A Tuscan Wedding
Aug 5th, 2010 | 05:10 PM
#1
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Joined: Aug 2010
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A Tuscan Wedding
My son and new daughter in law had a thought that a wedding in Tuscany just might be a better deal than the cost to have one here. They were right.
Once the decision was made, they came to me, their dad, and the bride's parents and asked.. "If we got married in Tuscany, would you come?" Our replies were all the same.. "Absolutely!" And so the journey began.
A year later, 32 guests arrived in the Tuscan hillside village of Montichiello (next to Pienza and Montepulciano)... the way a wedding should be.. 6 days and 5 nights of shear joy.. great food, great wine and one memorable event after another.
From the moment we arrived at the villa named Terre di Nano, we were greeted with enthusiasm and respect. It only got better from this moment on...
Once the decision was made, they came to me, their dad, and the bride's parents and asked.. "If we got married in Tuscany, would you come?" Our replies were all the same.. "Absolutely!" And so the journey began.
A year later, 32 guests arrived in the Tuscan hillside village of Montichiello (next to Pienza and Montepulciano)... the way a wedding should be.. 6 days and 5 nights of shear joy.. great food, great wine and one memorable event after another.
From the moment we arrived at the villa named Terre di Nano, we were greeted with enthusiasm and respect. It only got better from this moment on...
Aug 5th, 2010 | 05:19 PM
#2
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10
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Bill and I had both been to Rome a few times, so the heat of summer and the abundance of tourists was not an attraction for us. We opted to meet the rest of our group for a one night dinner and Rome and left the group for a more relaxing adventure. We met back up with everyone at the train station in Chuisi where we proceeded to pack 25 people with luggage into 3 vans. A tight fit, which made the trek to our villa interesting.
In 1/2 an hour, we arrived our Terra DiNano, the villa which would become our home for the next 6 days. Friends and family took over the villa.. each room beautiful and unique with a taste of class...
Georgio and Christina were our hosts .. the summer days were hot and the pool was our comfort. The first night we filled our appetites with Tuscan style pizzas and local wines from the vineyards of Terra DiNano. Excellent!
Our hosts could not be more accomodating..
In 1/2 an hour, we arrived our Terra DiNano, the villa which would become our home for the next 6 days. Friends and family took over the villa.. each room beautiful and unique with a taste of class...
Georgio and Christina were our hosts .. the summer days were hot and the pool was our comfort. The first night we filled our appetites with Tuscan style pizzas and local wines from the vineyards of Terra DiNano. Excellent!
Our hosts could not be more accomodating..
Aug 5th, 2010 | 05:25 PM
#3
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10
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The next few days were spent exploring the area. We were not far from Montepulciano, Pienza and Sienna. We all experienced Italy in our own unique way.
The day before the wedding, Georgio offered a cooking class .. Tierra Masu, which was to be the wedding cake, requested by the bride... Georgio asked that the women attending the wedding help him to create this delicious desert while the men played bocci to pass the time away.
A perfectly delicious way to spend the hours before the ceremony would begin...
The day before the wedding, Georgio offered a cooking class .. Tierra Masu, which was to be the wedding cake, requested by the bride... Georgio asked that the women attending the wedding help him to create this delicious desert while the men played bocci to pass the time away.
A perfectly delicious way to spend the hours before the ceremony would begin...
Aug 5th, 2010 | 09:35 PM
#5
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 26,491
Likes: 4
Hurray! A Fodorite's report on a beautiful Italian wedding! Don't be surprised if lots of questions are posted. This has been a popular topic lately...
It sounds like it was a wonderful event for everyone involved. Buona fortuna to the happy couple!
It sounds like it was a wonderful event for everyone involved. Buona fortuna to the happy couple!
Aug 6th, 2010 | 01:55 PM
#7
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10
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In actuality, after Josh and Wendy priced a one day wedding of their liking in CT, Tuscany became more and more appealing. The 6 days spent at the villa with food and wine and gorgeous apartments and rooms was quite comparable to what they may have spent for one single day. This of course did not include the cost of air fare, cars, trains, shuttles and the side trips to Rome and the honeymoon in Isle of Capri.
In the end, the money we spent to experience this wonderful adventure was worth the lifetime of memories, pictures and videos.. not to mention the lifelong connection all 32 of us will have each time we see one another.
To continue with the story of the Tuscan wedding...
The rehearsal dinner was booked at a little local bar in the village of Monticchiello called Osteria La Porta http://www.osterialaporta.it/monticchiello.en.php... Monticchiello is a tiny hillside castle village in comparison to others.. very quaint.
A few of us had already experienced the delicious food and tasty wine of La Porta, not to mention the wonderful service of Daria herself. And I cannot stress enough that the gelato is the best I had during my entire stay in Italy. It tastes as though it was made fresh that moment.
As we entered the village through the stone archway, the Osteria was facing us so we did not have far to go. Mostly the restaurant is filled with locals and our group of 32 created quite the stir. We were soon excorted up the stairs to the outdoor patio where our large group fit comfortably.
Daria quickly noted that some of us had already frequented her little Osteria and we were soon being treated like family. Just the way I like it!
Local wine was soon being poured and one course after another appeared. Each course was true Tuscan delights, simply seasoned and very delicious! After hours of eating, drinking, toasting, speaking, presents and laughter, we were ready to resume the partying back at the villa.
This wonderful experience confirmed yet again that it is the little hidden places that are the best experiences and the best food..
Back at the villa the party continued with a stash of Terre DiNano wine at our disposal for the week. We often raided it until all hours of the night. What would that wine bill come to? We soon moved through that thought and continued to pour the wine freely. Life is good in Tuscany. The wedding would soon be upon us... what will our Tuscan wedding look and feel like? It was more than any of us could imagine.... (more to come)...
In the end, the money we spent to experience this wonderful adventure was worth the lifetime of memories, pictures and videos.. not to mention the lifelong connection all 32 of us will have each time we see one another.
To continue with the story of the Tuscan wedding...
The rehearsal dinner was booked at a little local bar in the village of Monticchiello called Osteria La Porta http://www.osterialaporta.it/monticchiello.en.php... Monticchiello is a tiny hillside castle village in comparison to others.. very quaint.
A few of us had already experienced the delicious food and tasty wine of La Porta, not to mention the wonderful service of Daria herself. And I cannot stress enough that the gelato is the best I had during my entire stay in Italy. It tastes as though it was made fresh that moment.
As we entered the village through the stone archway, the Osteria was facing us so we did not have far to go. Mostly the restaurant is filled with locals and our group of 32 created quite the stir. We were soon excorted up the stairs to the outdoor patio where our large group fit comfortably.
Daria quickly noted that some of us had already frequented her little Osteria and we were soon being treated like family. Just the way I like it!
Local wine was soon being poured and one course after another appeared. Each course was true Tuscan delights, simply seasoned and very delicious! After hours of eating, drinking, toasting, speaking, presents and laughter, we were ready to resume the partying back at the villa.
This wonderful experience confirmed yet again that it is the little hidden places that are the best experiences and the best food..
Back at the villa the party continued with a stash of Terre DiNano wine at our disposal for the week. We often raided it until all hours of the night. What would that wine bill come to? We soon moved through that thought and continued to pour the wine freely. Life is good in Tuscany. The wedding would soon be upon us... what will our Tuscan wedding look and feel like? It was more than any of us could imagine.... (more to come)...
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Aug 11th, 2010 | 07:08 PM
#17
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Joined: Aug 2010
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The day of the wedding arrived...Georgio and Christina were busily preparing the wedding table, the wedding dinner, and the flower garden for the after ceremony appetizers and appertifs, while the band was rehearsing.
The guests were content watching the excitement around the villa .. taking time for a swim in the pool on yet another perfectly hot summer day.
The bridesmaids responsibilities began early in the morning making sure the sunflowers were perfectly arranged for the bouquets and corsages upon their delivery and helping one another and the bride with makeup and hair. The brides suite had been hand picked by Georgio as the one best suited for these important moments, as the private bath was large enough to support the hustle and bustle of all the girls.
The groomsmen on the other hand were off early that morning to play golf at a nearby course... a man's idea of how to spend a nervous morning. By mid afternoon they were back and soon dressed and biting their time at the little cottage at the end of the villa toasting with the house wine in an effort to calm the nerves of the pacing groom.
The rest of us soon joined in the toasting while my 5 month old grandson slept through it all.
And finally, the moment arrived... everyone stood at their appropriate places.. the groom's back against the beauty of the surrounding hillsides .. the rest of the wedding party assembled behind the stone house cottage.
The bridesmaids in their light yellow summer dresses each carrying a large bouquet of sunflowers accompanied by their groomsmen began the march down the stone walkway surrounded by lavendar and rosemary. And finally the bride made her way to the makeshift alter to meet her groom. Wendy's gown was beautiful... a tribute to her own beauty.
The whole house cried through the entire ceremony... mostly from tears of pure joy and the reality of the dream we were all blessed to be a part of.
The ceremony was pure and simple.. a lasting tribute to the two of them... vows gently and lovingly spoken that made us both laugh and cry out loud.
And then it was done. My son was married in Tuscany. I was a proud mom... And as beautiful as the ceremony was, the festivities were about to begin. The Italians know their wine and food; the Americans know how to enjoy it..
While pictures were taken, the rest of us were escorted to the flower garden, perfectly designed with foods to snack upon and appertifs to sip. We were content in this magical garden awaiting our next courses.
Could the rest of the evening outdo what we had already experienced... amazingly so... (to be continued)
The guests were content watching the excitement around the villa .. taking time for a swim in the pool on yet another perfectly hot summer day.
The bridesmaids responsibilities began early in the morning making sure the sunflowers were perfectly arranged for the bouquets and corsages upon their delivery and helping one another and the bride with makeup and hair. The brides suite had been hand picked by Georgio as the one best suited for these important moments, as the private bath was large enough to support the hustle and bustle of all the girls.
The groomsmen on the other hand were off early that morning to play golf at a nearby course... a man's idea of how to spend a nervous morning. By mid afternoon they were back and soon dressed and biting their time at the little cottage at the end of the villa toasting with the house wine in an effort to calm the nerves of the pacing groom.
The rest of us soon joined in the toasting while my 5 month old grandson slept through it all.
And finally, the moment arrived... everyone stood at their appropriate places.. the groom's back against the beauty of the surrounding hillsides .. the rest of the wedding party assembled behind the stone house cottage.
The bridesmaids in their light yellow summer dresses each carrying a large bouquet of sunflowers accompanied by their groomsmen began the march down the stone walkway surrounded by lavendar and rosemary. And finally the bride made her way to the makeshift alter to meet her groom. Wendy's gown was beautiful... a tribute to her own beauty.
The whole house cried through the entire ceremony... mostly from tears of pure joy and the reality of the dream we were all blessed to be a part of.
The ceremony was pure and simple.. a lasting tribute to the two of them... vows gently and lovingly spoken that made us both laugh and cry out loud.
And then it was done. My son was married in Tuscany. I was a proud mom... And as beautiful as the ceremony was, the festivities were about to begin. The Italians know their wine and food; the Americans know how to enjoy it..
While pictures were taken, the rest of us were escorted to the flower garden, perfectly designed with foods to snack upon and appertifs to sip. We were content in this magical garden awaiting our next courses.
Could the rest of the evening outdo what we had already experienced... amazingly so... (to be continued)
Aug 11th, 2010 | 07:16 PM
#18
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10
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Answers to your questions:
The wedding cake was Tierra Masu; I did not dream this.. and yet it seems like a dream all at the same time. We actually created this reality... and how do I post pics??? I would love to share some of them with you...
The wedding cake was Tierra Masu; I did not dream this.. and yet it seems like a dream all at the same time. We actually created this reality... and how do I post pics??? I would love to share some of them with you...
