“I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times…In life after life, in age after age, forever.” Julia and Julien. J&J.

Their names echo harmoniously the story of two souls who found love — and returned to reaffirm their love — on our majestic island of Sicily.

Julia, from America, and Julien, from Canada, first met while exploring food and innovation in Messina, one sweet summer ago. The sensory experience eventually led them on a romantic road trip to rediscover Julia’s roots to the heart of the island — around the lovely Lake Pozzillo and to her great grandparents village of Gagliano Castelferrato – where they met her Sicilian cousins for the first time.

This adventure, they would later realize, was like an anchor rooting their budding romance in a foundation of faith and love, from which they would grow the family tree.

A year later, on a warm, whimsical weekend in May, they returned to Sicily to pledge their love in the presence of family and friends from 10 countries, and in many languages.

I leave you here an anthology of Julia and Julien’s adventure, the raw emotions, sacred places and delicate details felt as they joined hands for their unending journey together. You’ll catch a glimpse into the ancient church where Julia’s ancestors were wed, taste the traditional family recipes, see the heirloom gown handed down from mother to daughter, hear the flutes and exuberance of Sicilian folk music, smell the fragrant olive groves, and step into an infinite circle of flowering sage — the many moments captured, that when we look with open hearts, show us just how real life makes the most wonderful fairy tale.

Day 1

Day 2

All images are copyrighted Linda Puccio – All Rights are reserved