Italian Wedding Extravaganza... with FIREWORKS!

To say that this wedding in Italy was the most amazing event I have ever attended, well, that would be putting it mildly.

When we arrived in Rieti, Italy, this is what welcomed us: 

 

Here is our hotel

Because both Jack and Teanna are 'foodies', the food at the rehearsal dinner was better than most wedding food.  Here are Chris and Nick enjoying the festivities

We didn't have much time to explore Rieti... Our only hour to walk around seemed to coincide with the daily siesta so we didn't get to see much.  Our hotel is behind us in this picture

Oh but there is always time for coffee in Italy!

The ceremony started nice and early -- leaving plenty of time to party hard after.

Here is Jack, waiting patiently for his bride to walk down the aisle

Teanna pays so much attention to detail -- these were the programs for the ceremony.  Her sense of humor and fun-loving flair were everywhere.

The mayor of Rieti married them inside the city hall building.  The ceremony was all in Italian but we got the gist of it ;)

After the ceremony we were transported via buses to a beautiful valley where the reception was held.

And more of that fun-loving flair..  This was our table's collage -- Teanna went on the internet and found all these pictures..

This was our table assignment card; inside the envelope were our party favors -- personalized luggage tags.  Notice the airport codes corresponding to where we were coming from (Beijing).  Plus two pictures of Chris and I from facebook, including the picture on the right which was from the night when Chris and I first kissed =)  "Hit the nail on the head" doesn't even really begin to describe it...

 

The menu, with appropriate fun-loving flair

 

I love this picture because it shows that Brian is having such a great time that he doesn't even want to sit down to eat.  He was eating while standing so he could run back out to the dance floor.

Two weeks into marriage and she already has him right where she wants him!!  Please, teach me, Lana!

 It was nice to see they participated in the extremely fun Jewish wedding activities, such as the chair lifting. 

 When dessert was served, J&T ushered everyone outside to enjoy some surprise fireworks.  Then, later in the night, they brought out some tables and cups and set up beer pong for everyone to play.  It was just so perfect -- when the music is loud and everyone is dancing, there is not so many opportunities to just relax and chill and visit with people.  Beer pong definitely provided that opportunity.  It was the perfect ending to a perfect night.

This was the view outside the bus window on the ride back to Rome.

And of course they were front page of the local paper the next morning -- these New Yorkers flying in 100 people for a wedding was certainly the talk of the town.