Strictly Come Dancing star Graziano Di Prima MARRIES longtime partner Giada Lini during a tearful ceremony in her hometown of Sicily after a two-year delay caused by the global pandemic.
- The 28-year-old dancer exchanged vows with Jade during a traditional Catholic ceremony in Sicily.
- His 90-minute Catholic service took place in the Basilica della Madonna della Catena on the Mediterranean island.
- 200 guests attended the ceremony, including Strictly colleagues Nadiya Bychkova and Karim Zeroual.
- Graziano and Giada had originally planned to get married in 2020, only to have their plans ruined twice as a result of the pandemic.
By Jason Chester for MailOnline
Posted: 10:22, 18 July 2022 | Updated: 11:23, July 18, 2022
Strictly Come Dancing star Graziano di Prima has married his longtime partner Giada Lini on the island of Sicily, the home of her childhood.
The 28-year-old dancer exchanged vows with Giada during a traditional Catholic ceremony after postponing her wedding plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 90-minute Catholic service took place in the Basilica della Madonna della Catena on the Mediterranean island, a historic church located in the village of Castiglione di Sicilia.
Yes: Strictly Come Dancing star Graziano di Prima has married her longtime love, Giada Lini, on the grounds of a 16th-century Italian church.
A select group of 200 guests attended the ceremony, including Strictly colleagues Nadiya Bychkova, Karim Zeroual and Chizzy Akudolu.
Graziano and Giada had originally planned to get married in 2020, only because their plans were broken twice as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Talking to OK! magazine, Graziano admitted that the long-awaited service caused inevitable tears when he was finally able to see his partner in his wedding dress.
Romantic: The 90-minute Catholic service took place in the Basilica della Madonna della Catena on the Mediterranean island (pictured), a church located in Castiglione di Sicilia.
She said, “I tried to be strong all day, but I couldn’t stop crying for the love I feel for Jade. When I saw her coming with the horse and carriage I started to cry.
“As he walked down the hall to me, I cried more. My mother grabbed my elbow, squeezing it to support me. It was more than I expected. I must have told her how beautiful she looked 50o. 60 times.
He added: “The fact of having been to Sicily, my city, after two years of postponing the wedding with all our family and friends to witness, was such a strong feeling.”
The groom’s brother, Pietro, and Arduino’s best friend were his best men during the day.
Meanwhile, the bride was joined by half a dozen flower girls and two godparents, including her brother Leonardo.
Success: Graziano has become a household name thanks to his appearances on the BBC program Strictly Come Dancing (pictured with contestant Judy Love in 2021).
Graziano, who divides his time between London and Venice, grew up on the island of Sicily, but left when he was 17 to pursue his dream of becoming a professional dancer.
Now, a kind of local celebrity, it was understood that long-term residents within the close-knit Sicilian community were in place when he returned to marry his long-term partner.
According to OK !, huge crowds gathered in Riesi Square to celebrate the special day of the dancer.
He said, “I didn’t expect there to be so many people in the square – there was so much love for my city. […] Coming back after all these years was the most memorable moment of my life.
Felay: Graziano and Giada had originally planned to get married in 2020, only to have their plans ruined twice as a result of the coronavirus pandemic
Graziano and Giada met in 2014, and admits that she “fell in love instantly.”
The TV star, who grew up in Sicily, said: “I was watching everything around me as if I was 10 years old again when I lived here, but now I am a man and I have married Giada.
“Ever since we met eight years ago, I knew she was the only one: I fell in love instantly. She’s the most extraordinary woman I’ve ever met.
After the ceremony, the newlywed couple and their 200 guests moved to 14th-century Falconara Castle, which offers stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea.
The couple arrived on horseback and in carriage, before entering the venue with the rhythms of the popular Frozen song A Whole New World.
With a live band offering entertainment, the party moved to the open air as temperatures dropped, with guests enjoying an outdoor setting lit by fairy lights.
Smitten: Graziano and Giada met in 2014 and admits he “fell in love instantly”
Reflecting on their special day, Giada revealed that the castle was a symbolic place for the couple.
She said, “Graziano was taking me to the castle gate when we started going out and I didn’t have a car, just a Vespa.
“I used to put my hand inside the door to see if we could get into the castle, but it was always closed. We never imagined we would have the money to rent it for our wedding.
“Sicily was the perfect place to remind us how it all started.”