Weddings

 Hi, I'm Laura and  I want to tell you about  Italian weddings. The photos I chose are those taken at my parents' weddings.

As you know Italy is a country full of tradition  and weddings are not different!

In the past, Italian wedding engagements  were usually orchestrated by the families of the bride and groom.

Lineage was of the most importance, and if the bride’s father had any doubts, negotiations could be stopped. In some cases, a negotiator sent a message to the future bride’s family about the man’s hope to marry.

If her family found the groom’s proposal acceptable, there would be wedding bells and a marriage.

Diamond engagement rings have been popular with Italian brides since the 1400.  Someone says that that diamonds were created by the flames of love.

Nowadays on the wedding day the bride and the groom exchange a ring that is also called “vera” or "fede" and the date of the wedding is written inside.

 

 

In some regions people believe that the bride will be lucky if she wears something old, something new and something red.

In preparation for her wedding day, the bride assembles a trousseau, her family provide her with a dowry of money and domestic goods. In the past the “birroccio” was used to take the bride’s trousseau to the bridegroom’s home. The birroccio was a two wheeled cart drawn by 2 oxen decorated with bows, bells and little mirrors.

The wedding dress is usually white and  it represents purity.

The wearing of bridal veil is another wedding tradition that began in Italy, the veil is a symbol of virginity, and the covering of the bride’s face means she has not known a man before.

The traditional wedding ceremony often takes place in the morning.

The wedding feast usually begins with a starter and continues with a sumptuous multi-course dinner. After the meal wedding cake is served with a spumante. And finally the newlyweds distribute sugar almonds and fancy sweet-boxes.

One popular  custom is a toast, usually made by a male guest after a few glasses of wine. “Hurry for the newlyweds”, guest respond with applause. “Kiss the bride” is another popular Italian toast.

Sometimes the groom’s tie is cut into pieces.

The bride and grooms car is often decorated with strips of tulle.

If you are catholic you ge married in church otherwise you will be married  by the Mayor in the town hall.

Anyway, it is tradition of throw rice to the groom and the bride after the ceremony; it symbolizes fertility.

Now two sayings about wedding:

Sposa bagnata. Sposa fortunata. à Wet Bride. Lucky Bride.

Di Venere o di Marte né si Sposa né si Parte. à On Friday and Tuesday one does not marry or  depart.

( You know why? Well according to the tradition Tuesday is the day of the God of war and Friday is the day when the evil spirits were created. But someone says that Friday is the day of the Goddess of Love, so , it's up to you to decide the day of your wedding.)