Jan. 20 – ” You dream the event, I create it” is Elisa Adamo’s motto, a 27 year old Treviso-native studying Arabic at Ca ‘Foscari University in Venice. Elisa is a wedding planner, “a figure – she says – not so popular or as well established in our country as in the US.” Elisa organizes wedding parties that have very little in common with those you usually see in Italy and are more concerned with belly dancing and henna ceremonies. Elisa’s profession skillfully combines two great passions: Arab culture and event management and organization. ” I managed to turn into a business my two great passions – confirms Elisa – At first I thought of studying journalism, but I then saw an even greater personal opportunity within the Arab culture and civilization – says Elisa, who is now studying Asian, African and Mediterranean Languages and Civilizations – so I attended Ca’Foscari and turned my passion into an idea and this idea into a business proposal. Fundamental was my two and a half year experience in Egypt, between Alexandria and Cairo.” In Egypt, Elisa began her career as a wedding planner when observing the magnificent wedding feast typical of Arab weddings, Al-Farah, which also means “joy.” “I have attended many weddings, and al-farah is a colorful, playful, lively moment that involves 300, 350 people. The way they celebrate is so different from ours: I liked the atmosphere, the happiness, and the enthusiasm with which everyone comes together.” Since last October, the young entrepreneur begun her next challenge: to intercept and eventually manage the Arab wedding tourism flow towards Italy, and Veneto more particularly. “I carried out a market study – says Elisa – and I’ve seen that in our country there is no such service. I decided to try it. Back in my home town, Treviso, I created my sole proprietorship and a website, www.al-farah.it dedicated to Arab couples who wish to fulfill their dream of love in Italy. Ca ‘ Foscari University has given me the tools necessary to undertake the task. I was able to learn the language, study the culture and the legal aspects of Islamic law in matters of marriage and family.” Elisa is now excited about the adventure ahead: Al- Farah is the first wedding and events planner service devoted exclusively to the Arab and Muslim world. “I know this is just the beginning and I have so much to prove. The real test will be to satisfy the many requests, received so far mainly from Egypt and Dubai, from Treviso.” Elisa Adamo is proud to be an Italian with extensive experience abroad who decided to return to her home country: “I don’t run away. I think it is important to have an experience abroad but I believe it is equally important to return and get into the game by taking advantage of the skills and competencies acquired. Our universities are among the best in the world and leaving the country means that we take away our wealth potential as well.” Elisa has been able to invent a profession and can now offer an all-inclusive fairytale wedding: an extra-luxury package that includes the more typical catering and flowers, as well as unique initiatives, like a website dedicated to the spouses or “transfer” service for all guests, music, dancers, make up artists and wedding cakes in different styles. The Venetian entrepreneur covers marriage proposals, engagement parties, weddings and anniversaries, without neglecting the details: “the wedding party is usually in a large hotel, so venues usually host 350 guests for a total amount that can reach €200.000. Venice – she says – is the most desirable location, but there are many requests for Venetian villas.” Elisa has a lot of work ahead of her but is ready for the challenge, “also and mainly thanks to those who always believed in me and supported me: my parents and my husband.” Meanwhile, she is ready to provide the fairy tale wedding in Italy: “Luxury , creativity and passion are my priorities” ensures Elisa.
