It was supposed to be a "Plan B", but it turned out to be a "Plan A" straight out of a fairytale!

GABRIEL & FEDERICA 'S WEDDING

Today, August 18, 2022, I find myself in the boutique of Casale Bosco de' Medici.The estate is located in Pompei, at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, near the archaeological ruins and the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary. Federica and Gabriel had set up an appointment because they wanted to see the venue for their wedding.

Here they are: Federica, a brunette, tall, with Mediterranean features, very sunny; and Gabriel, blonde, with Swedish features, practically the opposite. A man with a sharp, confident, and decisive tone.

I seat them, and we immediately connect. Right from the start, they tell me that their dream is to celebrate their wedding in the garden, under a sky full of fireflies, with an entirely romantic atmosphere. The dress code for the event will be long dresses and flip-flops, as Federica will also wear flat sandals. However, they have a concern: despite choosing to have their wedding in the middle of summer, they are worried about the weather, given the unpredictability of the seasons. So, I immediately reassure them!

I take them on a tour of the entire estate, starting with the winter garden, a covered room surrounded by lush vegetation. I call it the "enchanted garden."

At this point, I tell them about an incident that happened in July with another couple of newlyweds: something unimaginable happened. In July, of course, no one expects rain! Yet, on the day of the event, we were hit by a sudden downpour. I won’t even tell you! The bride and groom were panicking, the guests were trying to take cover under the pergola... but I, along with the entire staff, quickly sprang into action. While the guests and newlyweds were enjoying the buffet and listening to a mandolin and guitar duet, I called all the staff from the dining room and the cellar. We moved all the tables from the piazza into the winter garden. Fortunately, we had a Plan B, otherwise, I can't even imagine what would have happened: wet and muddy dresses, tables on the lawn losing stability — a disaster. Luckily, with perfect timing, we managed to move everything. When the bride and groom finished their buffet, they came into the covered garden, and you can’t imagine their happiness! The bride hugged me, crying, and I cried with her. Even the parents, astonished, asked me how we had managed to pull it off. Well, this is what having a great team means, and above all, having a Plan B… which, by the way, isn’t really a "B" because it still maintains all the characteristics of the outdoor garden.

Fortunately, in the evening, the rain gave us a break, and we were able to set up the cake corner, the dessert station, and the confetti bar outside, near the waterfall.

By the end, Gabriel and Federica had calmed down. We continued the tour, and I showed them the piazza, the Infinity Pergola, where the buffet is held, part of the archaeological ruins, the stables where children can have fun, and the historic manor with the bridal suite.

And so, in the end, we sat down in the boutique, selected the decorations, and together with Chef Gioacchino, the menu, confirming enthusiastically the event.