How to plan a wedding extravaganza in Venice in 1 month. Step 1, find a groom...

Well, FINALLY, if anyone who remembers the old thread "my sister in law is marrying a virtual stranger in Venice" is still alive, I figured the least you all deserve is a trip report.

I think it's only taken my so long because, well dammit, I wanted to write a witty article about what a disaster it was and, well, it was fabulous. I admit it. I've put on about 3 stone with eating my share of humble pie. What's more, 6 months later, and they're still married. Who'd have thought it?

I've pulled up the old thread so you'll know what I'm talking about, and I'll cut straight to the wedding.

The venue
Venice. When I first heard it, cynic that I am, I thought 'how obvious, how tacky', I know I know, it's Venice, but I had visions of the bride having to share her stage with 20 other brides and a boat load of Japanese tourists. After all, this is Venice in JULY!

Was it hot, yes indeedee, but some tailored trousers, a pale cream blouse, a silk scarf and my Dolce and Gabana shades and I was READY!

How to plan a wedding in one month from a foreign country.
1. Money. Money. Money. Good job the bride is an accountant and the groom a property developer else we'd have been eating pizza with the pigeons on St Marks Square. Money buys an english wedding planner who lives in Venice, a wedding photographer who used to shoot fashion for Vogue, and a designer dress whipped up in double quick time.
2. Find a groom (see previous thread).

Attract a crowd
Don't marry in Venice if you're shy and retiring. The bride is expected to walk the streets with her bridesmaids to the venue, and this attracts a LOT of attention. Needless to say, bride to be was in her element. She's now in the holiday photo albums of folks from around the world.

Marry like the Italians.
Let's face it, the Italians do style. And food. And weather. And atmosphere. How can you go wrong?
This was a civil wedding, so I was expecting an ordinary room in a town hall. Perhaps so in any other town, but in Venice this means a frescoed room in a 15thC palazzo with a balcony overlooking the Grand Canal next to the Rialto Bridge. Well, at least the pictures will look good!

Recite after me...
I've only ever been to english weddings, and could recite the vows in my sleep. The Italian vows are fantastic! Loads of emphasis on making joint decisions, doing thinks that your spouse agrees with, working for the common good of the family, loved it! Add to that the romance of the vows spoken in Italian, and then translated into english. The registrar was in tears! That wouldn't happen in England. Plus the city of Venice gave them a wedding gift of Venetian glass. No that CERTAINLY wouldn't happen in England.

Attract attention part 2
It's Venice, so no wedding is complete without a tramp around St Marks Square. Here you will be feted by all, with little girls (literally) running up to give you roses. Dinner on the first floor of the cafe Quadri for your 30 guests completes the experience, but make sure you warn AmEx before embarking on such an enterprise.

OK, I had a great time. OK I am now buying a villa in Puglia with said sister in law and goorm (so can you all please keep your fingers crossed that it lasts). OK I'm convinced. Venice does, after all, win over the cynic in all of us.

If you'd like a sneek at the wedding pics, look up www.joannedunn.it, scroll through the weddings til you reach 'Julie and Mark', and I'll leave you to guess which one I am.

Happy Valentine's Day for next Monday!

Kate
London