May 20, 2017 – Suvereto, Italy(Tuscany)
Well today is the Big Day, the primary impetus for out trip back to Italy, today is the wedding of Alessio Giorgerini and his beautiful bride Dana Lashaway. We are so excited for them and to be among those privileged to witness the event and participate in the festivities.
The wedding will take place at 4:00 pm, so this affords us the opportunity to meet with more of Elisa’s many relatives in nearby Suvereto. One of her relatives takes us on a walking tour of this beautiful little hill town. Recently, this little village was voted one of Italy’s most beautiful hill towns. With so many to choose from, we are not sure how anyone could rank them. Although Suvereto may have come in 12th place out of so many, it was number 1 in our book on this wonderful morning.
The Wedding—-
To under stand this wedding you first need to understand Elisa’s cousin Alessio. He grew up in this small town of Suvereto along with his brother Fabiano. His father and several ancestors also grew up in this small town. Alessio has a big personality, just like his Mother. Alessio is and was a great athlete. For many years he played for the Blue Zone – Santa Croce the ancient form or football in nearby Florence, and together they won many tournaments. Alessio also played rugby and he is a hometown hero, known to virtually all of the small town’s residents.
As we visit with Elisa’s relative, we chat about the wedding. She tells us that more than 250 people are invited to the wedding. The small stone church where the wedding will take place, will be hard pressed to contain this many people. But additionally, the entire town will turn out and stand on the piazza opposite the church to witness the wedding as well.
The ceremony commences in the tradition of an Italian Catholic mass. It is fun to hear the ceremony carried out in Italian. We are fortunate enough to meet some of Dana’s family who are attending the wedding. Dana is an American girl who hails from Ohio, who we enjoy some conversation in English with her sisters. We also meet many of Alessio’s friends, some of whom are from Switzerland where he and Dana live and work. They too speak English, so this makes it more special for us to learn about Elisa’s cousin and his courtship with Dana from the perspective of others that know and love them as well.
Prior to the ceremony commencing, Alessio arrived at this ancient church in this sleepy little hill town riding in on his Harley Davidson Motorcycle. He is dressed in his wedding tuxedo and he has his mother on the back of the motorcycle. Such a loud and entertaining entrance lets us know that this ceremony will not be entirely “traditional” and that a lot of fun will likely ensue. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the fun begins. If is unlike anything I’ve ever seen, because as I mentioned, the entire town has come out to the front of the church to also participate in this joyous event. As the Bride and Groom emerge, they are showered / pelted with rice. They stand on the steps for all the invitees and the town to shower them with love and adulation. Then a Italian troop of musicians come to the steps playing lively music and singing songs of celebration. Then a tractor pulling a trailer pulls up. The tractor is trimmed with photos of Alessio in his youth showing him in many of his sporting endeavors. When Alessio is young, he wore very long blond hair (like Fabio) and he would act like a Viking warrior. On the trailer behind the tractor along with the driver of the tractor, they are all wearing long blond wigs and Viking helmets to honor Alessio’s youth. Soon the people on the tractor begin to poor wine for all the guests and towns people who have turned out to begin the celebration. It is an amazing site to see the 500 or more people out there all so happy for Alessio and Dana.
From the Church we proceed to a nearby agri-tourismo – La Fontanella. This happens to be we’re his cousin Luanna is a cook, and what a great cook she is, so we know the food will be delicious. The reception kicks off at 6:00 pm and the 270 guests (big wedding – big party) gather in an open area of the working farm where wine, beer and champagne are being served along with some snacks. At around 7:00pm the wedding party arrives in a beautifully restored early 60’s vintage VW beetle that has been nicely decorated for the wedding. Alessio and Dana emerge and begin to greet the many guests that are attending.
Soon we are invited up to the upper part of the property where the farm house and residences are and we are served the “antipasti”. There is one station serving fried foods and breads and another that serves salami and other meats. And lets not forget the ever flowing wine and beer. About an hour later, the guests are ushered to another part of the farm where the pasta course is served. By now we are all getting a little full. Also, it is a little chilly on this Spring evening so we seek a little shelter from the wind. We can see that the “Seconda” course is being cooked – a variety of meats and sausages are being grilled. By now, we are all a little full and we decide to avoid the long line of guests enjoying in the grilled meats.
Soon it is now about 11:00 pm and the cutting of the came is about to take place. The cake is beautiful. It towers a full 6 tiers high. The 4 servers struggle to carry this towering cake to the area where it will be served. Each tier of the cake is comprised of 2 or 3 layers. It is decorated with fresh fruit and whipped cream icing. As Dana and Alessio slice the cake they share toasts with all the guest that have now been served champagne and Spumante. As we mingle with the other guests after the cake, we look at our watches and see that it is now about mid-night. All of us in our group are exhausted and still a bit jet lagged. Sadly, for us the music and dancing and other spectacles has not yet even started and we realize that it will be a very late night. Regrettably, we must leave “early” as we have an early day the next morning.
We say our thank-yours to our generous hosts and make our was back to our residences that are not to far away. What a very special event it was and we are so happy to have been a part of it.,
Ciao!
More later
Comments