A FAMILY WEDDING: SI &CLAIRE

28th May 2018

It would be impossible for me to convey the feelings and emotions when you see your children grow into adults and, if or when, they choose to marry. Such feelings and emotions were enhanced when, first Andrew and Charlotte chose a beautiful wedding at Torre Maizza, Ostuni, Puglia on 21 May 2018, and then Simon and Claire chose to marry in Lucca on 28 May 2018. A wedding in Lucca was easy for Jan and me, as that had been our hometown since 2013. It was also convenient for my daughter Lucy, who with Dean and their two sons had just begun a new chapter in their lives when they decided to live in Nozzano Castello, just a ten-minute drive outside Lucca.

After looking at several wedding venues in the Lucchese hills, they decided on Villa Bernardini Mansi, as described on the previous journal entry. With wedding caterers Il Cuore of Lucca, wines selected from Tenuta del Buonamico of nearby Montecarlo and flowers etc from local providers, it was always going to be a well-planned day.

For a full week, Bernardini Mansi was fully booked, well in advance, by over 70 family and friends from the UK, who took the opportunity to enjoy a Tuscan holiday in the Lucchese countryside.

The day before the wedding, arrangements were made to gather and welcome all their 120 plus guests to a drink reception/aperitivo at Madama Butterfly in Piazza Cittadella, next to the Puccini statue. This event cleverly allowed time for guests, friends and family to re-acquaint each other before the following wedding day.

As planned, the Italian wedding ceremony was intimate and charming, helped by friend Mattia who loosely interpreted in Italian the official parts, with much humour. Followed by drinks and Italian canapès on the terrace overlooking stunning views, we were entertained by friend Michelle who sang two arias from Puccini’s operas. The day progressed at a leisurely pace, strolling through the gardens to a full evening dinner where, local classics such as pasta Tordelli Lucchese and Cinta Senese pork fillet, limoncello etc consumed whilst several traditional speeches were heard.

The wonderful day ended for some with a great live band who played modern rock music under a lantern-lit dance area. According to several reports, many guests, sober or otherwise, had late-night fun, dressed or not, in the swimming pools, that included bride and bridesmaids.

To get a full experience of the two days, I highly recommend the photography and videos of Andrew Collin, the official wedding photographer, that are freely available to watch on his website www.andrewcollin.co.uk (Claire + Simon wedding, Lucca). With the use of modern drone technology, Collin captured both days brilliantly, including aerial shots of Bernardini Mansi, overlaid with beautiful music Through Different Eyes by CHPTRS