On a spectacular autumn morning a few weeks ago, in a tiny village in the Italian countryside, Greg and I were married.

What we originally had thought would be a small civil ceremony in Montegridolfo turned out to be four days of fun with a bus-load of family and friends. There was a lot of great food, some very fine wine and a bit of local exploring. And then, to top it off, the main event.

People who mean so much to us had travelled long distances to be there, and as Greg and I celebrated our love for each other, we were surrounded by others whom we love.

The shared joy of our wedding day will live long in our hearts. For us it was – in every way – wonderful.

 

The village of Montegridolfo where we were married
The village of Montegridolfo where we were married
Entrance to the village
Entrance to the village
Beautiful morning; when your wedding day dawns like this, you know you're off to a good start :)
Beautiful morning; when your wedding day dawns like this, you know you're off to a good start 🙂
The pre-wedding breakfast
The pre-wedding breakfast
Mid-morning - dressed and ready to go with our children and witnesses, Tom and Grace
Mid-morning - dressed and ready to go with our children and witnesses, Tom and Grace
And our little granddaughter, Aila
And our little granddaughter, Aila
The wider family ... Sarah, Benedetta - our lovely friend and official translator - Grace, Aila and Tom
The wider family ... Sarah, Benedetta - our lovely friend and official translator - Grace, Aila and Tom
Aila and her Dad
Aila and her Dad
A big job for a small person ... ring looker-afterer
A big job for a small person ... ring looker-afterer
Our rings were designed by Cristina Spinella, a very lovely and talented woman in Rome
Our rings were designed by Cristina Spinella, a very lovely and talented woman in Rome
Here's a closer look at Cristina's beautiful work
Here's a closer look at Cristina's beautiful work
Gathering in the little square before the ceremony
Gathering in the little square before the ceremony
Some of our Italian friends
Some of our Italian friends
And more family - nephew Dean, niece Miann, sister Chrissy, sister-in-law Marion and brother Glenn
And more family - nephew Dean, niece Miann, sister Chrissy, sister-in-law Marion and brother Glenn
The civil ceremony was conducted in the wedding 'sala' at the Town Hall
The civil ceremony was conducted in the wedding 'sala' at the Town Hall
In all, 50 wonderful family and friends joined us on the day
In all, 50 wonderful family and friends joined us on the day
Montegridolfo's Mayor, Lorenzo Grilli, officiated
Montegridolfo's Mayor, Lorenzo Grilli, officiated
It was a beautiful ceremony
It was a beautiful ceremony
Surrounded by loving family and friends
Surrounded by loving family and friends
The wedding was conducted in Italian (by the Mayor) and translated into English (by Benedetta) :)
The wedding was conducted in Italian (by the Mayor) and translated into English (by Benedetta) 🙂
Except for the vows which we delivered in Italian and English ourselves (I almost got through without shedding a tear ... okay that's not true - I cried) :)
Except for the vows which we delivered in Italian and English ourselves (I almost got through without shedding a tear ... okay that's not true - I cried) 🙂
And then we were married
And then we were married
Just a bit more paperwork
Just a bit more paperwork
And it was official
And it was official
The happy couple
The happy couple
With every reason to celebrate
With every reason to celebrate
Our Italian friends were impressed by Greg's wedding ring
Our Italian friends were impressed by Greg's wedding ring
Tom and Grace after the ceremony
Tom and Grace after the ceremony
Aila and little Stella had one more job - tossing petals
Aila and little Stella had one more job - tossing petals
Though the baskets were almost empty by the time we emerged! :)
Though the baskets were almost empty by the time we emerged! 🙂
Such a great little girl
Such a great little girl
The terrace - a few steps from the Town Hall
The terrace - a few steps from the Town Hall
And a wonderful spot for a party
And a wonderful spot for a party
We were very fortunate to have such a glorious day
We were very fortunate to have such a glorious day
With Benedetta and her parents, Anna and Enrico
With Benedetta and her parents, Anna and Enrico
John and Sally
John and Sally
And with Bene, Gus and Stacey
And with Bene, Gus and Stacey
Greg and Bene
Greg and Bene
Anna and our niece, Miann, enjoying the sunshine
Anna and our niece, Miann, enjoying the sunshine
Delicious lunch with a great view
Delicious lunch with a great view
Jan and David
Jan and David
Gracie with her godfather, Warren
Gracie with her godfather, Warren
Such a wonderful girl - really!
Such a wonderful girl - really!
The Bundaberg crew, Lloyd and Bernadette
The Bundaberg crew, Lloyd and Bernadette
Glenn and Marion, my brother and his wife
Glenn and Marion, my brother and his wife
Stacey and Gus
Stacey and Gus
Gracie and Nate - this time next year we'll be in final preps for their wedding!
Gracie and Nate - this time next year we'll be in final preps for their wedding!
With Kerrin and Warren
With Kerrin and Warren
We were very lucky to share our wedding day with Lily's 13th birthday (proudly displaying her special gift from Mum and Dad)
We were very lucky to share our wedding day with Lily's 13th birthday (proudly displaying her special gift from Mum and Dad)
Dean, Sammy and Tom
Dean, Sammy and Tom
John and Sally with Declan and Annette from Ireland
John and Sally with Declan and Annette from Ireland
Stacey, Bernie and Kelly - what a beautiful photograph (and a great opportunity to thank everyone for being our official photographers on the day!) :)
Stacey, Bernie and Kelly - what a beautiful photograph (and a great opportunity to thank everyone for being our official photographers on the day!) 🙂
Therese and Greg
Therese and Greg
A very special - and very large - bottle of wine carried with love all the way from Australia by Andrew, Jo and Lily (completely breaking the 'no gift' rule) :)
A very special - and very large - bottle of wine carried with love all the way from Australia by Andrew, Jo and Lily (completely breaking the 'no gift' rule) 🙂
We all enjoyed the very special and delicious gift
We all enjoyed the very special and delicious gift
Andrew, Lily and Jo
Andrew, Lily and Jo
Jim, Deb and Sally
Jim, Deb and Sally
Maybe you guessed that Giuseppe is Italian?
Maybe you guessed that Giuseppe is Italian?
Warren and Kerrin
Warren and Kerrin
The great musician, Massimo Tagliata
The great musician, Massimo Tagliata
Benedetta, translating on the fly (what an amazing job she did on the day)
Benedetta, translating on the fly (what an amazing job she did on the day)
Michael and Kate
Michael and Kate
Two more beautiful women - Miann and her Mum, my sister Chrissy
Two more beautiful women - Miann and her Mum, my sister Chrissy
Stella, James, Kelly, Grace and Nate
Stella, James, Kelly, Grace and Nate
Lovely cousins, Sharon and Meredith
Lovely cousins, Sharon and Meredith
Glenn and Warren
Glenn and Warren
Bene translating in reverse (Italian to English) Antonio's very lovely speech
Bene translating in reverse (Italian to English) Antonio's very lovely speech
Greg and Benedetta sharing a laugh
Greg and Benedetta sharing a laugh
It was such a special and wonderful day
It was such a special and wonderful day
As we celebrated our love for each other, Greg and I could not have wished for more
As we celebrated our love for each other, Greg and I could not have wished for more