Although weddings are important in every culture, Italians make a wedding a truly memorable celebration. They are well known for their great love of good food and drink, and at Italian weddings, food is the focus. And what a focus it is! Italians serve course after course of mouth-watering food to their guests; some weddings can have as many as fourteen courses.
For a traditional Italian wedding, you can pare that down slightly, but plan to serve at least five to seven courses. The main dish is often chicken or beef, but pork or Italian sausage may be substituted. The side dishes are a dizzying array of antipasto, delectable cheeses, heaps of pasta, seafood, and vegetable dishes. Platters of fresh fruit with sweet pineapple, ripe red strawberries, plump grapes, and luscious kiwi overflow on the loaded-down food tables. And of course, the aroma of warm Italian bread fills the air as slice after slice is devoured.
The Italian wedding cake often contains many layers with two figures resting on top to signify the bride and groom. The cake is served with Italian coffee, but it is not the only sweet dessert. Plan on including a cookie table piled high with Italian cookies. Also important are twists of fried dough sprinkled with powdered sugar; these delectable treats are thought to bring good luck to the bride and groom.
Of course, no Italian wedding theme is complete without Italian wine! Be sure to have plenty of Chianti and merlot on hand. At an Italian wedding, expect your guests to drink a lot and continue drinking long into the night!
Music is also important. Consider playing recordings by Italian opera singers as your guests enter the reception, and also during dinner. Once it is time for the dancing to begin, festive Italian music will be sure to get your guests out of their chairs and onto the dance floor.
Where should you hold your Italian wedding? An historic castle or old-world church would be perfect. But if you canÂt get married in one of these, consider a beautiful garden wedding or a ceremony overlooking acres of lush grapes at a local winery. Most Italians are Roman Catholics, so traditionally, a mass was held. This is still true today. Just make sure your chosen site has plenty of room for all your many guests to dance the night away!
When searching for a dress to wear to your Italian wedding, remember that a traditional Italian bride always wore a white gown to symbolize her purity. While you may choose an ivory gown, you probably should stick with one of these two colors. A luxurious Italian-silk gown with a train will suit this theme perfectly. A white tulle veil is also important in an Italian ceremony. A bride traditionally wore the veil covering her face until the moment arrived for the groom to kiss her; this is still popular today. An Italian bride should also be sure to have a small satin bag to hold during the ceremony. Guests hand her envelopes filled with money which she stashes in her little purse.
No Italian wedding is complete without small tokens to give to the guests. Consider handing out colorful candy-coated almonds wrapped in little tulle packages and tied with satin ribbon. This traditional Italian treat, known as confetti, is the perfect way for your guests to remember your beautiful Italian wedding.
