I couldn’t believe my luck when only months ago, Tilly and Dave asked me to be part of their Italian wedding adventure.

Held in the small village of Petritoli on the East coast, Tilly and Dave had 75 family and friends join them for the five day food and celebration extravaganza held at the town’s Palazzo. Petritoli with a local population of only 600 people hosted some magnificent views across the undulating hillside and out to the sea. A landscape filled with olive tree plantations, vineyards and sunflower crops, there wasn’t an acre of land that hadn’t been used for some method of farming.

This was by no means any ordinary wedding. On the morning of their nuptials, Tilly and her bridesmaids took a stroll to the edge of the village and gathered fresh olive branches and wild flowers for their bouquets and table decorations.  The town square underneath the grandest old bell tower you have ever seen was the setting for their reception.  A long table covered in gingham with place cards from Italy set the scene for what was to be the place of feasting and celebrating later that day.  The girls helped each other to do their own make up, shared in gift giving and relaxed with glasses of local vino before the time had come for their journey down to the bottom of the hill and for Tilly to marry the love of her life.  At the bottom of the community garden stairs, Dave and his lads waited in anticipation for the effervescent Tilly to arrive.

Meanwhile, what had been a glorious sunlit day was soon becoming a dark, threatening storm.  At the exact moment as Tilly arrived, for all the guests to splendour in her gorgeous custom made frock, the heavens opened up and it was evident that both Tilly’s parents who have passed, were sending their blessing down.  Amongst the havoc and umbrella opening, Tilly and Dave sealed their love with a kiss and quickly dashed for the closest cover.  Followed by somewhat drenched, excited and joyous guests (and a saturated photographer) cover was sought until soon after the sun made its glorious re-appearance.  The ceremony covered by an Italian celebrant and an English translator was finished off upstairs in a community hall and their marriage was then official. Regardless of the chaos and extreme change in weather, there was never a frown on either Tilly or Dave’s face.  In a situation which would upset even the calmest of couples, this pair remained totally un-phased.  Their love and commitment to each other was solid.

With a rearrangement of the reception to an inside venue, the guests dried off and the feast begun. Platters of cured meats, cheeses, fresh salads and breads quickly curbed the appetites of their guests. The vino flowed and the band kicked off creating a vibrant and fun atmosphere to finish off a spectacular day.

I loved the three days I spent with Tilly, Dave and their closest loved ones. Although it was a whirlwind trip, it amazed me how quickly I felt like a local and adapted to the warmness and intrigue of the Italian people. Words cannot describe the beauty of Petritoli and it is an experience that will be locked in my heart forever.