A wonderful way to make your wedding even more memorable is to have a destination wedding or celebrate your wedding in a country you love. Italy is one of the most sought-after destinations for young couples, both for engagement and honeymoon. This time we will get ideas on how to celebrate a wedding here in Latvia in Italian style - because you can also feel the special charm of Italy here.

If you plan to celebrate a wedding abroad, take a look - BRIDELIFESTYLE.COM

Italian wedding traditions

What does it really mean to celebrate a wedding in Italian style ? The first associations might be with delicious Italian food, gardens rich in charming plants and flowers, and cheerful guests.

Wedding traditions start before the wedding - in Italy, family is highly respected, and while in other parts of the world wedding traditions are limited to hen and stag parties, Italians hold a joint meal with the bride and groom's family, where they announce the serious decision to join the same life path. The night before the wedding, the bride spends the night at her parents' home.

Although Italy has typical church weddings, modern man is no longer so connected to what is accepted in society, and Italians also marry outside the church if religiosity is not their thing. When getting married in Italy, if you hire a local wedding ceremony leader, it will be conducted in Italian, which will give the ceremony an unusual charm. If you do not know Italian yourself or if wedding guests have arrived, it is convenient to solve this by hiring an interpreter.

In ancient Rome, the young couple was sprinkled with rice after the ceremony - this tradition has not yet disappeared, symbolizing the wishes of prosperity and well-being.

The tradition of Italian brides is not to wear gold jewelry, apart from the wedding ring, because it is believed that then the couple will have bad luck. Does this apply to the modern bride - that is a completely different question, because the modern Italian woman, who is not a strict Catholic, expresses herself vividly and shows her personality at her wedding. It is of great importance that the bride feels free and can enjoy her wedding as the most fantastic party.

Italians like to get married in the late afternoon and celebrate in the evening, which gives the wedding day a more relaxed atmosphere - there is no rush in the morning, and even more distant guests can measure their way to the wedding in a calm rhythm. Chic garden parties, popular in Italy, are very suitable for this practice, where the scent of flowers and the sanctification of nature are complemented by string lights, candles and even chandeliers above festive tables.

Another nice Italian wedding tradition - before the guests go home, the new couple presents them with small thank-you gifts called bomboniere. The gift is accompanied by 5-7 sugared almonds, which symbolize good luck.

Italian atmosphere in Latvian manors and vineyards

Also, when celebrating a wedding in Latvia, you can borrow one of these lovely Italian wedding traditions, for example, hold a wedding celebration in a charming manor garden. Dinner in the fresh air - it's about the Italians. Make a backup plan if the weather on the day of the wedding does not cooperate, such as an indoor celebration.

Italy is characterized by ancient and strong wine traditions. Therefore, the wedding in the vineyard will be truly Italian. Have a wedding ceremony in the vines, such as Sabile Wine Hill, which offers a charming view of the small Italian town. Also, you can include such places as grape farms, wineries as an entertainment point for the wedding guests while you go for the wedding photo session after the ceremony.

You can experience two in one at Nurmuiža Castle – here is both an old manor where you can catch the charm of Italy, a large celebration house, the vines of a grape garden, and an orangery where you can hold a wedding ceremony under a canopy, but still with the feeling that you are in a garden.

The baroque pearl of Vidzeme is suitable for Italian moods. the massage paradise turns into an event space and dance floor.

The pearl of Zemgale, Abgunstes muiža , when lights and strings of lamps are turned on in the evening, it becomes particularly atmospheric, and here too there are options for both plan A and B - a large indoor hall, a small hall for bar and dancing (cocktail hour is popular in Italy), an outdoor terrace and also glamping for those who want to be even closer to nature. The manor prides itself on a familial and warm welcome, which is again a very Italian tradition, remembering that family comes first for Italians.

The selected wedding ceremony and celebration place will be enriched by flower decorations in the Italian style - Italians like to use classic wedding flowers, such as roses and peonies, which always look rich and gorgeous. Today, however, another trend is taking center stage, which is more wallet-friendly – ​​bright and colorful flowers combined in different sizes, also in minimalistic compositions, thus achieving a natural effect and then not having to worry about where so many withered flowers will end up, considering that they will wither quickly on a hot wedding day.

Italian mood at the festive table

Italy is rich in dishes that pamper the taste buds and also look beautiful. Italian food can be the centerpiece of your wedding table, complemented by light sparkling drinks and wine, which can be non-alcoholic for today's health-conscious couples. It is recommended to choose a caterer who is experienced in creating Italian meals. Be sure to ask your wedding planner for advice! The wedding planner or venue, unless it has local cuisine, will advise what will be the most suitable option for the chosen wedding venue.

If you have decided to celebrate the wedding in an open atmosphere on a weekday evening, it will be perfect to do it in an Italian restaurant, for example Piazza Italiana Riga in Old Riga. The restaurant combines modern requirements with Italian culinary traditions and high quality products. You can complement the selected dishes with wine, of which there are 200 types.

A shared meal at a large festive table is one of the most important wedding traditions in Italy. You can express yourself not only with appetizers and main dishes, such as pizzas, pasta, risotto and lasagna, enriched with fragrant herbs, but also with tempting desserts, such as cooling gelato, aromatic tiramisu and colorful tarts.

If you are planning a wedding in Italy or want to be inspired for an Italian-style wedding, take a look at the wedding media BRIDE LIFESTYLE , where we have collected recommendations for destination weddings, as well as the best wedding professionals.

Author of the article: Ieva Simanoviča

Photo: Sukans Photogaphy , Dos Mas En La Mesa, Francesco Brunello, Brown Paper Parcel

Places of celebration: Nurmuiža Castle , Abgunstes muiža , Liepupe Manor