Besides choosing a fantastic Italian villa with breathtaking views and authentic Italian food, why not incorporate some of their traditions as well?
What do Italians do on their wedding day?
1. The rice
In most cultures guests throw rose petals or confetti to the bride and the groom at the end of the ceremony. In Italy however, they throw rice, which symbolizes a shower of fertility for the newly weds. Whether it is a church wedding or a civil ceremony in Lake Como, it would be nice to have some cones filled with rice.
2. Confetti
For Italians confetti are something else...they are sugar coated almonds which are given to guests at the end of the night. They don’t have favours, they have bomboniere - presents usually made of silver or crystals filled with confetti. The number of confetti should always be odd, the common one being 5, symbolizing health, wealth, happiness, fertility and spirituality; the five things needed for an eternal life together. In the modern days it is popular to do a Confettata, which is a table filled with different types of confetti. They are no longer just white and almond coated – you can choose different fillings like chocolate, pistachio or fruit flavours and different colors as well. A classy table filled with confetti is always a great idea to incorporate on your Lake Como wedding.
3. The Bouquet
Italians believe that the bouquet should be bought by the future husband as a last present as a fiancé– this should be delivered to the bride the morning of the wedding day. This hardly happens however as women don’t trust their man to choose their bouquet since it needs to match all the other flower decorations as well as the wedding dress and the bridesmaids’s bouquets. At the end of the wedding, the bride will then throw the bouquet to all her single women friends, whoever catches it will be next to tie the knot.
A recent popular alternative is to write all the bridesmaids’names under one of the bride’s shoe. After the long day of walking whoever’s name is still visible will marry next.
4. The veil
In the old Roman days the veil was meant to cover the brides face until the end of the ceremony in order to make sure that the wedding went through. She would show her face only after they were married. This is obviously not the case anymore. The veil needs to cover the face until the bride arrives at the altar and luckily you already know her looks!
In the south of Italy, it is tradition to have a veil length according to the years of engagement. The longer the years the longer the veil. Every year is worth a meter… how long will yours be?
With Love,
Zaira
