Clare&Paul, Florence-May 2009, 50 guests
12:45, how exciting coming back to the Red Hall at Palazzo Vecchio! It´s sunny at last: it will definitely be a beautiful day!
The bride is radiant and nervous and with her gorgeous bridesmaids, all in black with a pretty pink&white gerberas´ bouquet, capture everyone´s attention, in fact a group of funny Japanese people decides to bring home a photo- souvenir...posing with the bride! What a wedding day!
Here we are: the groom is expectantly waiting, the hall is full of feathered hats and jackets with white gerberas´ buttonholes, Debussy starts playing, she enters...
´In the name of the law I declare you are united in marriage´: tears and applause.
The first welcome drink is held in the most antique and prestigious Chocolate Factory in Florence and develops in an elegant almost ´XIX century´ atmosphere, which Florentine noble families used to enjoy during warm May afternoons. The last Prosecco, some more shooting and off we go with our private bus heading to a marvellous historical villa in the centre of Florence.
Guests are welcomed with an elegant aperitif in one of the inner halls overlooking the terrace; the warm sun allows some walking in the villa´s park and illuminates the fantastic view over the hills, while the newly-weds are returning from their romantic Florentine walk.
6.30 pm, dinner is served.
The dinner hall has marvellous frescoes, white inlay and a vaulted ceiling; 6 round tables, silver cutlery and black glass plates on black clothes; tables are named with Ava&Frank, Marylin&Joe and more famous couples, while magnificent glass vases with their black feathers and white carnations´ spheres tower in the hall, almost like discrete lamps illuminating the guests, who are entertained by the funny best man´s speeches.
The first dance on Steve Wonder´s notes lead off an unrestrained dance till midnight, just before the last bus to Florence centre.
The party is over and we are knackered, but super happy because at the end of the day we were right: it´s been a beautiful day!!!
The Infinity´s WP, May ´09
... to be continued
english version