ITALY: Preparations are underway in a very wet Florence, Italy, for the wedding of U.S. television personality Kim Kardashian and rapper Kanye West

Record ID: 695123

  • Title: ITALY: Preparations are underway in a very wet Florence, Italy, for the wedding of U.S. television personality Kim Kardashian and rapper Kanye West
  • Date: 23rd May 2014
  • Summary: FLORENCE, ITALY (MAY 23, 204) (REUTERS) HEAVY RAINFALL OVER FLORENCE HEAVY RAIN FALLING OVER FLORENCE LANDMARKS RAIN FALLING ON PONTE VECCHIO BRIDGE BELVEDERE FORT ON HILLTOP WORKERS IN GARDEN OF BELVEDERE FORT WORKERS PREPARING STAGE IN GARDEN CRANE LIFTING ITEMS INTO BELVEDERE FORT WORKERS IN GARDEN BY WALL VARIOUS OF SECURITY GUARD BY ENTRANCE AT WALL DELIVERY TRUCKS AND PEOPLE NEAR WALL (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM COUNCILLOR AT THE CITY OF FLORENCE, SARA BIAGIOTTI, SAYING: "Tomorrow, an important wedding will be held in Florence, there have been others, too, but this is an important one because two famous people are coming to get married in our city. The Belvedere Fort has been been rented out exceptionally for the occasion. It is one of the most beautiful sites in our city, with an extraordinary view over all Florence. It will be an event with the nuptials of a young couple who decided to come celebrate their marriage in our city." ARNO RIVER WITH BELVEDERE FORT IN BACKGROUND CRANE LOWERING ITEMS INTO FORT WORKERS BY MAKESHIFT STAGE WORKERS CARRYING OUT FINAL PREPARATIONS IN GARDEN TOURISTS OUTSIDE PALAZZO VECCHIO IN CENTRAL FLORENCE STATUE (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FLORENCE RESIDENT ANGELO SPENSIERATO SAYING: "As a Florence resident I can't but be pleased that foreigners choose to come and get married in my city. However, I am not pleased that our cultural heritage gets sold out for this event while it doesn't get sold out for other occasions." (SOUNDBITE) (English) MARY AND RAYMOND FROM FLORIDA, UNITED STATES SAYING: (MARY SAYING) "She didn't do anything. She hasn't done anything." (RAYMOND SAYING) "I got an invitation but I sent it back. No, I wanted to come here and be on this side of the river." (MARY SAYING) "I mean, it's Kim's third marriage. It's not like this is something special, right? Third marriage. Third time's a charm?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) KATE, NORWEGIAN LIVING IN FLORENCE, SAYING: "You know that if Florence welcomes him here in this beautiful city, this is a gift for him, not for Florence. Florence is something particular." (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FLORENCE RESIDENT LAURA GIANNONI SAYING: "Florence, it seems, is rented out to anyone. Let's just hope that all the people who come, also visit the centre and will enjoy our shops and our beautiful city." EXTERIOR OF LUXURY HOTEL VISITORS GETTING LUGGAGE FROM BACK OF VAN CROWDS ON PONTE VECCHIO BRIDGE POLICE OFFICER ON BRIDGE TOURISTS ON PONTE VECCHIO BRIDGE PONTE VECCHIO BRIDGE
  • Embargoed: 7th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVA23VCWC8HJ7LCDC44F5348KP8V
  • Story Text: The heavens opened on Friday (May 23) over Florence as the final preparations for the wedding of U.S. television personality Kim Kardashian and rapper Kanye West were underway.
    The rain will hopefully subside by Saturday (May 24) when top showbusiness names are expected to descend on the city for the event of the year.
    No information has been forthcoming about the event other than it will take place at the 16th century Belvedere Fort. The couple are said to have rented it for 300,000 euro ($411,100) and the ceremony will be presided over by a Protestant pastor.

    "Tomorrow, an important wedding will be held in Florence, there have been others, too, but this is an important one because two famous people are coming to get married in our city. The Belvedere Fort has been been rented out exceptionally for the occasion. It is one of the most beautiful sites in our city, with an extraordinary view over all Florence. It will be an event with the nuptials of a young couple who decided to come celebrate their marriage in our city," said Economic Development and Tourism Councillor at the City of Florence, Sara Biagiotti, refusing to reveal any specific details.
    However, as the castle is not an authorized site for weddings, there was some question about whether the event will be an officially recognized marriage ceremony or a celebration with some looser status.
    Security is expected to be iron-tight with Kardashian and West bringing in their own teams to ensure their privacy. Some roads have already been closed and signs put up to notify that even the local park will not be accessible on Saturday.
    In central Florence, locals and visitors were divided over the couple's choice of venue.

    "As a Florence resident I can't but be pleased that foreigners choose to come and get married in my city. However, I am not pleased that our cultural heritage gets sold out for this event while it doesn't get sold out for other occasions," said local resident Angelo Spensierato.
    Mary, a tourist from Florida, United States, said she could not comprehend the popularity of Kim Kardashian.

    "She didn't do anything. She hasn't done anything," she said.

    "I got an invitation but I sent it back. No, I wanted to come here and be on this side of the river," her travel companion Raymond joked.

    "I mean, it's Kim's third marriage. It's not like this is something special, right? Third marriage. Third time's a charm?" Mary added, shaking her head.

    "You know that if Florence welcomes him here in this beautiful city, this is a gift for him, not for Florence. Florence is something particular," said Kate, a Norwegian who lives in the city.

    "Florence, it seems, is rented out to anyone. Let's just hope that all the people who come, also visit the centre and will enjoy our shops and our beautiful city," local woman Laura Giannoni said.
    Guests and maybe the happy couple are expected to start arriving from Saturday morning on private jets at the local airport. But the hotel where everyone is staying is still a secret, for now. Although Florence boasts some top rate hotels just next to the famous Ponte Vecchio in the centre of town.
    The couple will be accompanied by their daughter North, who West in an interview said was "conceived here, among the masterpieces of the Renaissance".

    "It was our first honeymoon. It's one of the most beautiful cities in the world, for me, it's the most beautiful in Europe," West told the local La Nazione daily.
    Representatives for Kardashian and West did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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