We meet a wedding planner agency on the Amalfi Coast that also organises gay weddings
THE AMALFI COAST is a place where art and nature come together, it's a corner of paradise between sea and sky and the combination of seafood and fresh produce make the area very special. The towns of the Amalfi Coast, such as Amalfi itself, with its rich history, and Ravello, looking down over stunning scenery, with concerts and other cultural and artistic events, are places where love is a part of daily life. The warmth of the hospitality and the wonderful cuisine have made these places enchanting and anyone who comes here, regardless of race or sex, immediately feels at home. For these reasons, the Amalfi Coast has been, and still is, a magnet for gay couples.
Unlike some other countries, gay marriages are not yet legally recognised in Italy but associations are pressing ahead with an awareness campaign to obtain legal recognition. In some comuni, it is possible to be entered in a register of cohabiting couples. Italians are very sympathetic people and have quickly become open to the gay community, fully accepting cohabitation.
CAREFUL PLANNING
Wedding Ravello, a specialist wedding planner, claims to be probably the only wedding planner in Italy who make a point of organising "gay weddings". It provides its clients with religious blessings (Catholic and other religions) or civil ceremonies and they are particularly attentive to the couple's needs.
As with heterosexual couples, the task of the wedding planner is to make them feel really united. After a careful assessment of the couple's wishes, expectations and requirements, as well as the available budget, the wedding planner works to prepare and create a unique occasion which the couple will always remember. As with heterosexual weddings, there are no limits to the ingredients which can be brought together to celebrate an event where the most important people are the couple celebrating their love for each other.
CHOICE OF VENUES
The Ceremony of Union can be celebrated at the Town Hall or in wonderful open-air locations such as historic piazze, the gardens of stately homes or the woods of the Mediterranean maquis with its intense perfumes and lovely views of the sea. After the Ceremony of Union, the couple proceed with their guests to a selected venue, whether indoors or in the open air, to celebrate with family and friends. Wedding Ravello's locations for the reception include four- and five-star hotels, stylish restaurants which serve only seafood and artistically decorated restaurants. They can also arrange catering in private villas or romantic town squares. There is no limit to the time a reception can go on and dancing can continue late into the night. However Italian law insists that the volume of the music should be reduced after midnight!
Wedding Ravello has an arrangement with many hotels which offer "Wedding Night" accommodation to newly-weds and particularly good prices for honeymoons. Their associates can also recommend other locations which welcome gay couples.
The consultation service covers the choice of location right through to advice on honeymoons, from the bouquets to the commemorative gifts. All the locations selected by Wedding Ravello welcome gay couples and are subscribers to a policy on non-discrimination. They also offer package deals and provide quotations based on the available budget.
Wedding Ravello works in close contact with their clients and everything is done to provide a "made to measure" service which will create an occasion to be remembered for the rest of the happy couple's lives. They literally take care of everything right down to the choice of confetti!
Details: www.weddinginravello.it
