| On the day of the wedding, the bride is not | | | | The Reception The best man greets everyone |
| supposed to wear any gold, until after her | | | | coming to the reception with a tray of liquor. |
| wedding ring is slipped out. Wearing gold during or | | | | Sweet liquors are served to the women and |
| before the wedding is thought to bring bad luck. | | | | strong drinks served to the men before any food. |
| Old Church traditions forbade marriage during Lent | | | | The purpose of this is to give everyone an |
| and Advent. Marriage was also avoided in the | | | | opportunity to toast the bride and groom. A |
| months of May and August. May was to be | | | | common toast would be "Per cent'anni" (for a |
| reserved for the veneration of the Virgin Mary, | | | | hundred years). |
| and August was thought to invite bad luck and | | | | All the men at the reception kiss the bride for |
| sickness. | | | | good luck -- and to make the groom jealous. |
| Sunday marriages (with the exception of the | | | | The bride carried a satin bag (la borsa) in which |
| months mentioned above) are believed to be | | | | guests placed envelopes containing money. The |
| luckiest. In the Veneto region of Italy, the groom | | | | money helped toward the expenses of the |
| walks to the bride's house and, together, he walks | | | | wedding which was financed by the bride's family. |
| with the bride and the whole wedding party to | | | | During the reception, this purse was usually |
| church. On the way, town residents would watch | | | | guarded by the bride's grandmother (nonna) or |
| the group walk by and present the bride with | | | | mother (the holder of the bag can vary).In some |
| many challenges. For example, they put a broom | | | | weddings the bride hangs on to the satin bag and |
| on the ground and if she bride noticed it and | | | | all the men who dance with the bride put money |
| picked it up to put it away she was considered a | | | | in the sack. At some weddings, primarily in |
| good housekeeper. Then, she might come across | | | | Northern Italy, the best man would cuts the |
| a crying child, the couple is supposed to quiet him | | | | groom's tie into little pieces. The pieces are then |
| and make him smile; this would mean that they | | | | put onto a tray and sold to the guests. The |
| will be good parents. Coming across a beggar, | | | | proceeds are given to the couple to help pay for |
| means giving generously and is equaled to having | | | | the band. It's a good idea for the groom to bring |
| a good heart. | | | | a cheap tie in anticipation of this custom. Italian |
| The bride arrives to the wedding mass last. In the | | | | weddings have always emphasized food. Strongly |
| meantime, the groom waits in front of the church | | | | linked with family life, food is the focal point of |
| as his best men tease him about the bride, "Did | | | | the festivities. The elaborate wedding of the bride |
| you tell her that you're getting married today?" | | | | and groom brings together the friends and |
| and "I don't think she'll come"! Her lateness, | | | | relatives of both families in a celebration of their |
| depending on the number of minutes, would have | | | | new relationship. |
| a different meaning to the groom. | | | | In ancient Rome, a loaf of wheat bread was |
| In Northern Italy, the groom brings the bouquet | | | | broken over the heads of the bride and grooms |
| of flowers to the wedding. In fact the color and | | | | to ensure a fertile and fulfilling life. Guests would |
| style of the bouquet is supposed to be a surprise | | | | eat the crumbs for good luck. |
| to the bride. This signifies a present from the | | | | A multi-course dinner follows often as many as |
| grooms. | | | | 14 different courses (sometimes even more)! |