Three weeks in Italy! The long-awaited trip to celebrate both our 25th wedding anniversary and the end of an extremely busy wedding season for me was a gift in every way. The time away provided all that Jeff and I had hoped for, in terms of rest, enjoying each other’s company, and adventure. And as a bonus, I came back with the vision of coordinating weddings in Italy!

We visited 3 distinct regions of Northern Italy: Lake Maggiore, where I was able to go “behind the scenes” during a local wedding; Santa Margherita Ligure, on the Mediterranean near Portofino, where I toured and photographed a 12th century abbey and 14th century villa; and the Florence/Tuscany area, where I toured a 10th century castle and a nearby villa, and was introduced to the wonder of the Tuscan countryside and its people.

I was able to incorporate my experience as a wedding coordinator into all aspects of our trip. I could always get a conversation going with Italians if I mentioned “matrimonio” as my profession (they love family celebrations of all kinds). I had reason to seek out and explore wedding venues, which happen to be located in the most amazingly beautiful settings imaginable. I was also able to arrange a personal tour of several exclusive wedding properties in Tuscany through an American friend who has lived in Italy for 17 years.

First Stop: Lake Maggiore, Hotel Camin, Colmegna
I heard the sound of an approaching speedboat. Looking up from my novel, I saw a white veil billowing in the wind, a hand-held bouquet waving towards the shore, and a handsome, tuxedoed groom popping a champagne cork as the boat approached the dock.

A few hours earlier, Jeff and I had enjoyed a bountiful breakfast of fruit, pastries, eggs, cheese, salamis, fresh local breads, homemade jams, and the ever-present cappuccinos in the hotel dining room. It was pouring rain, which created a wedding day dilemma for the hotel owner Lara and her staff as theylooked out the windows with anxious faces. I did not need to know Italian to understand the animated discussion taking place among the staff. Clearly, a difficult decision had to be made, and soon. Could the guests be served outdoors on the terrace, as the bride had hoped, if the weather cleared by 1 pm, or should they be accommodated in the dining room?

Linens must now get in place for setting out the china, crystal, napkins, menus, place cards, and floral centerpieces. It was after 9 am, and it was still raining! As the first brocade linen was spread over a table in the dining room, I smiled a supportive and understanding smile at Lara and her staff. All of my instincts told me to jump in and help with the setup, but at this wedding my role was observer.

The day before, I had introduced myself to Lara as a wedding coordinator. I mentioned that, although I was on vacation, I was always interested in learning more about wedding venues, customs, and styles. In excellent English, she proudly told me that she hosts at least 50 weddings every year. She added that the next day, the hotel would be the venue for a luncheon reception following a noon wedding at the village church, and the bride and groom would arrive by boat, if weather permitted. This is one of the many “extras” Lara arranged for her clients.

My first day of vacation after a year full of weddings, and here is a wedding coming directly to my hotel! “This is too good to be true!” I thought. “I’m going to see the beginning of an Italian wedding reception!” I was instantly “on duty”, focusing on every detail.

The guests who had walked from the church to the hotel assembled on the lawn just above the dock, awaiting the couple by waving and cheering. The church bells in the tiny village of Colmegna pealed joyously as the bride and groom stepped onto the dock and made their way up the stone path to greet their guests.

A dream was taking place in that moment: the ancient outcropping of rock, upon which the old hotel was built, served as perfect contrast to the radiance, freshness, and excitement of the young bride and groom. As in America, the photographer was the couple’s constant companion, never missing a chance to capture the beauty around them, as well as the beauty of their relationship.

After photos with their family and wedding party, the bride and groom alone entered the hotel’s Victorian greenhouse for more romantic photos, while the wedding party and guests were invited to move down the path along the lake to the cocktail reception (referred to as the “aperitivo” in Italy).

I ducked under my sun hat and watched curiously as the chattering Italian children and handsomely dressed adults made their way to the dining room, overlooking the lake, where a sumptuous array of appetizers, fine wines, and antipasti awaited them.

As I watched the blissful bride and groom move along the path beside my sunny perch, I knew they would be pleased with the celebration. They seemed totally enthralled with each other, just as they should be. As I gazed up at the blue sky and at the crystal clear view across the lake, I could imagine the catering staff’s frustration that they could not at this point move the luncheon out onto the terrace. But at least the sun’s appearance did allow the couple to arrive by boat.

I could see that, in true Italian tradition, the staff had put their heart and soul into the décor, the cooking, and the presentation of Northern Italy’s best cuisine. Their welcomewould be appreciated equally, inside or out! Observing the efficient, relaxed and warm hospitality, I once again realized how much effort goes into the behind-the-scenes activities in order to make any wedding celebration come off flawlessly. I was proud to share the profession of these hard-working hosts. I was a wedding coordinator, even under my sun hat!

About an hour after the luncheon had begun and the introductions and toasts completed, I began to make my way up to my room for my vacation tradition ofa luxurious afternoon nap. But I knew I couldn’t rest until I had checked in onthe reception to see if Italian wedding traditions were similar to ours. I quietly stepped just inside the open doorway and saw immediately that the bride and groom were up and about, visiting guest tables. Within the next hour, the guests would be invited for the cake cutting outside on the elevated, stone terrace, reminiscent of a scene from Romeo and Juliet. I smiled, aware that the reception was progressing as any wedding coordinator would want: beautiful table settings, graceful wine and food service, and perfectly modulated live music in the background. The relaxed conversations at each table, the smiles,the hugs, and the enthusiastic toasting, though in a foreign language, were totally familiar to me and easily translatable into the universal communication among friends and family, celebrating the marriage of two of their loved ones.

My visit to Lake Maggiore gave birth to my desire to encourage American couples to plan their weddings and receptions in Italy. The unique beauty, architectural splendor, and warm, gracious service to be found in the small towns, like Colmegna, not to mention the unsurpassed mastery of all things related food, wine, and romance, cannot be topped!