Brides Helping Brides ™ - Review of my Italy Wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Review of my Italy Wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sage10.03 Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:02 AM+

Sage10.03 MEMBER SINCE: 11/02 TOTAL POSTS : 4365 WEDDING DATE: Jan 01, 2011

Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:02 AM

Review of my Italy Wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am not sure how helpful this review will be to all of the LIW or NYC brides, but if anyone out there is planning a wedding in Italy, hope this is useful.
The other reason for writing this review is to get to re-live my day a bit…lol!

First off, let me say I had the most incredible wedding planner, named Ben Singleton...He only plans weddings in Italy and was my Godsend through this wedding!! lol! I am unfortunately, not a very detail oriented person and thank god he was there to remind me of all the things I had overlooked…hehe!

We had our rehearsal and dinner on the 3rd along with my hair and make-up trial…
(yes, I had my hair and make-up trial the day before my wedding…..but when you are getting married overseas…your options are limited…haha) Luckily I loved my hair and makeup…
The rehearsal dinner was outside at a restaurant set up on a hill overlooking Tuscany…the food was unbelieveable! And the vino was even better…lol!

We were married on Oct.4th at 5:30pm at the Villa di Maiano in Fiesole, Italy.
For those who don’t know where Fiesole is, it’s a small town in the hills of Tuscany about 10 miles north of Florence.
The villa where we were married dates back to the 14th century and was absolutely stunning.
The weather was PERFECT….75 degrees, sunny, with a slight breeze.
We held the ceremony on a terrace that has a stone wall (about hip height) that overlooks the hills of Tuscany and the skyline of Florence……
The view was AMAZING!!!!!!

We had 75 guests fly out from the states and arranges buses to pick them up in Florence (where most people stayed) and bring them to the villa and back…it worked out perfect!

We had a violinist and a cellist to play for the ceremony and the cocktail hour and they were wonderful!!!!

The ceremony and cocktail hour were both outside on the terrace and then we moved into the villa for the rest of the reception.

The order of the wedding was very traditionally Italian and is very different than we do it here….The first dance is after dinner, the cutting of the cake is not really a big deal (which I was happy about). And just little things that they do…we decided to do.
We wanted all of our guests to get the experience of a traditional Italian wedding (as well as we wanted it for ourselves)

We decided on a well known jazz band in Italy and I was nervous about our choice, b/c even though DH and I love jazz, we wanted all of our guests to enjoy it….well all I can say is it was the best choice I could have made….
They sang America jazz, American classics, Italian jazz, Italian classics….It was great!!!)

We decided on full sized bottles of wine made from the vineyards on the grounds of the villa as favors….they were a big hit!!!!

I brought my dress on the plane with me and it worked out great and I loved my dress….didn’t want to take it off.

FH decided against a tux….b/c the wedding was non-traditional, he wanted to be too…
He looked SO handsome. He wore an Armani charcoal grey pinstriped suit with a blue shirt underneath and brown accents….
My description doesn’t do it justice, but when I post pic’s you’ll see my handsome hubby!

All in all, my day was all I dreamt it would be and more….It was my fairytale come true!
I am certainly not saying that it was without flaws, but to me, it was perfect!

THANK YOU TO ALL THE LIW LADIES THAT GAVE ME SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE!!!!!!!!! YOU LADIES ARE ALL WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Original 2nd-time-around Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:05 AM+

The Original 2nd-time-around MEMBER SINCE: 12/02 TOTAL POSTS : 5658 WEDDING DATE: May 04, 2004

Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:05 AM

Re: Review of my Italy Wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds amazing! Congrats! Looking forward to seeing your pics

Anniegrl Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:08 AM+

Anniegrl MEMBER SINCE: 11/02 TOTAL POSTS : 5562 WEDDING DATE: May 01, 2004

Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:08 AM

Re: Review of my Italy Wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so jealous!!!!!! Your wedding sounds like it was unbelievable. Congratulations!!!

xjulietx Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:20 AM+

xjulietx MEMBER SINCE: 4/03 TOTAL POSTS : 6638 WEDDING DATE: Jun 20, 2004

Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:20 AM

Re: Review of my Italy Wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats! Cent'anni!

Jess2 Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:22 AM+

Jess2 MEMBER SINCE: 8/02 TOTAL POSTS : 1909 WEDDING DATE: May 16, 2004

Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:22 AM

Re: Review of my Italy Wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations!!!! Can't wait to see pics, it sounds so beautiful!

butterfly91804 Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:23 AM+

butterfly91804 MEMBER SINCE: 7/03 TOTAL POSTS : 1199 WEDDING DATE: Sep 18, 2004

Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:23 AM

Re: Review of my Italy Wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your wedding sounds incredible - almost makes me want to change my plans

. Did you honeymoon in Italy too? Where did you stay if you did?

Can't wait to see pics - and Congrats!!!

Sage10.03 Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:25 AM+

Sage10.03 MEMBER SINCE: 11/02 TOTAL POSTS : 4365 WEDDING DATE: Jan 01, 2011

Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:25 AM

Re: Review of my Italy Wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yes...we honeymooned in Lake Como and in Switzerland (Lugano)
It was wonderful!!!

Thanks Ladies!

ps - I posted a few HM pic's on the NW side....

tanbride Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:26 AM+

tanbride MEMBER SINCE: 11/02 TOTAL POSTS : 1284 WEDDING DATE: Sep 21, 2003

Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:26 AM

Re: Review of my Italy Wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations Sage!! I am so glad to hear you had a perfect wedding! I am so jealous about Italy!!! Can't wait to see your photos on the NW board!

HeatherandNick Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:26 AM+

HeatherandNick MEMBER SINCE: 8/01 TOTAL POSTS : 9229 WEDDING DATE: Jun 14, 2002

Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:26 AM

Re: Review of my Italy Wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sounds like an amazing day! Congratulations!!!!!

babybride Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:28 AM+

babybride MEMBER SINCE: 12/02 TOTAL POSTS : 2966 WEDDING DATE: Jun 19, 2004

Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:28 AM

Re: Review of my Italy Wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats!!! Everything sounds wonderful!!! Truly a dream come true!!

Fiesole must have been amazing!!! I can't wait to go there for my honeymoon. I would love to see some pics!!!

jennbaby Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:36 AM+

jennbaby MEMBER SINCE: 9/01 TOTAL POSTS : 29573 WEDDING DATE: May 17, 2003

Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:36 AM

Re: Review of my Italy Wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats to you! I am so happy for you!!!! Come to the other side!!!!!!!

eroxgirl Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:43 AM+

eroxgirl MEMBER SINCE: 11/02 TOTAL POSTS : 6593 WEDDING DATE: Jun 19, 2004

Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:43 AM

Re: Review of my Italy Wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was wondering when you were coming back! Congratulations!! Your wedding sounds like a fantasy wedding come true!

cw0904 Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:43 AM+

cw0904 MEMBER SINCE: 11/01 TOTAL POSTS : 4477 WEDDING DATE: Mar 05, 2004

Posted: Oct 17, 2003 09:43 AM

Re: Review of my Italy Wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds so beautiful! Pics please...

Licia Posted: Oct 17, 2003 10:03 AM+

Licia MEMBER SINCE: 6/02 TOTAL POSTS : 1178 WEDDING DATE: Jun 06, 2004

Posted: Oct 17, 2003 10:03 AM

Re: Review of my Italy Wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds amazing. Can't wait to see pictures

ChristineC68 Posted: Oct 17, 2003 10:19 AM+

ChristineC68 MEMBER SINCE: 5/01 TOTAL POSTS : 12170 WEDDING DATE: Sep 21, 2002

Posted: Oct 17, 2003 10:19 AM

Re: Review of my Italy Wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It sounds wonderufl!!!

Kathy116 Posted: Oct 17, 2003 10:35 AM+

Kathy116 MEMBER SINCE: 2/03 TOTAL POSTS : 4534 WEDDING DATE: Dec 28, 2003

Posted: Oct 17, 2003 10:35 AM

Re: Review of my Italy Wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds amazing!! I'm getting all emotional just reading your review! I can't wait to see the pictures!!!

jenny2penny Posted: Oct 17, 2003 10:43 AM+

jenny2penny MEMBER SINCE: 1/03 TOTAL POSTS : 11739 WEDDING DATE: Jan 01, 2012

Posted: Oct 17, 2003 10:43 AM

Re: Review of my Italy Wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it sounds amazing. Please post pics!!!!

dawnie Posted: Oct 17, 2003 10:45 AM+

dawnie MEMBER SINCE: 9/01 TOTAL POSTS : 2820 WEDDING DATE: Mar 30, 2003

Posted: Oct 17, 2003 10:45 AM

Re: Review of my Italy Wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow! Your wedding sounds amazing!
Congratulations and can't wait to see more pictures!

merf99 Posted: Oct 17, 2003 10:50 AM+

merf99 MEMBER SINCE: 12/02 TOTAL POSTS : 1893 WEDDING DATE: Nov 08, 2003

Posted: Oct 17, 2003 10:50 AM

Re: Review of my Italy Wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats- sounds perfect!!!!!

sweetnessconfused Posted: Oct 17, 2003 10:53 AM+

sweetnessconfused MEMBER SINCE: 1/03 TOTAL POSTS : 489 WEDDING DATE: Sep 11, 2004

Posted: Oct 17, 2003 10:53 AM

Re: Review of my Italy Wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am soooo jealous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted so badly to get married on the Amalfi Coast ever since we visited there last year. FI originally planned on proposing at the Blue Grotto but the jeweler didn't have my ring ready.

Italy is AMAZING!

I am soooo HAPPY for you!!! Much LOVE & HAPPINESS to you and your hubby!!!