Love in the Air: A Wedding in Modena, Italy

“Where there is love there is life.”
Mahatma Gandhi

Shortly before the centuries-old bell tower tolled five o’clock, a crowd of uninvited and surprise guests huddled together on Modena’s Piazza Grande to celebrate a marriage. A crisp-white Fiat dressed in balloons stood guard on the cobbled Italian town square, ready to whisk the new couple away.

Step-by-step, in elegant unison, the two sauntered down the staircase of Modena’s town hall, the Palazzo Comunale, and the crowd sang Can’t Help Falling in Love. Perhaps in English, perhaps in Italian. Pieces of confetti danced in the air above the pair, blissful grins on their faces.

I pondered why the moment had stopped so many casual passersby in their tracks. Perhaps it’s because it reminded us of our own love story, or perhaps for others, one that’s still waiting to be written. On that Saturday afternoon it also epitomized to us the magic and serendipitous moments that slow travel provides when you’re least looking for them.

Congratulazioni agli sposi – Congratulations to the newlyweds!

A sprinkling of confetti.

The bride’s classic bouquet.

The clock face of Modena’s Town Hall, or Palazzo Comunale, bathed in golden-hour sunlight.

A trio of musicians performs for the bridal couple atop a slab of pink marble known as the Preda Ringadora. It’s been in Modena’s main square since at least the 13th Century and it’s served diverse purposes – everything from being a podium, to a place to carry out public punishments, to a venue for displaying corpses for identification. Behind the performers is the city’s famous 14th Century cathedral, the Duomo di Modena, which is shrouded in scaffolding.

Where in the World?

Planning Pointers:

Peruse the Emilia-Romagna Tourist Board website for more details about Modena’s and the region’s rich offerings. The tourist board just recently released a free e-book that chronicles Emilia-Romagna’s Art Cities. I wish it’d been published when we were in the region, yet it’s since presented even more excuses to return to this stunning part of Italy.
We spent 3 nights at the elegant, historic, and centrally located Hotel Canalgrande. One of our favorite memories from Modena, in fact, was sitting out on our hotel room balcony just before sunset, looking out over Modena’s rooftops, while enjoying goodies that we’d procured at the Albinelli Market earlier in the day.
If you’d also like to “eat, feel and live local in Italy” as we did in Modena, check out the BlogVille project website.
Need more inspiration? This link contains an index of all my posts from Italy.

Disclosure & Thanks:

Our Modena visit was supported by the Emilia-Romagna Tourist Board, to which we extend thanks.

An extra special thank you to Nick and Francesca for coordinating all the details and making us feel so welcome in Emilia-Romagna.

About the author

Hi! My name is Tricia Mitchell. I delight in telling stories about my slow travels through more than 65 countries. Some of my highlights have included sharing meals with locals in Armenia, Cambodia, and Tunisia; sipping sparkling wine with French cousins in Alsace; milking goats in a sleepy Bulgarian village; and training with a Japanese mine-clearance team in Laos. My husband, Shawn, and I are based in France’s Loire Valley.

27 responses to “Love in the Air: A Wedding in Modena, Italy”

belocchio

May 1, 2014

How utterly romantic .. completely wonderful. I loved the idea of people spontaneously singing to the wedding couple.

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  May 1, 2014
  
  It was one of those wonderful, spontaneous moments that helps to define a trip, Virginia. Wish you a Happy May Day!
  
corneliaweberphotography

May 2, 2014

images full of joy!! Happy first of May to you Tricia. I am curious if experienced any Maibaum dance today in Oberammergau. Send you tons of sun, which is what apparently your climate needs , right now.

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  May 5, 2014
  
  Thank you for the springtime greetings, Cornelia. On May Day we had best-laid plans to journey to Farchant for the Maibaum celebration. The day started out with grey clouds, and so we stayed in Oberammergau. It ended up later being a splendid day, which allowed us to take a stroll with my parents’ dog, Gigi, and recharge our batteries, which is what we needed.
  
  Thanks for sending the sunshine, for today we’re having glorious weather! :)
  
corneliaweberphotography

May 2, 2014

Love the Fiat there, it’s so Italian. This Fiat was my first car when I was 21 years young and I loved it, now it is becoming fashion again, even her in the U.S. in California.

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  May 2, 2014
  
  Cornelia, ah, what a charming set of wheels. :) What color was your Fiat?
  
Benedetta

May 2, 2014

Thank you very much for the post! “Can’t help falling in love” was sung by the University Choir; before my marriage, I used to sing in it and this was their wedding gift.. The trio is my youngest brother’s band; even if they don’t know my friends, they have the some idea, becouse they know I love music.. It was so touching and charming!
The car is FIAT 500, it was build in 1964 and it’s a vintage car! Red and white were its original colours and it’s a rarity, even in Italy!!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed our weeding, it was a really special day! :)

Thank you very much for your appreciation! The Bride :)

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  May 2, 2014
  
  Benedetta, it’s lovely to hear from you here, and Shawn and I thank you and Daniele for sharing your special day with the Modena passersby. :) It was a beautiful moment that brought a smile to our faces, and a tear to my eye.
  
  First, we saw the Fiat parked on the piazza, and we said, “let’s wait and see the wedding couple drive away.” We didn’t wait to see you escape in the car, but loved the choir’s serenade, and the music your brother’s band played. It’s even more fun now knowing the symbolism behind the music and the Fiat. Thank you for sharing those details.
  
  We wish you all the best, and send our warmest congratulations!
  
Gerard

May 3, 2014

I love romantic stories and that is cool! You sure have a good way with words.

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  May 5, 2014
  
  What a great compliment with which to start the day. Thank you, Gerard! Certainly, touching moments like this one make the words come more easily.
  
  Hope you’re enjoying a lovely spring day on your side of the Atlantic! Here in Germany the sunshine has finally returned, following a hiatus that’s too long for our liking. :)
  
travelerlynne

May 4, 2014

I love your expression, “slow travel”. I simply must learn to do that.What a contrast of the bride with the singers. I do believe she is loving the moment and from the above comment is related. What a special serenade, indeed. :)

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  May 5, 2014
  
  Lynne, I can’t take credit for coining the term, but certainly like to embrace that travel philosophy when possible. Sometimes, it simply isn’t, but when we can immerse ourselves in a place at a relaxed place, we love the results :)
  
  I certainly enjoyed hearing from the bride after doing this post! We met her husband for a few seconds out there on the piazza – just long enough to swap email addresses. I was happy to contribute a few more pictures to what their friends and family have probably already shared. I also loved hearing her tidbits about the wedding.
  
Dalo 2013

May 5, 2014

Wow, how lucky to have seen Modena in the way you did… The first shot you have in this post is fabulous, it it a classic. Such a happy post!

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  May 5, 2014
  
  Randall, glad you enjoyed the set. Isn’t that Fiat a charmer? It’s what initially drew us in to this moment. We were hoping to see the couple drive off into the sunset, but as we were waiting for that, instead got to hear as the bride was serenaded by her university choir. We didn’t get a chance to meet the bride that day, but she’s since touched base to mention the vintage of the car, etc., mentioning that it’s a rarity, even in Italy.
  
  When you make that grand Croatian trip, perhaps you can also ferry over to Italy, as we did. Modena’s region, Emilia-Romagna, doesn’t disappoint with its incredible food, friendly people, and quiet elegance.
  
acuriousgal

May 5, 2014

What a lovely wedding, love the brides dress. Beautiful pics

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  May 7, 2014
  
  A very classic wedding all around, I think. I’m glad you enjoyed the images, Barb, and thank you for your kind words. More on Croatia to come soon! :)
  
jingsandthings

May 6, 2014

That reminds me of Florence, the light, the arches , the duomo. I have a photograph of a car exactly the same as that taken on a trip to Montecarlo, near Lucca. They’ve obviously become Italian treasures.

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  May 11, 2014
  
  Dorothy, I can see where you noticed similarities between the two cities’ architecture. Regarding the car, the bride since wrote to give me the specs of this car, and apparently the subject of your photo too. It’s a 1964 Fiat 500, and was red and white in its former life. She mentioned that it’s rare – even in Italy. :) Guess we were both lucky to photograph them during our travels to Italy.
  
  Montecarlo and Lucca both look delightful. Someday I’d love to spent months, even years, traversing Italy and properly exploring the country.
  
the eternal traveller

May 10, 2014

We always seem to see weddings when we travel in Europe. I think they are much more public than here. It’s always a joy to see two people starting out on a new life together, even when we don’t know them.

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  May 10, 2014
  
  I’ve noticed that too, Carol. I wonder if it might be because European couples often have two weddings – a civil service at a city hall with the closest friends or family, and then a larger church wedding. Either way, Europe’s Old World backdrop really provides an extra dash of ambience to the affair. :)
  
  1. the eternal traveller
    
    May 10, 2014
    
    I think that’s the reason. And we’ve seen them on all days of the week too, whereas here weddings are usually on Saturdays.
    
    Did you read on Justin Beaver’s blog where he gatecrashed a wedding in Cologne?
    
    Wedding Party – Weekly Photo Challenge – Threshold
  2. Tricia A. Mitchell
    
    May 11, 2014
    
    Carol, no, I hadn’t heard about your alter ego’s mischievous antics. :) Looks as though you all had a fun time in Cologne!
  3. the eternal traveller
    
    May 11, 2014
    
    We did. I really enjoyed Cologne, particularly all the Roman remains. Justin Beaver enjoyed all the food, as usual.
susanvanallen

May 14, 2014

Beautiful! I love the confetti tradition!

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  May 18, 2014
  
  Susan, it does add character to a wedding! I loved that the bride later wrote to explain that confetti’s Italian name is called coriander or coriandoli. :) Do you know if there is supposed to be a linguistic connection with the herb?
  
Sonia

July 12, 2014

What a lovely post! We have never been able to attend a Christian wedding….Hopefully….someday!

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  July 13, 2014
  
  Sonia, it was a sweet moment, and I’m happy we arrived in the piazza just at the right time.
  
  When we were in India, we were hoping to attend a traditional wedding too. Certainly an excuse to return!