It's Italian Wedding Prep Time!

As a recap, Fra and I are getting married in TWO DAYS! For now, we're getting married at the comune (city hall) and having an "intimate" lunch with 20 family members.

Sounds simple enough, right? I'm learning that because I come from another culture, I'm a bit lost in terms of traditions and expectations. I'm learning as I go!

The Star of the Show? Food, of Course

Eight kilos of flour.

35 eggs.

Yes, folks. This is cooking in Italy.

Like good Italians, we started discussing the menu for this modest meal weeks ago. Mamma will make lasagna and roast beef since they require little prep on the day of. Today, I'm heading to Davoli to help her make the pasta for the lasagna.

Yesterday, we spent the day sweating by the wood-fired oven, making almond cookies and biscotti. I marvel every time I watch Mamma and Zia Caterina effortlessly combining just the right amount of flour, eggs, and sugar without a glance at a recipe.

I also marvel at how hard it is to stir cookie batter for a crowd by hand! I need to work out so my arms are strong enough for the task.

We formed the almond cookies into long logs, with Mamma making gentle corrections to the size I produced. We put them in the oven until cooked, then we cut them into diagonal slices ("too big, Su") and put them back into the oven to finish.

For the biscotti, which are donut-shaped savory crackers, we formed the dough into circles ("too fat, Su") and let them rise for a few hours before putting them into the oven, one by one, with a large metal flat shovel.

Finally, everything was done, and we could relax and sample our hard work!

A Curious Bachelorette Party

My best friend, Dora, is my testimoni, which is a witness for the wedding. She's taken over maid of honor duties too by planning my addio al nubilato, or bachelorette party tonight.

I told her: no penises and no strippers. I just want a low-key dinner with friends. She's planning something and I have no idea what's in store...just that I've been instructed very specifically on what to wear, down to my underwear!

Going with the Flow

On the one hand, I'm happy to have someone else manage all the things I have to do to prepare for this wedding. But on the other hand, it's jarring not to know what's expected of me.

I am, generally, a person who gives zero fucks what others think of her, so it's been a struggle to accept that in Davoli, many, many fucks are given. When I posted about the promessa on Instagram, I singlehandedly offended many friends of the family who were miffed they weren't invited to the nonexistent celebration.

I already see our guest list for the big party next year growing and growing, with all the friends of Fra's parents clamoring for an invite. Sigh.

I'm doing my best to comply while also trying to express what I want in all of this madness. Honestly, all I want right now is to marry this fantastic man and celebrate with the family that has become mine.