Destination Wedding in Florence, Tuscany
A dreamlike destination wedding in the hills of Florence for an Italian-American and Eastern European couple, featuring bilingual rhyming announcements and celebration hosted by English-speaking wedding MC Attilio Reinhardt.
The Wedding Celebration in Florence’s Hills
“We want the entire celebration to feel dreamlike, oneiric. Can you make the announcements reflect that atmosphere? In both Italian and English?”
I’ve been a wedding MC in Italy for years, conducting celebrations across the country. But this request, delivered during our first consultation call with an Italian-American groom and his Eastern European bride, sparked something creative in me.
They wanted an atmosphere I’d never been asked to create before. And honestly? That’s exactly the kind of challenge that reminds me why I love what I do.
The Challenge: Creating an Oneiric Atmosphere in Two Languages
Planning their October 31st celebration wasn’t simple. The couple had chosen a magnificent villa perched on Florence’s hills, in one of the city’s most exclusive residential areas. The panoramic setting offered spectacular views of the historic center and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore dominating the skyline below. The location was breathtaking. The guest list was beautifully complex: Italian locals and English speakers from around the world.
They’d hired me as their wedding MC for the entire celebration: from the civil ceremony officiated by a representative of the municipality, through the aperitivo reception (both as a physical presence and as an amplified voice-over, given the villa’s sprawling indoor and outdoor spaces), and finally for the dinner, where I would introduce the artists they’d hired, announce the speakers, and manage key moments like the cake cutting and the opening of the dance party.
But here’s what kept me up at night: How do you create announcements in both Italian and English that feel dreamlike and surreal? How do you maintain that oneiric quality they envisioned while ensuring guests from both language groups understand what’s happening?
This wasn’t just about switching between languages or providing translations. They wanted something atmospheric, something that would transport their guests into another dimension.
The Turning Point: Writing as World-Building
I always write my scripts in advance, just as I carefully craft my wedding ceremony scripts. Even though I’m ready to improvise when needed, preparation is where the magic begins. But this wedding required something different from my usual process.
During our planning conversations, the couple kept returning to one word: dreamlike. They wanted their celebration to transport guests into another atmosphere, something that felt surreal yet cohesive, fantastical yet elegant.
That’s when I realized traditional bilingual announcing wouldn’t work here. Switching from Italian to English and back would break the spell. Simple translations would feel functional, not magical.
The real breakthrough came when I thought: what if the announcements themselves rhymed? Not just translated, but crafted as poetry that blended both languages within the same phrases. Rhyme has this natural, almost hypnotic quality that could support the dreamlike atmosphere they wanted. It was my creative solution to their vision.
The Solution: Rhyming Poetry in Two Languages
Here’s what I created for their Florence wedding:
The Rhyming Announcements
I spent hours at my desk, first jotting ideas on paper, then refining them on my computer. The solution? Rhyming announcements that mixed Italian and English within the same sentences, creating fluid expressions where both languages intertwined naturally.
These weren’t translations from one language to another. Each announcement united both languages, sometimes within a single phrase, generating communication that Italian speakers and English speakers could both understand. Not every single word needed to be perfectly clear to everyone. The general meaning came through, and the surreal, poetic quality enhanced rather than obscured the message.
I’ve conducted events in both English and Italian before, moving seamlessly between the two languages. But doing it in rhyme, with a surreal style, while maintaining clarity for an international audience? That pushed my creative boundaries in ways I hadn’t anticipated.
The result was a series of announcements during the aperitivo that floated through the villa’s speakers, guiding guests from one space to another while maintaining that ethereal atmosphere. When guests heard these poetic phrases weaving Italian and English together, they smiled. Some looked puzzled for a moment, then delighted when they caught the meaning. That was exactly the reaction the couple wanted.
The Crafting Process
I’m deeply committed to the writing and preparation phase of every event. It’s that crucial moment when I sketch content ideas on paper first, then organize and refine them into polished scripts on my computer. With the right words, you can convey so much, especially when dealing with powerful emotions, life choices, and personal stories.
Every ceremony I officiate and every reception I MC are unique, just as every couple I work with is unique. That’s why I firmly believe they deserve crafted texts, with carefully chosen words to describe all the necessary nuances. This belief becomes even more important when a couple has selected a specific style and theme for their wedding, as this Florence couple had done.
For this celebration, the writing process was more intensive than usual. Each announcement needed to work on multiple levels: functional (communicating necessary information), linguistic (comprehensible to both language groups), poetic (maintaining the rhyme scheme), and atmospheric (supporting the dreamlike quality).
The Formal Presentation
For this ultra-elegant affair, the couple requested I wear my tailcoat, the pinnacle of men’s formal wear. It’s a piece I own but rarely get asked to wear, reserved for only the most formal occasions. Standing in that classic formal attire, delivering surreal rhyming announcements through a microphone, created an interesting contrast that somehow worked perfectly for the evening’s aesthetic.
During dinner, I shifted the announcing style to something more traditional yet still energetic and brilliant. These announcements remained in both languages but adopted a more straightforward approach, matching the series of artists who performed and, most importantly, matching the couple’s vibrant personalities as the evening evolved from ceremony to celebration.
A Halloween Wedding with Gothic Elegance
The celebration, held on the eve of All Saints’ Day, continued late into the night, evolving into an exclusive party that also celebrated Halloween, a holiday the couple and their American friends honor with great passion.
The couple had chosen a creative black tie dress code with a distinctly gothic aesthetic. The color palette of deep burgundy, cardinal red, eggplant purple, and ivory created an atmosphere of twilight elegance, something that felt Tim Burton meets sophisticated Halloween. Floral arrangements featured dark purple calla lilies, burgundy anthuriums, and dramatic accents of black grapes and pomegranates.
Many guests embraced the occasion with elegant ensembles featuring subtle gothic touches: deep jewel tones, dramatic silhouettes, refined velvet accents. The guests’ sophisticated dark romantic style harmonized beautifully with the evening’s aesthetic.
After the ceremony, the two heliospheres the couple had used to float above Florence were positioned inside the villa’s empty pool, along with other large spherical scenic elements, creating a striking installation. Dinner took place in the villa’s enormous greenhouse, its entrance draped theatrically with burgundy velvet curtains. The decorations exceeded every expectation, offering an atmosphere straight out of a Hollywood production.
The Result: A Celebration That Matched Their Vision
What meant the most to me was seeing the couple’s faces when they experienced how the announcements worked in practice. That moment when the first surreal phrases weaving Italian and English together echoed through the villa, and they looked at each other with delight, realizing their vision was coming to life exactly as they’d imagined.
The result was entertaining, deeply personal, and completely aligned with their vision. An oneiric experience that their international guests talked about throughout the evening and likely still remember.
The blending of Italian and English in those rhyming announcements created exactly what they’d requested: an atmosphere that felt dreamlike, slightly surreal, but still warm and welcoming. Guests from both language groups felt included, entertained, and transported into the unique world the couple had created for their celebration.
What This Wedding Taught Me About Custom Experiences
After working as a wedding MC across Italy for years, certain celebrations remind you why customization matters so deeply. This Florence wedding was one of those experiences.
Writing Creates Atmosphere
People sometimes underestimate how much the specific words you choose affect an event’s atmosphere. Two announcements can communicate the same information, but one creates magic while the other simply informs. The difference lies in the crafting.
For this couple, standard announcing in both languages would have functioned perfectly well. Guests would have known when to move to the next location, when dinner was served, when speeches would begin. But it wouldn’t have created that dreamlike quality they craved. The rhyming poetry weaving Italian and English together transformed functional announcements into atmospheric moments that supported their overall vision.
Every Couple Deserves Tailored Content
I see too many cookie-cutter ceremonies and receptions where the MC or celebrant uses the same script with minor name changes. That approach might work for some couples, but it misses what makes each celebration special: the unique story, the specific vision, the particular blend of personalities and backgrounds.
This Italian-American and Eastern European couple could have had a standard wedding in both languages. English announcements, then Italian announcements. Efficient. Clear. Forgettable.
Instead, they got something that reflected who they are and what they envisioned. Something their guests had never experienced before and probably won’t experience again. That’s what customization achieves.
Challenging Requests Lead to Growth
When the couple first asked for dreamlike announcements in both Italian and English, part of me wondered how to achieve that. The decision to use rhyming poetry was my creative solution, and honestly, it was one of the most interesting challenges I’ve faced.
The process pushed me to approach writing differently, to think about language not just as communication but as atmosphere creation. The result was something I’m genuinely proud of and a technique I can now offer to future couples who want something similarly unique.
The best professional growth often comes from saying yes to the requests that initially seem daunting.
Planning a Destination Wedding in Florence or Tuscany?
If you’re considering Florence or the wider Tuscan region for your destination wedding, you’re choosing one of Italy’s most romantic and visually stunning locations. The city offers everything international couples seek: iconic Renaissance architecture, world-renowned art and culture, spectacular countryside views, and that ineffable Italian atmosphere that makes celebrations feel special.
Why Florence Captivates Destination Wedding Couples
Florence combines accessibility with beauty. International guests can fly directly into Florence’s airport or arrive through nearby Pisa, making travel logistics relatively straightforward. Yet once you’re here, especially in the hills surrounding the historic center, you feel transported to another world.
The Tuscan landscape offers the perfect backdrop: rolling hills, cypress trees, vineyard views, and that golden light that photographers dream about. Venues range from historic villas to contemporary estates, from intimate garden settings to grand palazzo halls.
For couples wanting that quintessential Italian wedding experience, Florence delivers. But it also offers flexibility for contemporary, creative, or unconventional celebrations. The city’s artistic heritage means people here appreciate creativity and innovation in celebration design.
What to Consider for Your Florence Wedding
Start Planning Early Destination weddings in popular Italian locations like Florence require advance planning. The best venues book quickly, especially for peak season dates. Many couples contact me a year or more before their wedding date, which allows time for detailed customization and coordination.
Choose Vendors Who Understand Your Vision You need more than someone who speaks English. You need professionals who can translate your vision into reality, who understand how to blend cultural backgrounds, and who can handle the complexity that comes with destination celebrations.
As a wedding MC based in Italy, I specialize in creating customized experiences for international couples. Whether you envision a classic Tuscan ceremony or something more unconventional (perhaps with your own unique twist, like dreamlike announcements weaving Italian and English together), the key is finding someone who listens deeply to what you want and has the skill to deliver it.
Consider the Season and Timing This couple chose October 31st, embracing the Halloween timing as part of their celebration’s theme. Florence offers beautiful wedding weather from April through October, with each season bringing its own character. Spring offers blooming landscapes, summer provides long golden evenings, autumn delivers rich colors and harvest atmosphere.
Embrace What Makes Your Celebration Unique Don’t feel pressured to have a “traditional Italian wedding” if that’s not what resonates with you. The best celebrations reflect the couple’s personality, interests, and vision. If you want gothic elegance and Halloween elements in your Florentine wedding, embrace that. If you want rhyming announcements weaving Italian and English together, creative games, or any other unconventional elements, find vendors who will enthusiastically support your vision rather than trying to talk you into something more conventional.
The Heart of What I Do
People sometimes ask me what I love most about being a wedding MC in Italy. Is it the stunning Tuscan venues? The international couples? The creative challenges?
All of that’s wonderful. But celebrations like this Florence wedding remind me what really matters: creating experiences that feel authentically right for each couple.
When this Italian-American and Eastern European couple told me they wanted dreamlike announcements in both languages, they were telling me something important about how they see their relationship and their celebration. They weren’t asking for standard efficiency. They were asking for poetry, for atmosphere, for something that would transport their guests into a unique experience.
My job wasn’t just to announce when dinner was ready or when speeches would begin. My job was to create linguistic moments that supported their vision, that made their celebration feel like the dream they’d imagined.
That’s what I try to capture in every ceremony I create and every reception I host. Not the template version of an Italian wedding, but the authentic version that reflects who you are. The specific details that make your story yours. The creative risks that transform a celebration from nice to unforgettable.
If you’re planning a destination wedding in Florence, Tuscany, or anywhere in Italy, and you want a ceremony and reception experience that feels authentically you rather than pulled from a standard template, I’d love to hear your story. Even if your vision seems challenging or unconventional. Especially if your vision seems challenging or unconventional.
Because the best celebrations don’t start with a script. They start with a conversation about what matters to you, what atmosphere you want to create, and what would make your wedding day feel exactly right.
After all, if I can make rhyming surreal announcements weaving Italian and English together work for a Halloween-themed celebration in a Florentine villa, imagine what we can create together for your unique vision.