Frequently Asked Questions
Am I invited to the lunch?
In Italy there is no separation between the parts of a wedding your are invited to. This means that we would like you to enjoy the full celebration with us, from ceremony, lunch and of course the party!
Is there a dress code?
There is no strict dress code for our wedding. While Italian weddings can be a bit more formal, it’s most important to us that you’re comfortable.
Any dining habits I need to know?
Italy is known for it’s cuisine and food culture. While not that different from what you’re used to, you can avoid some mistakes that Roy has surely made when first meeting Laura. Fist off: Italian lunches are long! They usually last a few hours, during which you won’t go long without food. Therefore, don’t fill up on the first course because there is probably a lot more coming. Ask Roy how he found out about the second main course “secondi piatti”.
Any gift ideas?
We are so grateful to have you celebrate this special moment with us and, especially for the ones that are travelling from far, your presence is already very much appreciated. If you’d still like to give something, we would appreciate a contribution to our honeymoon.
What if it rains?
Don’t worry! Our location offers a back-up option, which will let us celebrate inside of te abbey.
Any Italian wedding tradition I need to know about?
While largely similar to Dutch traditions, there are some small differences. Scroll down for some key differences that we think are nice to know!
How am I going to get to the ceremony?
Having lots of hills covered with small picturesque (read: hard to reach) villages means it’s a bit more difficult to get around. That means you will have to rely on your own transportation to get to the church.
Is there a lot to do in the area?
Some might want to grab the opportunity and experience a bit more of Italy. Though Le Marche is less touristic than other parts of Italy, it certainly has a lot to offer. It just means that you’ll need a car to get around. Check our page on Le Marche to look at our favourite things to do.
Do I need to start learning Italian?
Only if you want to impress Laura's family or charm the bartender into giving you an extra glass of wine! But don’t worry, most Italians are friendly and excellent at understanding hand gestures, smiles, and enthusiastic pointing. It’s how Roy survived his first years in Italy. We’ve also included a handy “Italian for Weddings” guide (scroll down!) with key phrases that will come in handy regardless.
Italian Wedding Traditions
The Ceremony
Before entering the church the groom will be waiting for the bride to arrive. That will also be the moment the the groom will see the bride for the first time (the “first look” moment is not a thing in Italy). If you’d like to witness this moment you can wait outside of the church and enter after the bride has arrived. Once everyone is seated the groom and bride will enter with their parents.
After exiting the church the guests are expected to wait outside of the church and wait for the couple to come through the door. You can grab a cone of rice (or flower petals) and throw them at the couple once they exit! According to Italian tradition this brings good luck.
The Reception
Once arrived at the reception location there will be an aperitivo. This is a buffet to make sure you don’t go hungry while you wait while the couple is taking pictures. It’s important to know that this is not the actual lunch!
The lunch is paired with local Italian wine, typical for the Le Marche region. For beer-lovers we’ll make sure that after the lunch you’ll be able to enjoy some Italian beers as well. Also, at the lunch table you’ll find some small wedding favours as a small token of appreciation for joining us on our day. Don’t forget to take them with you!
After the lunch we’ll cut the cake and serve some other desserts for everyone with a sweet tooth. The dessert will be served buffet-style after the lunch, after which the party will start! We’ll also have confetti along with the dessert. Confetti are are almonds with a hard sugar coating, and are very traditional in Italian weddings. Make sure to try some on the spot or to take some home with you!
Crash course Italian
Greetings and Small Talk
Ciao! – Hey/Hallo!
Buongiorno! – Goedemorgen/goedemiddag!
Buonasera! – Goedenavond!
Come stai? – Hoe gaat het?
(Antwoord: "Bene, grazie!" – "Goed, dankjewel!")
At the Dinner Table
Mangiamo! – Laten we eten!
Questo è delizioso! – Dit is heerlijk!
Posso avere un altro bicchiere di vino? – Mag ik nog een glas wijn?
Salute! – Proost!
Sono pieno/a! – Ik zit vol! (Pas op—dit kan genegeerd worden!)
Compliments for the Couple
Siete bellissimi insieme! – Jullie zien er prachtig uit samen!
Congratulazioni! – Gefeliciteerd!
Auguri per una vita felice insieme! – Ik wens jullie een gelukkig leven samen!
Che sposa meravigliosa! – Wat een prachtige bruid!
Che sposo elegante! – Wat een elegante bruidegom!
Polite and Helpful Phrases
Scusa, puoi aiutarmi? – Sorry, kun je me helpen?
Dov’è il bagno? – Waar is de badkamer?
Grazie mille! – Hartelijk bedankt!
Di niente! – Graag gedaan!
Just for Fun
Un altro brindisi! – Nog een toost!
Chi vuole un po’ di limoncello? – Wie wil nog wat limoncello?
Viva gli sposi! – Leve de bruid en de bruidegom!
On the dancefloor
Balliamo? – Zullen we dansen?
Mi piace questa canzone! – Ik hou van dit nummer!
Non so ballare, ma ci provo! – Ik kan niet dansen, maar ik probeer het!