The love between Luca Calvani and Alessandro Franchini is one of those bonds that grows slowly, nurtured by truth and illuminated by authenticity. Not born under the spotlight, but strengthened in silence and discretion, this love found its fulfillment in two days of celebration in Tuscany, between Tenuta I Massini and the Antica Fattoria di Paterno, surrounded by true friends, family, and deep complicity.

Friendship turned into the direction of a dream

At the helm of the event was Glenda Marradi, longtime friend of Luca and wedding planner of Il Giorno Perfetto. Their bond began years ago, by chance, not long after Calvani’s victory at L’Isola dei Famosi, and over time it grew into a strong friendship based on trust and mutual respect.

“I still remember a phone call from Luca, right after Grande Fratello. He simply said two words: ‘I’m getting married.’ I was surprised, but not entirely: I already knew Alessandro, and I could see he was bringing out the best version of Luca,” recalls the planner.

It wasn’t the first event she had organized for them, but it was certainly the most special: “Planning a wedding like this means stepping into their story, into their values, and turning them into settings, rituals, and details that truly speak about them.”

The eve: pizza party and the candle ritual

The festivities began on Sunday, September 28th, at Tenuta I Massini, with an authentic wedding weekend. First, a traditional pizza party in pure Italian style, where guests literally “got their hands in the dough” alongside pizzaioli, creating a playful and convivial atmosphere.

Later that evening, the mood shifted. Guests were guided to a small ceremonial temple where, by candlelight and away from phones, the candle ritual began.

As Vanity Fair reports, “in the invitations, the grooms had asked each guest to bring a ‘thought of light.’ By candlelight, without phones, words took shape in a circle of shared emotions.”

Chi described it as “a lighthearted evening, fun, but at one point we asked for silence to fall… by candlelight, without phones, we exchanged thoughts of light.”

The wedding planner herself called it “a communion of souls, a symbolic gesture that prepared everyone for the following day.”

The wedding at Antica Fattoria di Paterno

The next day, September 29th, came the long-awaited “I do.” The ceremony took place under a centuries-old oak tree, whose branches seemed to embrace the couple, in a sunset that turned the sky crimson just as they exchanged their rings.

Bianca, Luca’s daughter, opened the procession in a flowing blue satin gown; officiating was Vanessa, a lifelong friend of the actor. An intimate choice that made the moment even more authentic.

The floral arrangements by Giardino delle Fate reflected the autumn season with ranunculus, wild orchids, and clusters of grapes, while the lavender toss—sourced from Le Gusciane, a place dear to the couple—added a personal touch.

“Behind us, the wide valley view; before us, a perfect scene made of roots, nature, and light,” the planner recalls.

A vegetarian dinner and a celebration that never stopped

For dinner, curated by chef Angiolo Barni, the grooms chose an entirely vegetarian menu, a balance of tradition and creativity: from hummus to pappa al pomodoro, all the way to a playful “not veal not tuna” dish made with celeriac.

The mille-feuille cake was assembled live before the guests, turning dessert into a true sensory experience. Before it, a breathtaking fireworks display by Diego Fuochi lit up the sky.

Later, just like the night before, Terreni Light’s suspended lanterns recreated a magical starlit sky, ushering in music and dancing. Luca Pedrini’s DJ set kept the night alive, followed by a fado concert—“a music of destiny and nostalgia,” as Luca and Alessandro described it—that they wanted to share with their guests.

A celebration of life

Among friends from the entertainment world—including Stefania Orlando, Helena Prestes, Amanda Lecciso, and Javier Martinez—the wedding became more than an event: it became a true celebration of life.

As the couple told Vanity Fair: “More than an event, we wanted a celebration of life. Of that life made of true friends, of families intertwining, of dreams becoming reality.”

And as Chi beautifully summed it up, the most powerful image remains that of “two men who, after nine years together, chose to promise each other forever, with the same enthusiasm of their first kiss.”

Credits:
@ilgiornoperfetto
@tenuta_i_massini_
@anticafattoriapaterno
@myoristorante
@giardinodellefateflowerdesign
@lucapedrinidj
@terrenilights
@newlifehair
@diegofuochidartificio
@marchesifrescobaldi
@corneliani
@salvinigioielli