Weddings from World: Italian Wedding

Photography:Darya Kamalova of Thecablookfotolab
We continue with our articles about the different rituals and traditions of weddings around the world. Today, we will talk about Italian weddings. Italians focus more on the ceremony than on the party and they have some other believes before the marriage that we will talk about.   Before the Wedding Before the marriage, they start celebrating with what they call “La Promessa” which is a list of questions that the pastor asks the couple at the same church where they will get married. After that, he will give them the certificate to get married which they will take to the town hall. There, they will sing the legal marriage license application which is published for 8 days before the civil marriage is signed. Few days before the wedding, “fa ill letto” (the bed is made) in the future house of the couple. Friends and family get together to decorate the couple’s bedroom. The couple’s moms make the bed and then they place chocolates, candies, flowers and money on it. The Wedding The day of the wedding, family and friends divide to get to the house of the groom and bride. They toast and greet and then, in a caravan, they head to the church behind the couple’s car. The religious ceremony is basically a catholic ceremony; it may have some modifications but it is in essence the same. After the ceremony comes the best part, the party! As you may already know, Italians have an obsession with food and weddings are not an exception. There is one rule, eat as much as possible. Therefore, once the ceremony ends, the couple go out to take the pictures as the guests enter the venue. The party starts and the guests have a snack while the couple is out. Once the couple returns, everybody goes to the main room.  There, guests can see the huge menu which is usually really assorted. Two appetizers, two main courses, two garnishes and of course desserts. After that, they serve coffee, fruit, candies and amaro (liqueur) for digestion. Once everybody eats and have full bellies, the bride and groom stand next to the souvenirs so guests give them money because gifts are no longer in vogue. In the meantime, people go to the disco part of the room and dance!