Sunday, May 16, 2010 - North Shore News - A25
Tony and Tina tie the knot one final time Niamh Scallan
nscallan@nsnews.com
AFTER tying the knot more than 60 times, North Vancouver’s Ashlee Asconi and Giovanni Tempesta will exchange vows for the very last time this summer.
Tempesta and Asconi, former stars of the offBroadway hit show Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding, will marry in front of a small crowd of family and friends on July 16. The show was an interactive comedy that ran in downtown Vancouver three nights a week for 14 years, shutting its doors in 2009. The longest running production in Vancouver’s history, Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding treated audience members as guests to the traditional Italian marriage of Tony and Tina. Asconi was introduced to Tempesta when she first joined the cast in 2006.
Tempesta, who had been on the show for more than nine years, played the role of Tony. Asconi was lined up to play Sister Maria, the shy and awkward bridesmaid. She remembers being introduced to Tempesta through a cast member during her first night on the show. “He was very friendly, very smiley,” Asconi said. “I was told almost immediately that he was single, which was pretty funny, but we didn’t really talk much after the first meeting.” One thing led to another and about two months after Asconi joined the Tony n’ Tina crew, they began dating. “We kept it secret from the rest of the cast when we started dating so that was always exciting,” Asconi said. About a week after their first date, Asconi was promoted to the role of Tina and the two were married every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night in front of large Vancouver crowds until they left the show together in December 2006.
Asked whether her upcoming wedding will bare any resemblance to her previous Tony n’ Tina weddings, Asconi laughed. “Well, I guess we are Italian,” she said. “But no, our wedding is going to be quite small for a typical Italian wedding. If some of the same music comes out, we’ll probably joke around to it.” These days, Asconi is pursuing a Communications degree at Simon Fraser University. While she’s moved on from her Tony n’ Tina role, Asconi remains involved in the local acting community. Tempesta is special needs teacher at a Vancouver high school. “I had such a great time doing the show and Giovanni loved it,” Asconi said. “It’s sad the show is over but we’re hoping they bring it back at some point and we’ll do a few more shows!” Until then, Asconi will be busy preparing for her July wedding, when she will say “I do” for the last time.
Ask to see florist’s portfolio
THE right choice of flowers can add that much more to an already special day.
To make sure your arrangements are a perfect addition, consider the following tips. Recently married friends should be able to recommend a good florist or at least keep you from making the same mistakes they made. You can also ask the staff at the reception hall or where the ceremony itself will be taking place. Chances are, they’ve been exposed to numerous arrangements, so they could prove to be a valuable resource. If a florist is worth hiring, they should have a portfolio of weddings they’ve worked on. Some florists can also put together a sample bouquet. If a florist has no portfolio, seriously consider
going elsewhere. When visiting a florist, bring along a picture of the bride’s dress and at least the colour of the bridesmaids’ gowns; this will help in selecting flowers that coordinate. Know exactly how many arrangements, bouquets, boutonnieres and corsages you need and ask for an itemized estimate. Using out-of-season flowers will cost more, while in-season flowers and those specific to your region of the country can save you money. Make sure you know if the florist moves the arrangements between the ceremony and the reception or wherever you go once the ceremony is over. No couple wants to worry about moving the flowers, so make sure these arrangements are listed in the final agreement.
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AFTER saying “I do” to each more than 60 times as Tony and Tina, of Tony ’n Tina’s Wedding, above, Giovanni Tempesta and Ashlee Asconi will get married for real this summer.
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