WELLINGTON, New Zealand – In a global landscape where the term “Made in Italy” risks being devalued, there are those who embody its most authentic and profound essence, carrying it to the far corners of the world. Alice Trinari, 34, originally from Perugia, is one such person. A wedding planner and creative director, she has transformed her dual life between Umbria and Wellington, New Zealand, into a cultural bridge. Here is her story, a tapestry woven from determination, family, and an almost sacred vision of Italian beauty.
Alice, let’s start with a point of curiosity: how did you come to know of us?
My connection to your magazine is no accident. I completed a master’s with the Fondazione Italia USA, and during the lectures, I had the pleasure of hearing your contributions. It was a significant source of inspiration. What was an innate sensibility found a structure and was finally able to blossom into a concrete profession. It was the springboard that gave a defined form to my dream.
Tell us about your roots. How have they shaped the professional you are today?
My roots are in Umbria, in the green heart of Italy. I was educated in Perugia, where I graduated in Law. Soon, however, I realised that was not my path. It was then that I yielded to my creative and visionary nature. I am a determined, proactive person: I don’t just think up ideas, I take action to realise them. My love for art and music – I sang in my school choir – and the teachings of a simple family, rich in values, instilled in me an aesthetic sense and an attachment to my origins which are the very fuel for my work. My father painted and did photography as a hobby, and those seeds have grown within me.
How does this background reconcile with your role as a Wedding Planner in New Zealand?
Everything is connected. Organising an event means fusing photography, aesthetics, and storytelling. My inspiration springs from Italian culture, which I feel more alive than ever now that I live in Wellington. I am here with my New Zealand-born husband – who, incidentally, is now an Italian citizen – and our two daughters. After moving here in January, I launched my wedding & event planning business in May and took part in my first exhibition at the Event Centre in Lower Hutt. From there, I began building a network of contacts in the industry: I met suppliers, photographers, floral designers. I am rigorous in my selection: I look for those who are willing to understand and enhance that essential Italianità.
In concrete terms, how do you “tell the story of Italianness” from the other side of the world?
With effort and with love. I strive to maintain Italian elements in every shoot or event. Recently, I organised a shoot at the Robert Orr Historic House, a venue with architecture inspired by the Italian style, completely white. It’s a way to bring a fragment of that beauty here. Furthermore, since October I have been working as a personal assistant for a restaurant and shop selling imported Italian products, “La Bella Italia LTD”. This collaboration allows me to integrate authenticity into my projects, such as organising “wedding markets” with Italian products. The objective is to create a 360-degree experience, where the music, style, and details all speak our language.
Is there an Italian community in Wellington that supports you in this journey?
Yes, absolutely. I am well-connected with the Italian community here. Tomorrow evening, for instance, I am going out with a group of ladies for the opening of the Italian Film Festival, a fundamental appointment for us. For me, it is vital that my daughters speak Italian and do not lose this connection. At home, we only speak Italian; it is a heritage I am determined to pass on to them.
For you, what is “Made in Italy” today?
For me, it is an almost sacred, poetic dimension. Something to be protected and cherished. It is in the culture, in the way of being, in the beauty. I have always been struck by a line from Roberto Benigni’s film Life is Beautiful, where the head waiter, played by Giustino Durano, says: «Servire è il primo dei mestieri, e noi italiani lo sappiamo fare in un modo speciale» (“To serve is the foremost of trades, and we Italians know how to do it in a special way”). This line resonates deeply within me. We have the ability to make even the most humble job feel special. It is a value that those of us who live abroad understand intimately: certain things, like the Umbrian hams from my homeland, cannot be found here, and their absence makes you comprehend their immense worth.
Images byKindred Photography (https://www.kindred.photo/)
Alice portrait by GiphotosItaly (https://www.giphotositaly.com/)
