How many weddings are we attending in our lifetime? Small or big, formal or casual, simple or colorful, I have been to a quite a lot of them in my family also among my friends and for work. But this one was certainly the most homely one I ever been.  Everything home-made and prepared by the family itself and only among close friends. That is why it made this wedding so special -a Perfect Italian Home Wedding. 

It started few days before the wedding, that the bride's guests from out side of Milan arrived to the house to stay with us for the wedding week. My boyfriend's mother made delicious Polenta (corn meal) with sausage stew - a typical northern Italian home food for all of us 10 people. It's my favorite Italian food, well one of many actually! How nice to have a comfort food with family and friends at home before the wedding. This is pure happiness and the way it should be. Who needs crazy party one night before the wedding? The bride has to be the most beautiful woman at her wedding and guests also need to be presentable. So we all went to bed at children's bed time. 

Polenta

Next morning was a beautiful sunny day. I love a morning of the wedding day. It's a beginning of the day, a new start and we all felt fresh. Autumn in Milan can be very cold, but we were lucky  - everybody could walk outside of the house without courts on. 

My boyfriend was so emotional at his only sister's wedding. He was missing his father and he wanted to show him how beautiful his sister is at her wedding. I am sure that their father was looking from the sky and celebrating this special day with all of us. Of course we went to visit his monument right after the wedding to tell him that we just had a most beautiful wedding for his daughter. 

A wedding always makes us recognise relationships between people. We miss people who are no longer with us and appreciate the fact that we can share this moment with our loved ones, who are still with us. I am very lucky to have a loving family, to share memorable moments each day. 

The wedding cake was made by family friends. Everything was running smooth and without any stress. Italian people know what they have to do around people and with  food! Next day we were still eating the delicious food and my boyfriend's mother showed me how to make a pumpkin pie, which was actually the recipe of  the bride's friend. Little by little she teaches me some basics in the Italian kitchen and I think I'll be cooking some delicious Italian food, before speaking proper Italian.

My boyfriend was quite surprised that his mother already showed me how to make marmalade with grapes from their house in Mondovi (see my column vol.21 Autumn Family time). He said " Why did my mother show you our family secret? I don't even know how to make it! Why didn't she show me!"  I think in few years I will know more family secrets than him, mostly in the kitchen of course!

I hope that one day they will all enjoy my real Italian home made food. I would love to see their big smile and I will be a proud Italian mother. 

Congratulations to Francesca and Marco (the bride and the groom)! I wish you all the best and a lot of happiness! We love you both so much.