Wednesday, 27 February 2008

Four years ago


We always said if we ever got married, we'd go back to Italy for our wedding. After all, without Italy we wouldn't be together.

We met because of a perfect tangle of misadventures – an impulsive side-trip, a railway strike, a bus crash, lost tickets, a missed connection – things that could only seem "meant to be" in hindsight. And we fell for each other by accident, really – blame the bridges of Venice at midnight, an orchestra practicing in the back streets after dusk, homemade wine, fireflies like Christmas lights on the hills. When it comes to amore, Italy doesn't mess around.


When we planned our wedding in Florence, we didn't forget the chaos of the time we'd spent in Italy (it was charming, but it was chaos) and we decided to keep things as simple as we could. I made our invitations and I bought my dress in Dallas, without a single alteration. My father-in-law chose my wedding shoes. My mum did my hair (if you could see the back, you'd know she's a genius). I did my own makeup. My brother Aaron made my bouquet from flowers he found at a little roadside store on the morning of the wedding, and my brother Jules played the piano in the church. The priest was an old friend of Nathan's med school chaplain. We had our reception at a 14th-century villa on an olive grove in the countryside – a place we saw for the first time just three days before the wedding. Every question the owner asked us, we answered "just do what you usually do, and we'll be happy". We even skipped the usual crowd of attendants – Aaron was my best man, and Nathan's best man was John (his friend since fourth grade, who was with us when we met – poor soul).


All our simple plans aside, we were determined to expect the unexpected and not come unglued if it all went awry. Really, what's Italy without a few twists in the tale?

Imagine our amazement when everything – and I mean everything – went right. The sun shone in the middle of February! The day was warm, where 10 days earlier there'd been snow! The photographers came all the way from Poggibonsi, and were brilliant. The priest felt like an old friend. And out of all the Australians and all the Americans, not one of our 50 guests got lost.


Our wedding day was four years ago. But when we think about February 17, 2004, it sometimes feels like yesterday. I mean it – when it comes to love, Italy doesn't mess around.


{Photography by Carlo Carletti and Angelo Governi of Arte Fotografica}

24 comments:

  1. Oh, it sounds like a dream come true and so beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Magical--like a royal wedding! What a setting...four years and two (well, almost two!) beautiful babies...congratulations to you both. Couples that make it work through all kinds of ups, downs and sideways are really inspiring to a bride-to-be like me!

    ReplyDelete
  3. How very romantic! It sounds perfect and made to be! Congrats on the anniversary!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This was such a sweet story to read! Thanks for sharing. Like a fairy tale! And a romantic one at that.

    ReplyDelete
  5. How very romantic!

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a fairy tale! Congrats on four years!! Lovely pics!

    ReplyDelete
  7. So romantic!! I loved reading the story of your wedding, sounds absolutely amazing!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ah, what a fantastic post!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Such beautiful photos - and such a wonderfully romantic wedding!

    I think 'meant-to-be' sounds quite appropriate and even MORE romantic! Sigh-h. Lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  10. aaah, lovely. how lovely and perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank-you for sharing your story and photos - wonderful ☺

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a gorgeous tribute.
    Thanks for sharing that with us!
    Anna

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'll admit I'm a little gelous.This is so romantic and beautiful.You probably were meant to be together ,after all cupid comes from Italy.

    ReplyDelete
  14. How romantic! Congratulations :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Beautiful wedding photos, what a lovely day. :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow, such a beautiful story + photos. I love how simplistic you treated the experience. It makes the true emotions emerge fully.

    ReplyDelete
  17. wow, what a beautiful wedding! You have a wonderful story to tell your children!

    ReplyDelete
  18. totally beautiful pictures, totally lovely story. i am such a sucker for a happy beginning!

    ReplyDelete
  19. How wonderful..You looked beautiful.
    Much happiness to the both of you..

    ReplyDelete
  20. What a magical story! Thanks for sharing it and the beautiful photos!

    ReplyDelete
  21. how very beautiful...

    we must lead some sort of weird parallel life...our anniversary is february 19th lol

    and re the above post, our credit card has also been cancelled due to fraud! pooh!

    and i have a terrible two year old toddler as well lol

    ReplyDelete
  22. What an amazing journey you both went on to find each other and then another to come together. That is true and pure romance at its finest. Beautiful photos as well. Happy anniversary!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Happy Anniversary!!
    What a great story!
    Your pictures are simply amazing!

    ReplyDelete