It is said that three is a magic number. And it was in three that we decided to leave that day. In addition to me and Vincenzo, we opened the doors of the car to the one who we later discovered as one of the best wedding photographer in Italy, Andrea Calvano. In those days Calvano and I barely even knew ourselves but we had already understood that it wouldn’t have dragged so long to make us great friends. Few ideas, but clear: never say no to good food, a glass of wine and a beautiful blonde (I am, of course, referring to the beer).

The wedding destination of June 23rd 2016 was Florence, where Axel and Pasquale were waiting for us. The two boys would have finally crowned their love story the following day. I must say that the complicity between Axel and Pasquale immediately struck us. Two very nice guys, one English, the other Italian.

In Florence I had already been like a tourist, but that time the city seemed different. Florence is a city that surprises you all the time, it is an inspiring muse without equal. You can breathe art in every street corner, it looks like an open-air museum.

The marriage ceremony between Axel and Pasquale took place on “Divina terrazza” of the Grand Hotel Cavour not far from the historic center. A breathtaking view. I’ve done a lot of wedding video films, in many places of the world, but never before have I felt so strong emotions.

The video filming followed one another naturally, there was no need of particular artifice to chase the beauty: it was there, at hand, it was enough just to turn on the video camera and film it. The scenes of the film flowed fast, natural and authentic, while the Brunelleschi’s dome of Santa Maria del Fiore, in front of us, looked at us with its impressive beauty.

The shooting continued between Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio, among the centuries-old artisan shops on the Oltrarno and on Ponte Vecchio sull’Arno. These, at least, are the ones I remember: in the city of the Renaissance the pieces of art never end, almost certainly I’m forgetting some of them.

I don’t need to tell you that we could have spent whole days among monuments, sculptures and wonderful views and among works of art by famous and lesser-known authors. However, only in the evening we could “bow down” to the Piece of Art among the pieces of art, the only one without equal: the Florentine steak.

Freedom. I saw it and touched it the next day. I met it in “Tuscan Maremma” countryside, in a kiss in the shade of a garden of sunflowers; I met it in the light of a splendid sunset, in an amused run hand in hand and in the embrace of two young boys; I met it in a dip in the pool, dressed, at midnight.

I met it in the unconditional love of Axel and Pasquale and I will treasure it always. Good life to you, my friends.

Fabio Stanzione, is an italian wedding videographer, he makes wedding film (o wedding video). He lives in Apulia, land of weddings.