

Mario Puzo, The Godfather

The scene of the wedding of the daughter of Vito Corleone from the first film of the trilogy "The Godfather"

Although the trend of modern weddings is to celebrate in a narrow circle of close friends and relatives, in Italy a “warm lamp” wedding for 25 people will not be considered a real celebration. Given the size and cohesion of Italian families, especially in southern Italy, a very modest wedding by Italian standards - up to 100 people. 200-250 people is a good average wedding, where there is a place for distant relatives, work colleagues, and not the closest friends. Since this is essentially an announcement to the whole world that this couple has officially decided to be “both in grief and in joy, and until the end of their days”, then, according to Italians, the more witnesses to this significant event, the better .

7. What is given for a wedding in Italy

An important question for all those invited to a wedding in Italy - what and when it is customary to give future spouses. Modern Italians prefer to give money or things from a special list compiled by the young. A common practice has become a gift in the form of a honeymoon trip - those invited to the wedding transfer money in advance to the travel agency organizing the trip.

The main difference from Russia is that gifts, no matter money or things, can be given BEFORE the wedding itself. For example, in Sicily, a special party is organized a month or two before the celebration - ricevimento where delivery takes place. Of course, guests from Russia and other countries can present gifts directly on the wedding day, for example, during a welcome aperitif before the start of the banquet, when the newlyweds move freely around the hall and communicate with the guests.

Important, that It is not customary to give flowers for a wedding in Italy. According to tradition, the groom chooses and buys a bouquet for the bride and takes it to her house before the celebration. For female relatives (mother-in-law, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and sister-in-law), as well as bridesmaids, bouquets are bought separately, but other guests must come without flowers.
It is also surprising that an Italian wedding is not only gifts for the young, but also for guests! At the end of the wedding banquet, each guest is given bombonnieres - small gifts to remember the event. What the bombonnieres will be like depends on the fantasy of the bride and groom and the theme of the wedding, but regardless of the type, the set of gifts for guests must include Jordanian almond, or Italian confetti - chocolate-coated almonds in a bright wrapper or mesh bags. The color of the icing can be different, but the number of confetti is strictly odd (preferably 5 or 7), which symbolizes good luck and wishes to the bride and groom - happiness, health, wealth, longevity and procreation.

At the wedding of Marina and Ludovico, which I had the honor to attend as a guest, bombonnieres were themed and reflected the cultural characteristics of the countries of origin of the bride and groom. Guests from Italy received as a gift a nesting doll with a bottle of the national Russian drink - vodka - inside, and guests from Russia - a traditional Sicilian carriage of newlyweds with a bottle of limoncello. And, of course, all guests received, in addition to their souvenirs, 5 sweets made from glazed almonds

8. Wedding outfits

As in many other countries, in Italy it is considered a bad omen if the groom sees the bride's dress before the wedding, so the bride chooses the wedding dress herself, and her older relatives and friends help her in this.

If you want to find “the very dress” in which you will be dazzling and luxurious at your own wedding, then our consultant in Italy will help you with the choice and organization of interaction with wedding salons. The consultant will take care of all organizational issues, while you can enjoy the exciting and pleasant moments of meeting with the perfect dress for your celebration.

For a ceremony in a church, a classic floor-length white dress with a long train is preferable, which will stretch beautifully along the entire aisle while the bride steps to the altar. A corset with a plunging neckline and an overly bare back is undesirable in church, so if you want a more revealing dress, it's best to save it for a civil ceremony or a celebration in a restaurant. For painting in the municipality, a knee-length dress with a sun skirt is suitable. The color can vary in all shades of white - from vanilla and powdery to champagne.

The tradition of complementing a wedding look with a veil dates back to Ancient Rome, when a veil was more like a veil, hiding not only the bride's face, but also enveloping her from head to toe. In southern Italy, it is customary for the veil to be as long as the love of young people for each other, that is, the longer the better. In addition, such a veil looks extremely impressive.

It is preferable that at the wedding the groom is dressed in a classic suit with a tie or bow tie. The dress code for guests is prescribed in advance in invitations, especially if young people want to maintain a certain style and color palette. Guests at the wedding should be dressed according to the occasion - solemnly, but not too pretentious, so as not to outshine the real heroes of the holiday with their appearance. Under the ban, total black and open shoulders during the ceremony in the church.

9. Wedding superstitions and signs

Italians are a very superstitious people, especially when it comes to weddings - there are many signs that determine the future life of spouses. On the evening before the wedding, the Italian bride will definitely wear something green, because it promises abundance and fertility for the upcoming marriage. There is another well-known tradition - the bride should wear something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and something that she received as a gift, but this tradition originated in England and is not purely Italian.

On the wedding day, the bride will never wear gold, except for a wedding ring, and a piece of iron will be hidden in the groom's pocket to ward off evil spirits and protect against the evil eye. On the couple leaving the church, guests throw rose petals (usually not allowed in the church itself), paper confetti and handfuls of rice - washed so as not to stain the groom's suit. A real rain of petals, confetti and rice falls on the young, which promises the fullness and prosperity of the future married life.

At the end of the celebration, the couple must break the vase or glass and count the number of pieces, which symbolize the number of years they will be happily married.

There will also be many superstitions, today not all of them are taken into account before or during an Italian wedding, but if you get married in Italy, a couple of them should still be noted - just in case and for good luck.

10. Church and civil ceremonies

In Italy, there is no such thing as the ransom of the bride (which even in Russia is far from being included in the wedding day program), and the celebration begins immediately with the wedding ceremony. Unlike many other countries, in Italy more than 75% of marriages take place in a church, and the church ceremony is officially equated with a civil painting. Of course, young people can sign in the local municipality (Italian municipalities are sometimes located in very beautiful historical buildings), where the ceremony is usually performed by the mayor or civil registrar.

But still, in Italy, a country with very stable religious traditions, it is customary for a couple to officially marry and pronounce marital vows in the temple, in front of people and God. This is especially true of the more patriarchal Italian South.

routine church ceremony in Italy about like this. The groom arrives at the church 20-30 minutes before the start of the ceremony and patiently waits for the bride, as well as numerous guests, and they are instructed to immediately take their places, and not wait on the street. At the church ceremony, the right side of the church is occupied by the friends and relatives of the groom, and the left, respectively, by the bride. The first rows are for parents and close relatives. Among the Sicilians, the whole village or a good part of the city can often be present at the ceremony in the church: it is believed that the wedding is a holiday for everyone.

The bride usually arrives at the church a little late - church bells announce her imminent arrival. As has been customary since the Middle Ages, she can arrive very romantically and extravagantly - on horseback or in a carriage, but most often by car. According to tradition, to the sounds of Mendelssohn's march, the father leads the bride to the altar, and in front of them are a boy and a girl - the children of relatives or close friends, who carry a pillow with rings and flowers. Having reached the altar, the father lifts the veil and forever passes his daughter to her future husband.

When the heroes of the celebration are assembled, the ceremony begins, which lasts about an hour. The priest pronounces parting words to the young and asks them to pronounce the traditional wedding vows, the text of which is known to everyone: “I take you as a husband (wife) to be with you in wealth, and in poverty, and in illness, and in health, and in grief and in joy until death do us part.” At this touching and exciting moment, it is very difficult to keep from crying...

It is interesting that in Italy witnesses are very important, and during the official part in a church or municipality they are really asked to witness the marriage, while in Russia the role of witnesses is purely nominal, and nothing depends on their presence or absence.

After the ceremony, in some villages, especially in southern Italy, it is customary for the young, accompanied by relatives and other guests, to march through the streets in solemn procession, accepting congratulations and shaking hands. Most modern couples then go to a photo session, at which time the guests clean up and get to the restaurant on their own at the appointed time.

11. Where is the wedding feast

A large-scale wedding feast in Italy can be organized in a luxurious palazzo with several halls that can accommodate hundreds of people, a medieval castle from a Disney fairy tale, in a chic villa with outdoor terraces, or even on a yacht that cuts through the blue waters of one of the seas washing the shores of Italy.

Some arrange a wedding banquet at home: all guests are invited to the ceremony at the church, and only a narrow circle of relatives and friends are invited to the feast. But still, such a home format is rather an exception - in Italy it is customary after the wedding to treat guests with a delicious lunch or dinner in a good restaurant. Usually, the young people decide in advance how to seat the guests so that there is no confusion, and grandfather Giuseppe was not next to the young bridesmaids, so the invitees are told in advance which table they are sitting at, and it is customary to place banquet cards with names on the tables themselves.

12. Wedding menu

Italians are the biggest fans of food in the world, so the success of the wedding itself largely depends on the wedding feast, on its abundance and variety. Wedding banquet in Italy can include up to 10-15 meal changes, so it is advisable for non-Italian guests to prepare in advance for the fact that they will have to absorb a lot of tasty and high-calorie food.

There are two types of festive feast - a wedding dinner (which lasts from one to 6 pm) and a wedding dinner (from 6 pm to midnight). Before the feast, guests awaiting the arrival of the newly-married spouses (who are usually busy at the wedding photo shoot) are offered an aperitif to increase their appetite and light snacks. Must be submitted first antipasti (from anti - "to" and pasto - "food") - snacks from vegetables, cheese, meat or seafood, it can also be balls of arancini, mini-pizza or bruschetta.

First course (primo piatto) at an Italian wedding, traditionally there is not a salad, like ours, but pasta, which Italians simply adore and eat every day, and the wedding day is no exception to their favorite rule. Pasta can be prepared according to the season and venue (seafood pasta in Sicily, carbonara pasta in Rome, truffle pasta in Tuscany, etc.). Primo piatto, which is also customary to treat at an Italian wedding, includes risotto, lasagna, ravioli and tortellini (Italian dumplings made from unleavened dough).

Main dishes (secondo piatto) include a good piece of meat or fish with garnish (contorno) grilled vegetables or potatoes. At the end they serve sorbet , sometimes mixed with liqueur or prosecco. Wedding cake (torta nuziale) , as is customary in many other countries of the world, the young are cut at the end of the evening: the first pieces are for the spouses themselves, the second for the mother-in-law, the third for the mother-in-law, the next for the father-in-law and father-in-law, then other guests.

Of course, a wedding feast is not complete without Bacchus and his gifts. If Russians almost always have strong alcoholic drinks at a wedding, then in Italy they drink what is easier: prosecco (an analogue of champagne), wine and liquor, which is usually served at the end of the feast along with dolce - sweets (in Sicily it can be cannoli - wafer rolls with sweet filling) and a piece of wedding cake.

“A sober spy at the wedding!” They say among us and believe that the wedding failed if no one had fun and played tricks, as it should, in the manner of the heroes of the film “Bitter!”. In Italy, there are practically no people who have overdone intoxicants, they don’t drink champagne from the bride’s shoe and they don’t drain glasses at speed, but, perhaps, the wedding itself is more like a ceremonial dinner than a merry wedding festivities.

13. Wedding toasts

In Russia and other countries of the former USSR, toasting is an integral part of the feast, which some compare almost to art. During the first toasts, when the host - toastmaster - gives all the guests a turn to speak, along with congratulations and wishes, gifts are usually given to the young (money, things, etc.). In Italy, gifts are given in advance, there are no toastmasters at wedding parties as a class, and it is not customary to toast in the understanding of long and colorful wishes and parables (imagine that all 200-300 people start congratulating the newlyweds - so the wedding will not end by the next morning) .

If you were invited to an Italian wedding, then I recommend learning just one short word - "auguri" (aguri) , which roughly translates to "best regards!". It is "aguri!" guests shout to the young after the ceremony, congratulating them on their marriage. During a wedding banquet, Italians, like us, do not chant "bitterly", counting the number of happy years of marriage by the duration of the kiss. The maximum that the Italians can say - "un bacio per la sposa", or "kiss for the bride" , while too long a kiss in front of numerous relatives of the older generation will be considered not entirely decent.

However, Italian weddings are not complete without toasts. A newly-married couple can approach guests during the evening, listening to personal congratulations and “aguri”. At the end of the celebration, the newlyweds raise the final glass and say thanks to relatives and friends.

14. Entertainment program

With the phrase " wedding in Italy”(and taking into account the temperament and passion of the Italians), images of cheerful, laughing girls and guys appear in my head, dancing with all their might, tarantella to the accompaniment of a guitar and tambourine. Imagine my surprise when I found out that the most important thing at an Italian wedding is a banquet, and entertainment - competitions, auctions, live music and dancing, is more an exception than a rule.

A Russian-style wedding is simply impossible to imagine without an entertainment program; the same toastmaster will not let guests get bored, tearing them off the tables and forcing them to shake the abundant wedding food during dances or mobile competitions. Once at an Italian wedding, prepare yourself first of all to eat a lot, a lot. Although some entertainment may be present - the young people open the celebration with their first dance, then their parents join them, and the couples change. There may be dancing and live music, but still they serve as a backdrop and complement, while the main focus is on the banquet itself and delicious Italian food.

It is remarkable that the wedding of Marina and Ludovico absorbed the traditions of both Russian and Italian weddings. Live music played all evening - a specially invited jazz band performed popular Italian melodies, but the Russian folk dance group set the dance floor on fire a couple of times, and unobtrusive and not vulgar competitions entertained the guests. Given that the professions of the bride and groom are associated with creativity in the field of photo, video and advertising, the banquet was decorated with creative videos in the style of the Great Gatsby, as well as a hit video for the favorite song of Italians and Russians Felicita, which was created with the participation of guests from different cities and countries.

15. Honeymoon in Italy

What happens after marriage? Most couples enjoy time alone with each other - "honeymoon". This tradition and word goes back to ancient Rome, when the newlyweds spend one lunar cycle (29-30 days) after the wedding, eating a portion of honey at every meal, so that further family life is sweet and prosperous.

The best part is that having celebrated your wedding in Italy, you can, without leaving the country, go to any of its stunning and special corners and spend this time alone with each other in tenderness, love and romance.

Our team has prepared a unique wedding package for newlyweds.

Wedding for two in Rome on an all-inclusive basis = 2,890 €!

This price includes all the basic services to hold an unforgettable wedding ceremony in the capital of Italy without overpayments, extra options and a tedious program.

The basic wedding package (€2,890) includes:

• remote preparation of documents for marriage registration (Nulla Osta),
• services of a hairdresser and makeup artist,
• bridal bouquet and boutonniere for the groom from our catalog,
• official registration of marriage in the 18th century hall with original frescoes and works by famous artists,
• holding a solemn ceremony and translation services,
• photo shoot in Rome at sunrise or sunset (2 hours) and suburbs of Rome (2 hours),
• services for the organization and support of the holiday.

All the details on organizing a wedding in Italy and reviews can be found here Wedding in Italy: dream wedding for only 2 890€!

Text: Anna Strukova

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Italy is a country of contrasts: temperamental ladies, passionate men, burning feelings, on the one hand, and rigor, conservatism, moral values, on the other. And above all this are the centuries-old canons of the Catholic faith. It seems that the air of this southern country is saturated with romance. In the traditions of the Italian wedding, modernity and strange customs are miraculously intertwined. Well, where else can you hear the serenades of the future bride under the window? What are the traditions of engagement, the peculiarities of Italian matchmaking?

Engagement - marriage proposal to the sounds of a serenade

The classic tradition of marriage in Italian involves a long period of courtship for the chosen one. Temperamental brides attach great importance to the vocal abilities of the groom. In the Middle Ages, “duels” of contenders for a hand and a heart were extremely popular in the form of night serenades performed under the windows of a beautiful donna. Reciprocating, the girl threw a flower at the feet of her beloved. And now this custom has not lost popularity. Having rather a symbolic meaning, the courtship procedure begins with the performance of beautiful serenades in honor of the beloved.

Not so long ago, the usual way of engagement was the banal kidnapping of the bride. Rooted in the distant past, in the days of Ancient Rome, this tradition helped to solve, among other things, the financial problems of the newlyweds: the lack of a large dowry for a girl or the presence of a significant income for a future husband. An Italian wedding is preceded by an obligatory engagement of the young. The future spouse presents the chosen one with a ring as a sign of tender feelings and serious intentions. Accepting a gift, the Italian bride emphasizes her favor.

Matchmaking in Italian

Conservatism, religious traditions are inherent in all spheres of life of the inhabitants of the Apennine Peninsula. Italy is a country where divorce is still rejected by the church, and family values ​​are sacred. Having received the consent of his beloved for marriage, the young man, on his own or through matchmakers, asks for the hand of his beloved from the mother of the bride. The financial issues of the dowry, the wedding ceremony, other business aspects are discussed directly with the head of the family - the girl's father.

Engagement is a sacred ritual that precedes an Italian wedding. The parents of the bride give official consent to the marriage at a reception in honor of the betrothal of the newlyweds. Traditionally, this event lasts until late at night. After obtaining consent to marriage from the parents, a long preparation for the wedding begins. From the moment of betrothal to the day of marriage, the girl is forbidden to visit the groom's house, being alone with him. An Italian wedding is a civil painting in the city hall and an obligatory church wedding of the newlyweds.

Choosing the day and month for the celebration

According to tradition, the best day for a wedding is Sunday. Most modern Italian couples do not schedule marriage on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. It is believed that a marriage concluded these days brings misfortune and misfortune:

• Tuesday is ruled by militant Mars. A wedding played on this day will bring constant conflicts to the family.
• Friday is the day of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Traditions promise tears, misfortunes to the bride who chose this day for marriage.

Not everything is so simple and with the seasons. Each month symbolizes certain feelings. So, winter is recognized as the best period for marriage, bringing immense love, respect, tenderness of feelings. May is considered the most unlucky month for newlyweds. The Italian wedding, played in October, serves as a guarantee of tender feelings, but brings failure in financial matters. Wealth, happiness, romantic travel promise marriages concluded in July, August, September.

Traditions and features of the wedding feast in Italy

An Italian wedding implies a "mixed system" of marriage: a civil painting in the municipality and a solemn wedding ceremony in the church. Then the young people with invited guests go to the wedding banquet. To hold it, they choose a local Italian restaurant with a cozy atmosphere, a chic villa with outdoor celebrations, or organize a reception in their own home.

How many guests are invited?

Hospitality is a hallmark of the Apennines. A small wedding is a reception with more than 50 guests. If in large cities young people do not always adhere to traditions, then in rural areas at least a hundred people are invited to a wedding celebration. Snow-white tents decorated with flowers, live music, creating a festive atmosphere are integral parts of an Italian wedding. Traditions say that if the guests at the wedding feel at ease, cheerful, and the treat is to their liking, the marriage is blessed not only by heaven, but also by the love of relatives and friends.

What should be on the table?

The traditions of hospitality mean not only the chic decoration of the wedding banquet: a rich selection of dishes and drinks symbolizes respect for the guests, admiration for the young couple, and wishes for a happy life for the bride and groom. Features of Italian cuisine determine the choice of dishes for each region. Invariable on the tables of any corner of the country will be:

• seafood snacks, cheese snacks;
• traditional Italian pies with olives and cheese;
• all types of pasta with various sauces;
• Italian wines, liqueurs are obligatory "guests" at the wedding.

Is it customary to hold contests and say toasts?

Sociable, cheerful Italians always congratulate the newlyweds on their marriage. Money is the best gift. Wealthy parents can present real estate or a trip to a luxury resort on their honeymoon. Naturally, no Italian wedding is complete without toasts and congratulations. The entertaining part of the reception opens with the wedding dance of the bride and father. Competitions, invited toastmaster - a rarity at such events. But cheerful dances, songs to the accompaniment of live music are another element of Italian wedding traditions.

Wedding dresses of the newlyweds at the Italian wedding

In recent decades, a tradition has developed to select outfits for young people in a classic style: a snow-white dress of the bride, a black tailcoat of the groom. For a long time, the veil covering the young head has remained unchanged. If the couple is limited to a civil marriage, according to tradition, the newlyweds dress much more modestly: an elegant suit, a dress for a girl in bright colors, a classic suit for a young man.