Kim and Joe were married with a civil service in the town hall of Siena - one of the most stunning and historic locations in Tuscany. The couple write:

Ciao Luce!

Thank you once again - we had the most fabulous day. The photos arrived earlier this week, and we collected them yesterday. They're truly fantastic. Again thankyou for helping to organise this and please also extend our thanks to the photographer.

We may need to plan to organise something else through you!! We held regular conversations for such a long time it now seems strange not to have to check for messages from Italy!! I guess we're trying to say that we miss chatting with you ...!

warm regards
Kim and Joe

Mark and Rana were married first with a civil wedding in the wonderful town hall of San Gimignano, and then with a symbolic blessing at this villa.

80 guests travelled from England and the US to be present, and the whole wedding day was organized for them, from the various accommodation locations around the Chianti hills, to the wedding ceremony and the castello, and return to their hotels at the end of the night.

Mark and Rana wished for many members of the wedding party to be included in the aspects of the day - groomsmen, ushers, readings and speeches throughout the event made everyone feel the importance they held for the couple.

The couple write:

Dear Ben,

Thank you for organising such a wonderful day, it was truly the best day of our life and we couldn't have done it without you. Everyone who came said that it was the best wedding they have attended and it really was an amazing day.

We are back now, the honeymoon was fantastic and unfortunately its back to reality !

Many thanks again and look forward to hearing from you.
Mark & Rana

Jane and James were married with an intimate group of family and friends, a civil wedding in the town hall of San Gimignano, followed by a wedding reception at the villa they hired for the week around the wedding date.

Like most villas, this location is booked from Saturday to Saturday, with exclusive use. The main advantage of this type of rental is the location becomes a base for a week - long event, with family and friends gathered not just for the few hours of the wedding itself, but with opportunities for parties, long evenings on the terrace, restaurant nights, group visits to the hilltop towns, vineyards and so on.

And of course, you have a unique and private location forthe wedding. Italyweddings take particular attention to the details on the day, and we often are called to transform the location into something extra special for the wedding day. Our creative backgrounds (ben is a painter, Marisa, our in house florist and stylist for these events) work with the couple in the months leading up to the wedding, so all details of style, color, flower type, thoughts about candle lighting, draping the columns, cake presentation and so on, are all designed to meet the couples needs and their budget.

Please take some time to look through the flower section regularly for updates and ideas.

Rachael and Lance held a religious blessing in a Church in central Florence, with a small group of family and friends. A wedding such as this is the least stessful and most intimate and personal for the couple, and their time leading up to the wedding was dedicated to the aspects that were most important to them to be a part of their special day. Italyweddings took care of all the rest, leaving the bride and groom free to spend meaningful time with their guests, and hold the blessing they dreamed of.

The couple write:

Dear Ben,

Rachael and I want to thank you again for all of your work up to and the day of the wedding. We had an incredible time and we appreciate how hands-on you were the day of the ceremony. It was perfect. Our best wishes,
Lance and Rachael

Carnivale or Carnival is celebrated all over the country this month. Derived from carnem levare, literally, 'remove the meat' in Latin, carnival officially starts in mid-January and ends on the day before Ash Wednesday. This is the first day of Lent, the period of 40 days abstinence during which Christians were once forbidden from eating meat. It's a pagan holiday of medieval origin dating back to ancient winter rites when disguises and laughter were used to chase away the evil spirits of winter. During the first week of celebrations adults go to veglioni (late night parties), often wearing costumes and masks while children wear disguises to school and around the piazzas feeding on the candies stuffed in their pockets. Carnevale pastries (which are thin dough strips fried and dusted with powdered sugar) called fritelle, tortelli or chiacchiere fill the shops. Celebrations reach a crescendo of parties and parades on the final day, Martedi Grasso (Fat Tuesday) when a symbol of the carnival itself is burned on a bonfire (with many regional variations on this theme). Local traditions often play a major role in the way carnival is celebrated, giving the festivities unique flavor in many cities and towns. The duration of the festivities varies from locality to locality but it usually lasts a week to ten days from beginning to end. Everything remains open and the country takes on a festive, party spirit.

La moglie e' la chiave di casa
The wife is the key of the house.

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