Jessica and Michael were married in the town hall of San Gimignano, on a sunny day in May 2006. The civil wedding allows couples to personalize and modify the ceremony in many ways, to make it a more intimate and personal experience. The bride may be given away, readings and music may be added to the ceremony, rings, and personal vows may be exchanged during the ceremony.

After photography in the town, the couple and guests returned to the villa for aperitifs by the pool, and a formal seated meal in the main hall.

Using a privately hire villa such as this is ideal for groups from 20 to 120 - it gives the couple a base for the week, for events and meals beyond just the wedding day, and creates a stunning setting for the wedding event itself. This villa sleeps a party of 37, but can accommodate a large party for the wedding, and Italyweddings staff of florists and caterers will transform the villa for the event, to make it extra special for the wedding day.

Cassie and Kevin were married in the company of family and close friends in the quiet town of Cortna, in May.

The couple celebrated a civil wedding in the town hall of Cortona - perhaps the most stunning building in the town, an imposing facade overlooking the town, and with a dramatic stone stairway leading down into the main town square.

After a trip into the Tuscan countryside for photographs, the couple joined their party at the top hotel and villa in the area, for an unforgettable banquet meal.

Cortona has become more popular over the last two years, following the book and the movie, "Under the Tuscan Sun", but the town remains genuine not over developped, and friendly towards outsiders. The street remain a mix of traditional local shop and craftsmen, and new and interesting galleries and restaurants.

The couple chose one of the deluxe photography packages - a sample of the work here - one of the best Italian photographers, specializing in digital, informal story-telling photography, in color, particularly suited to an elegant event, with details and colors to be captured.

Rachelle and Rudy were married with both a civil wedding in the town hall of Cortona, and a symbolic blessing ceremony, celebrated at their villa

The town hall of Cortona is one of the most attractive - the town of Cortona, although more popular now with the attention that has been brough by the book and the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun" is still a charming, and quiet town, with genuine local shops and undiscovered corners and restaurants.

The couple returned in the afternoon to the villa to hold a blessing ceremony, the text of which was written by the couple, and full of deep personal significance.

Pistoia Blues Festival - Certainly one of the best musical events in Italy even though popular attendance and demand has expanded the artist revue to include many superstars that are far from blues! It's twinned with the Chicago Blues Festival and attracts some of the world's greatest stars (past performers have included B.B. King, David Bowie, Stevie Winwood, Zucchero, David Crosby, Santana and Bob Dylan to name a few). There are special trains from Florence that will transport music lovers into one of the loveliest of ancient Tuscan cities that exists!

Tra moglie e marito ... non mettere il dito.
Don't put a finger between wife and husband.

It was thought that the wearing of green by the bride the night before the wedding brought luck and abundance to the couple.

Particularly in Southern Italy, it was uncommon for either the groom or the bride to have a "bachelor" or "bachelorette" party beore the wedding.

Let us know what you think of the Italyweddings Newsletter. What would you like to see written here? Please let us know!

mail us your thoughts