We went back to our hotel for a bit of a rest before heading out to the rehearsal dinner, which was held at one of the old palaces that are littered about the city. The palace is on Florence's nicest square, the Piazza Santissima Annunziata. The piazza is dominated by the Spedale degli Innocenti, Florence's main orphanage built in the 1440's and still operating today. It's most famous to tourists for the lazy susan device built into the wall. Florence's unwed mothers could sneak up unnoticed to the lazy susan, plop their baby on it, give it a spin and watch the baby disappear into the orphanage's protective arms. There's also an old church that was remodeled to go with the architectural flow of the orphanage.

The dinner's setting was wonderful, held in the beautifully candlelit gardens of the palace. But since we didn't bring our camera, you'll just have to take our word for it.