Marti and Pie will tie the knot on September 28th, 2024, in Venice, Italy.
You are warmly invited to witness their wedding and toast with them
“to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Please RSVP by Sunday, March 31st, 2024
THEIR STORY
Martina and Pietro met on a Saturday afternoon 11 years ago. They had both been invited to the house-party of a mutual friend: she needed a pick-up from school, he showed up to the rescue. Her brilliant sense of humour (Editor’s note – the bride is clearly in charge of copywriting here) completely bewitched our hero, who felt the irrepressible urge to ask her out on a date: Galeotto fu il parco di Monza, and by late September they decided they were a couple. Flash-forward to the following years: the two travelled across the globe and grew up together in Monza, Milan, Paris, New York and London, always side by side despite periods of long distance – and the occasional food poisoning due to Pie’s uncertain culinary skills (Editor’s note – to this day Pie vehemently protests his innocence, but his pleas fall on deaf ears). Pietro proposed in Paris, on their 10th anniversary, kneeling on the riverbanks of the Seine according to the knightly medieval tradition – and Martina said yes.
Nonna Maresa and Nonno Bepi’s pearls
Italian translation: “Tagliati i capelli e fatti una famiglia.”
English translation: “Cut your hair and start a family.”
When Martina’s grandparents were told that the couple got engaged, Nonno Bepi exclaimed, with his characteristic engineer-like happiness, “I applaud the excellent initiative!”
THE WEDDING PARTY
THE MAID OF HONOUR
Federica is one of a kind – the deepest emerald eyes and a heart of gold, she embodies the verse “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.”
She’ll always be there for you – you just need to be patient enough and account for the usual delay to your monthly session of gossip and cappuccino (for Marti) or caffè americano (for Fede).
She’s the bride’s truest confidant and little cousin, the one and only maid of honour for Martina’s wedding – hopefully she won’t get lost on her way to the church on the Big Day (ladies and gents, make your bets!).
Nonna Maresa and Nonno Bepi’s pearls
Italian translation: “Quando arrivo arrivo.”
English translation: “I’ll get there with no rush.”
The perfect nickname for Fede’s sense of timing, this traditional sentence is used amongst locals when they give each other an appointment (generally to the local bar) without a specific time.
As a matter of fact, any genuine Venetian possesses a biological watch that alerts them to when the time is right for indulging in un’ombra de vin.
THE BEST MAN
Meet Francesco, best man and clearly the most handsome brother of the Bancalari duo – if you don’t count the groom (Editor’s note – what, did you think I was just going to praise him like that? Men don’t do that!).
A person the groom has always admired, Francesco has been both a tech wiz and maestro of mischief since his early teens. In a digital world where code is poetry, he has weaved his own tale of success. His Achilles’ heel? Big t- wait, this isn’t the group chat with the boys. Tiramisù, yes. He likes generous portions of tiramisù.
Full disclosure: although Francesco is privy to way too many embarrassing stories about the groom, he has graciously agreed to keep them to a minimum during the wedding. Absolutely no cat was abducted for leverage. Sorry, Martina D. (his lovely gf and owner of the cat)!
Seek him out if you are planning to viciously prank the groom. Better yet, prank the bride instead if you dare!
Nonna Maresa and Nonno Bepi’s pearls
Italian translation: “Avanti con il Crocifisso che la processione si ferma.”
English translation: “Move on with the Cross, or the religious procession arrests.”
Locals would use this sentence to instill sense of urgency, so that the famous magic may happen even in the most hectic situations.
The groom’s brother and best man, Francesco, is quite simply a Mensch: he will be there for you and will get things done, no matter what obstacles may be lying in front of him.
THE PARENTS OF THE GROOM
Meet the enchanting couple who brought the groom into this world and still survived.
Giovanni, the father of the groom: if wit were a superpower, he’d make Superman look like an amateur. Beneath a humor so sharp it could cut through that very same Man of Steel, Giovanni hides a heart of gold that knows how to spread warmth and kindness. (Editor’s note – He’s also annoyingly good at playing golf. Even though both Francesco and I have been trying our best for more than 15 years, neither of us has ever bested him. But don’t tell him I said that.)
Paola, the mother of the groom: a blue-eyed guardian angel, the beacon of love, knowledge and charm of the family. With golden hair as radiant as her personality, she is the queen of the household and the epitome of grace and kindness. Paola’s love for her children knows no bounds, and her comforting embrace has turned even the stormiest days into sunshine, making the world feel warmer and brighter.
Together, they make up the funniest couple, even though they’ll never admit it. They absolutely love the bride and think she is the perfect mix of formidable and tender to handle the groom!
Nonna Maresa and Nonno Bepi’s pearls
Italian translation: “Ne sa una pagina più del libro.”
English translation: “They know a page more than the book itself.”
This is said of someone who is very well-read or well-travelled, who knows their way around the world through their wisdom and experience.
The sentence should have been trademarked for the duo Giovanni & Paola, who are a constant source of inspiration to the betrothed in all sorts of unrelated fields: from life to family values, from business to Italian traditional card games, from sailing to culinary recipes (Editor’s note – Pie’s infamous culinary mistakes remain solely his own).
THE WEDDING PLANNER
With her deep network of local suppliers, she has restlessly negotiated her way in the meanders of Venice to snatch the best deals for the couple’s guests.
Together with her husband and partner in crime Paolo, the formidable duo are the ultimate powerhouse when it comes to gathering precious intel and ensuring everything runs smoothly.
Giovanna&Paolo are your point of contact in case of need:
Inquiries in Italian (Giovanna): +39 3484923798
Inquiries in English (Paolo): +39 3356326146
Nonna Maresa and Nonno Bepi’s pearls
Italian translation: “Muso duro e berretto calato sulla fronte.”
English translation: “Resolute and with the beret down on their forehead.”
Nonna Maresa always cherished a picture of Giovanna that was taken when she was 17 years old, her light-blue eyes staring with determination in the camera, a woolen beret lowered on her forehead.
The mother of the bride confidently navigated through the chaos of orders and suppliers for the wedding with that very same resolution.
THE FATHER OF THE BRIDE
Corrado is the ultimate social animal: give him 15 minutes to get acclimatized and he’ll know every guest by name, making his mission of the day to share a joke with each and every one of you. There is no language barrier that can contain him: no matter where you are from, he’ll find a way to chat with you with insatiable curiosity.
Despite his past as national gymnastics champion, the father of the bride has two left feet and made sure to pass his lack of rhythm to the bride – just to set expectations straight for their dance on the Big Day.
Luckily for Corrado, Barbara, his wife, completes him perfectly with her precise elegance: look out for the stylish couple to get a taste of Italian-chic.
Nonna Maresa and Nonno Bepi’s pearls
Venetian dialect: “La boca no a xe straca se no a sa da vaca.”
Italian translation: “La bocca non è stanca se non sa di vacca.”
English translation: “The mouth is not tired if it doesn’t taste of cow.”
The love for cheese is a well-spread passion in Italy, especially in the North: Corrado knows his cheeses as a proper connaisseur . You will most likely see him eyeing the Parmesan wheel during the aperitif to assess quality and taste.
THE FLOWER GIRL
Smarty-pants and sassy, the bride’s young step-sister is the most artsy of the three Colombo brothers, and surely the most well-versed in dance and gymnastics – proving that the athletic genes of father of the bride have not been completely lost in the new generation.
Carlotta has offered to bring the wedding rings to the couple during the event, adding to Marti and Pie’s joy – she also graciously accepted to wear a green gown for the occasion even though the colour palette seems not to please her sophisticated aesthetics.
Nonna Maresa and Nonno Bepi’s pearls
Venetian dialect: “Te si na bronsa cuerta.”
Italian translation: “Sei una brace / un tizzone coperto.”
English translation: “You are like a covered amber.”
Venetians would use this sentence to describe someone who may look calm and placid, but who actually has a fiery personality hidden behind their apparent shyness.