Easier to fall in love than to get married

Actress Brigitte Nielsen today marries Italian Mattia Dessi, 15 years her junior, at the SAS Radisson Golden Sands in the northern part of Malta. Nielsen is best-known for her marriage to Sylvester Stallone which ended in 1987 and for her numerous films. When speaking to Maltese journalists, I heard her say that Malta is a place where it is easy to fall in love. At other times, she complained about the bureaucratic nature of Maltese marriage. From the Independent:

Speaking to journalists at the hotel early yesterday afternoon, the actress wondered how an Air Malta magazine promoted Malta as a wedding destination when it seemed to be so difficult to get the marriage ceremony performed because of lengthy procedures.

The wedding was postponed by three weeks, during which time other locations were considered, such as Sardinia, Italy, the country of origin of the groom. Ms Nielsen’s love for this “very pretty island” kept her from such a move. “If we really want to get people to marry here, we have to make things simple for everybody,” said Mr Mizzi.

The couple met at a Lugano restaurant where Ms Nielsen “literally fell for Mattia”. Mr Dessi jokingly complained that she did not turn up for their first two dates, while she explained that she was simply playing hard to get. Meanwhile, Ms Nielsen’s dog is still being held in quarantine but hopes run high that it will be released in time for the wedding. Asked about the duration of their stay, the couple could not give a definite reply, because they would like to spend some quality time on the island, especially since it is Mr Dessi’s first visit.

The ceremony will be attended by the bride’s sons, their families and friends. The couple is expected to spend some more days in Malta before leaving for Milan and then Los Angeles. When asked who will win the World Cup Ms Nielsen spontaneously cried “Italia”. She was obviously trying to please her groom-to-be.

The story as reported by the American magazine The People; Nielsen did not turn up for her first two dates