Frequently Asked Questions
(As of October 2018)
Why cupolacastellanos?
It sounds like "couple of" Castellanos.
"Cupola" means "dome" in Italian, and the cupola of the Florentine cathedral (the "Duomo," which, counterintuitively, doesn't mean "dome") is the most famous part of the city skyline.
How do we get to FLorence?
When should we Get to Florence?
As mentioned in Nathan's note, our goal is to give our friends and family what we think of as the perfect Italian day. To participate, you should arrive in Florence on the morning of Saturday, October 6 at the latest.
If you decide to plan an adventure the week before the wedding, feel free to join us in Florence on Friday, October 5. We'll be having a midday BYO panino picnic in the Boboli Gardens.
We don't have anything scheduled for the day after the wedding, but hope that you will be able to stay in town (or in Italy or in Europe) after the wedding to explore on your own.
Where should we stay?
We recommend the Grand Hotel Baglioni, because that is where the ceremony will be. More details here.
What's the game plan for October 6?
Our wedding ceremony will start at 4:00pm, on the top floor/roof of the Grand Hotel Baglioni. Please aim to arrive by 3:45 pm.
The ceremony will be followed by ALLTHEFOODEVER --- we'll have aperitivi and antipasti at the hotel, a huge dinner at La Giostra, and dessert at the Uffizi.
What's the Uffizi Again?
The Uffizi is one of the best art museums in the world --- and home to the biggest collection of Renaissance art.
We've rented out the entire museum for our after-party!
We'd like to Hang out in Italy Before the Wedding. Where should we go ?
Drive around Tuscany
Go to Cinque Terre.
Check out the food and wine festivals in the Piedmont region. (Details here; NYT article here).
Are you registered anywhere?
No, your presence at our wedding is present enough!
What's the dress code?
Nathan recommends that everyone dress and behave reasonably under the circumstances.
Mallory recommends the following:
Thursday (food tour): Something casual. Mallory will most likely be in jeans.
Friday (picnic): Wear whatever you'd like! But bear in mind that the Boboli Gardens don't have picnic tables, and that we'll be sitting on blankets on the grass.
Saturday (ceremony, dinner, after party): Dress well, but bear in mind (1) that we will be eating a LOT, (2) that we may end up walking between some of the venues, because buses don't always fit down Florentine streets, and (3) that cobblestones can be tricky to navigate in heels. Ladies will be well-suited in cocktail attire. Men will be well-suited in suit and tie. No need for (but no objections to) long dresses or tuxes.
Do we need cash?
Most brick and mortar establishments accept credit cards, but it’s helpful to have some cash on hand for things like taxis and the markets. If the ATM (in Italian, il Bancomat) gives you the option, go for smaller bills —- it tends to be a hassle to use the €50 bill.
In terms of paper money, the smallest (in both size and denomination) is the €5 bill. But there are also €1 and €2 coins.
What’s the deal with Tipping?
The general rule of thumb is to round up to the closest Euro.
Note: Restaurants charge a “coperto” (a small service charge) in lieu of having waiters deal with tips.