An Italian Wedding Extravaganza? I Do!
Wed., Jul. 29, 2009 6:00 PM PDT by Matthew Jacobi
Matthew Jacobi is Giuliana Rancic's right-hand man. Keep reading for his dish on planning Giuliana & Bill's wedding—and be sure to tune in for the show's premiere Wednesday, August 5, at 9/8c!
First came the guest list. Giuliana has a huge family, and Bill knows the entire city of Chicago, so it looked like this was not going to be your average destination wedding.
The invitations, the flowers, the bridesmaid dresses, the gift bags, the band, the church, the tablecloths, the chair covers, the candles, the tuxes, the shoes, the makeup, the hair, the hotels, the flights…the list went on and on. This was the most important day of Giuliana's life, and I was a nervous wreck. I wanted it to be perfect.
We ordered these darling mini chocolate Godiva wedding cakes for the guests. Ordering them was the easy part; getting them across the Atlantic to the island of Capri was the hard part. We shipped boxes of gift-bag goodies, but half of them were stopped in customs and never made it. That was one of the hardest parts about the whole affair. Where did our boxes go?! To this day, I still imagine a little Italian man in the customs department eating our Godiva chocolates and spraying his feet with our peppermint foot spray.
Italy, here I come! Giuliana and Bill flew in a couple days early to relax before the guests arrived. (More than 200 people traveled from all over to be there for the wedding!) The night before we left, Giuliana and I packed our suitcases full of everything we needed—because shipping boxes did not seem to work. I had two elephant-size suitcases full of everything from candles to name cards. (One of the suitcases was pink.) You have to take a ferry from the Port of Naples to Capri. I guarded those suitcases with my life, as if they were my children. If I had lost them or they had been stolen, I would have been in deep trouble.
I had never been to Italy, but it was everything I imagined. Warm weather, incredible architecture, delicious food and really good-looking people. (Ha!) Capri is like no other place. It is a small island surrounded by the bluest water. Hotels, shops and restaurants fill the island—there's even a Prada store!
The reception was at the Quisisana Hotel. It was gorgeous and overlooked the water. Giuliana and Bill put me up at a hotel in between the church and the reception, so I had easy access to everything. My room was off the charts! I had my own balcony, where I could eat my breakfast every morning.
I had a ton of work to do before the big day: I put together all the gift bags, made sure all the guests arrived safely and began coordinating the decorating for the reception area. In the days going up to the wedding, all the guests would get together in the piazza and hang out. It is one of my most favorite memories, all of us staying up till all hours of the night laughing and having the time of our lives.
The day of the wedding, I was sweating bullets. The seating chart was being changed, the centerpieces were being put together, and the guests needed to board their private cars to the church on time. I had a lot on my plate. The church was on the very top of the island, and I stood outside making sure the bridal party entered at the right time and in the right order. Everyone looked amazing. The bridesmaids wore soft yellow flowing gowns, and the groomsmen looked so dapper in their tuxes. Bill looked like a movie star in his tux, waiting for Giuliana to come through the big church doors. When she entered, I can remember looking at his face—you could feel the love in the air. She looked beautiful!
Click here to see tons of gorgeous wedding photos!
The reception was a total blast. There was a lot of dancing, and everyone was so happy for Giuliana and Bill and so excited to be there. It felt like a huge party. I will never in a million years forget about going to Italy and being part of their wedding.
My advice to everyone out there who wants to plan a wedding in another country: Make sure you know the language, be very organized, and take in absolutely every minute. It is sooo worth it.
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Now loading...Liza Movtady Thu, Jul 30, 2009, 10:03 AM
1. Hey,I want to watch the show with Bill and Guliana but I dont know what channel style is on. I live in Great Neck and my zip code is 11024?
Lindsay Sun, Aug 2, 2009, 11:16 AM
2. Hey Guiliana and Bill, Wow, is Bill ever fortunate to have you Guiliana. You are clearly the spirit, soul and joy of this union. I hope Bill gives up his snide snearing humphs tossed over his shoulder and rolling of his eyes to realize he has to step it up in the humanistic department to come up to your natural glow for life. Hey Bill, wake up and smell the roses and never digress or you will spoil it. Guliana deserves unconditional love. She's terrific.
Ashlee Mon, Aug 3, 2009, 5:29 AM
3. I watched the show yesterday (sunday) and I just love you two! I really liked Bill on The Apprentice, he is such a nice guy! I didn't know Giuliana too well, expect from E News. I think you two are a great couple. Have a happy and long life together!
d Mon, Aug 3, 2009, 3:54 PM
4. She is so ugly, but so is he, so they are perfect together.
remmy Wed, Aug 5, 2009, 3:07 PM
5. Ick. Some people will do anything for money. Like stage a fake reality show about their lives.
SCOTT LIVELY Wed, Aug 5, 2009, 4:12 PM
6. you are a white trash judgemental ***** and how you ****** your way on e!--i'll never getyou love to talk trash about people with less and your true self shows through like the northern lightsleave leave leaveyou white trash ho-- your eyes are two inchs too much apart and your face is ugly-to put it nicejust go back to your cave you stupid bitch--your alien ugly and you had to **** your way on tv--for sure
Shila Wed, Aug 5, 2009, 4:24 PM
7. First of all * she looks like a dog * Not only can?t I understand what she is doing on E! with no personality what so ever?now a reality show? For what? To show us how she bosses her husband around * No thanks!I had enough of her face * I don?t watch E! no more, just a garbage channel!
PEGGY Wed, Aug 5, 2009, 7:11 PM
8. GIULIANA
Doris Wed, Aug 5, 2009, 7:46 PM
9. I just watched the show and must say, it was highly entertaining. If this is how you interact in real life, then you are surely having loads of fun. You are a beautiful couple and I wish you all the Best in your new fabulous home. Thanks for the laughs and keep Matt around. His facial expressions are priceless.
Renee Sun, Aug 9, 2009, 8:31 AM
10. I was a huge fan of Bill's when he was on the first season of the Apprentice, and, I was a fan of Giuliana on E News. Unfortunately, this series depicts G as a self-centered, shallow, uppity, piece of work. Bill, how on earth can you stand it? I'd recommend Giuliana's publicist to work on her image and "engineer" the reality show to portray her as a more caring wife for her hard working husband. I really am sorry to sound so "mean" but I feel she needs the feedback ASAP. C'mon Style ***
Sharon Wed, Aug 12, 2009, 5:47 AM
11. Love the show! Until I heard the lunch room monitor comment, now not so sure I like you, Bill. Shows me you may not be so nice after all. Some of us have to work these jobs and are very proud of the job that we do. Some of us do it out of love for the kids. For some of the kids this is the only positive person they come in contact with. This also goes for the person who serves them their lunch! We can't all be as privilaged as you! Don't think I will be watching any more shows of yours!
Maria Thu, Aug 13, 2009, 12:24 AM
12. Giuliana and Bill, glad you decided to make a reality show!! I'm one of a millions fans of yours. You two are such a perfect match to each other. I will be watching your show and had tivo the first episode and rewatch it again 2x. Love the wedding video. Giuliana love your style.
Destiny Thu, Aug 13, 2009, 9:24 PM
13. Giuliana and Billy, i'm so glad ya'll found each other cause people like you inspire me to find my true love one day. You both inspire to have an adventurous, fantasy, ecstasy, and exciting relationship with true heart one day. I love how ya'll get along so much. I watch your show every week because a guy like Bill teaches me how to treat my beautiful wife in the future. I will try every possible way to be like you success and caring in the future just like you both. All of what i'm saying is coming from the heart. thanks for reading it, OH im a boy incase ya'll wanted to know. I'll write to ya'll again soon and im 16 lol. BYE.
Jacklyn Tue, Aug 18, 2009, 6:43 AM
14. You two are absolutley adorable! I even get my boyfriend to watch this show, and he doesn't like reality TV all that much. How you guys met is a great story as well! ** Good luck with the show, guys!
Pete mars Mon, Aug 24, 2009, 11:37 PM
15. Giuliana is by far the ugliest woman I have ever seen. I do not understand how or why she is on TV and in everyone's face! Seriously, I cannot watch her she is so ugly! Yucckkk!!
I love this show Tue, Sep 1, 2009, 2:22 PM
16. I have been watching this show every wed night, he is so smart and she super cute.
Elizabeth Kirts Mon, Sep 14, 2009, 7:13 PM
17. Ok, so I've never posted one of these, but there are some weeeiiiird people commenting on your blog (scary), and thought I'd counter the negativity. I LOVE your show and think it shows the human side of you (vs "celebrity" side). Bill * I love your work ethic and morals * our country needs more people like you!!! Giuliana, same goes...and, I had no idea you are so funny!!! I bet you two are fun to hang out with. Again, please don't listen to the crazies on the blog.