Italian Lakes Wedding Planner

Last September I had the chance to plan a wonderful and unique wedding at Villa del Balbianello.
You are probably wondering: what could be even more unique at Villa del Balbianello than Balbianello Villa itself?
I’m going to tell you all! My lovely Norwegian couple was a Star Wars movie fan, and all the invited guests were too!
The combination of Villa del Balbianello and Star Wars passion couldn’t be more exciting and extravagant and I was really excited to plan a wedding like this.
So Hilde and Jean Erik decided to travel from Norway to Italy for their Big Day together with families and friends.

We have to remember that Villa del Balbianello was the movie set of famous Star Wars Episode II – Attack of the Clones.
Star Wars lovers surely know that this villa was named like Lake Retreat in the movie and it is where Padme and Anikin Skywalker hid while Obi One Kenobi traked down those responsible for attempting to Amidala’s life. But most of al,l for our story, it is where secret marriage of Anakin Skywalker and Amidala took place.

Hilde and Jean Erik chose for their staying luxurious Grand Hotel Tremezzo where both of them got and ready for the wedding while Morlotti photographer was there to take wonderful pictures of the event.
Beautiful bride opted for an unusual and fancy dress short on the front and very long on the back: she really looked like a princess! Continue Reading »

Lucia is a typical row boat once used at Lake Como for transporting goods to the markets. It got famous in the well known romance written by Alessandro Manzoni I Promessi sposi, a story about spouses that had to outrun lots of hindrances in the 18th century before getting married at Lecco.
Today some gentlemen do collect those old boats, restore them and rent them out for special occasions like marriages or row-competitions.

For Axel and Melanie we organized one of these old boats, got it decorated and had 2 strong men to row them 600 metres to Ossuccio with its really cute townhall. All guests were waiting and applauded at the arrival. As well the major awaited them under the historic arcades to start with the civil wedding ceremony.
Sure that all majors in Italy have to read out the legal articles, but they do it with much pleasure. And often there are situations to laugh as it is not always very easy for the celebrant to pronounce all those foreign names and cities. So with this, all wedding ceremonies get a very soft and smiling touch, although they are legally accepted.

After the ceremony we arranged a toast in the garden below the arcades, just to have some sips of Prosecco and some light fingerfood, nicely prepared right next to the lake.

Then we proceeded by boat to the famous Villa Balbianello for some beautiful photos of bride and groom in the elegant garden of this villa. Nice to walk here where already successful films have been registered, like Ocean Eleven, Star Wars, James Bond etc.

Our photographer Julian Kanz had much fun to shoot Melanie and Axel in all parts of the pittoresque property. And the best is, that even all guests do enjoy this one-hour-stop as they can stroll through the gardens and relax at each corner with wonderful views over Lake Como.
Continue Reading »

As Lake Como planner I’m very excited to tell you the fairy tale of this fabulous couple coming from far away to celebrate their wedding on our elegant Lake Como.
Groom, Sigfrid, was born in Valtellina, Italy – not far at all from Lake Como – while pretty bride Wei-Ting and her family come all from Taiwan where the couple actually lives and work.
They met each other in US about 8 years ago and since then, they have always been together. Isn’t it very romantic?
Wei-Ting is absolutely in love with Italy and after having had a ceremony and party in Taiwan as well, they decided that definitely wanted an Italian wedding dream too.
I as delighted to help them!

When Wei-Ting and Sigfrid first saw Balbianello Villa, they had no doubt: this would have been their Italian wedding venue!
And here we started the whole wedding planning. Groom was very active and enthusiast: it has been a real pleasure working together with them to built the perfect wedding day.
We went through every single detail trying to make a mix of the 2 strong cultures: Italian one and Taiwan one.

Hand-painted parasol, gifts for the guests (Chinese gift for the Italians and Italian gift for the Taiwanese) and all the atmosphere was a perfect combination of different customs for this unforgettable Lake Como wedding.

Sigfrid and Wei-Ting Lake Como fairy tale began with a ‘cinematographic’ setting: the beautiful lake view ceremony, performed in the terrace of the Star Wars movie!
The guests arrived by boat. They picked-up the beautiful parasols and they and attended the ceremony handling the beautiful lace ceremony booklet with the red stamp reporting the names of the couple and the wedding date. This is another Chinese interesting custom!
A special thank to the lovely musicians: they’ve been great! They created a perfect atmosphere for the ceremony! Continue Reading »

…Jennifer and Theodore gifted themselves a romantic wedding day on Como lake, in a wonderful private villa in Cernobbio.

They both came from United States and chose to celebrate their special day on Lake Como a real dream!
They enjoyed the whole day, from ceremony to final dancing party, in this gorgeous villa, a wonderful setting to make this day even more special.
The villa has a wide terraced garden that allow you the possibility to personalize it as you prefer on a special day like your wedding could be.

Jennifer and Theodore exchanged their marriage vows on a big terrace. Mountains sprang from the waters offering a perfect and romantic background for the ceremony.
Jennifer reached her moved groom walking on a soft aisle covered with petals and then, under a gorgeous arch full of red coral flowers, they promised each other eternal love. Continue Reading »

Balbianello Villa – Official Rental Fees 2012

Many of you write us to ask further information on Villa del Balbianello rental.
For this reason we would love to give you more information on our blog that we hope could be useful.
As mentioned Villa del Balbianello is a very exclusive and unique venue, for this reason rental fee is related to the luxury and exclusivity of the location itself.

Dear Couples,
Many of you write us asking further information about Villa del Balbianello rental. For this reason we would love to give you more information on our blog that we hope could be useful.

Italian Lakes Wedding Team now is happy to provide you the official rates of Balbianello Villa.
We tried to be the most exhaustive we could but please feel free to contact us if you find something not clear or if you may need additional details.

Balbianello is one of the most beautiful and unspoiled Villas of the area reachable by boat thus giving your guests the opportunity of living a “different” experience.
FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano – Italian Environment Fund) preserves the most important Italian monumental Villas and gardens and it manages Villa del Balbianello too. It has agreed us the permission to use the Villa for our events.

We hope you will appreciate the uniqueness of this amazing setting and stunning view as much as we do!
The breath-taking ceremony can be celebrated outdoor overlooking the lake. At Villa del Balbianello can be performed civil legally blessing ceremonies from Monday to Saturday (never on Sunday) Villa del Balbianello offers the opportunity of using the venue for:

• Only the ceremony (max 2 hours staying).
• Ceremony + aperitif / cocktail (max 3 hours staying).
• Ceremony + complete reception (max 6 hours staying) with option of extending the time till 2am at an extra fee charge.

Depending on the guests number, ceremony can be celebrated on the Terrace (small groups) or under the Loggia (bigger groups).
For groups smaller than 50 guests, the ceremony can be celebrated also while the Villa is still open to tourists (this option is cheaper than having the Villa in exclusive). This means in the afternoon, earlier than 6pm.
For groups of 50 persons and over, ceremonies are only allowed when the Villa is closed to public visitors (this has a higher cost) and therefore with the Villa in exclusive. Continue Reading »

Cat and Reza… Just like Janet and Ian!
Do you remember about Janet and Ian? It was the first of a long series of weddings planned by Italian Lakes Wedding team at VILLA D’ESTE, the amazing and vip location in Cernobbio, on Lake Como.
On the footsteps of Janet and Ian, today we would love to show you another dream wedding set in this impressive jet set’s favourite destination on Como Lake.

Cat is Russian and Reza is Persian and they live together in London.
Some time ago, visiting Italian Lakes Wedding pages, they were so fascinated by Janet and Ian’s wedding, planned by our team, that they decided that they would love to have a similar incredibly fascinating event.

Talented photographer Carlo Guido Conti was there for them to shoot Cat and Reza’s big day. You surely appreciated his wonderful photo session for Nick and Chris at Villa Rusconi on Lake Maggiore. With regard to this, we anticipate you that we will soon come back on Lake Maggiore together with Carlo Conti, this time going till Locarno, in Switzerland, for another amazing wedding, Georg and Kiki’s one.

Cat and Reza got married in a wonderful day of mid September. Bride’s arrival was really fabulous: on a carriage towed by white horses!

As for Janet and Ian, Cat and Reza’s ceremony took place on Villa’s meadow between the lake and the wonderful mosaic staircase that leads to the location’s upper area: a dream setting, made even more romantic by a string quartet playing sweet melodies on the background.

For their ceremony, bride and groom chose an elegant floral arrangement: roses and white lisianthus. For bride’s and bridesmaids’ bouquet, Cat opted for bright colours, with pretty eye-catching little Callas and yellow Cymbidium orchids. Continue Reading »

Today I would like to tell you about a lovely couple coming from England: Joss and Nick.
They got married on July 9th, a bright and warm summer day that they will not forget for the rest of their lives!

They surely had a certain taste for lovely and good things and places so they opted for a wonderful wedding on Lake Como.

Everything was planned to be perfect!
We start from bride’s getting ready at Villa d’Este, the wonderful hotel famous all over the world with stunning view on the lake shores.
And we will end with the party in an amazing private villa near Cernobbio.
But let’s go step by step.

Nick and Joss decided to celebrate their special ceremony in lovely church in Cadenabbia just on the Como Lake’s shores. Here they soaked in a magical and romantic atmosphere created by wonderful floral decorations, white candles and the bright and warm colours of walls, together with a stunning red lacunar ceiling. Continue Reading »

An incredible and original way for your special and moments on the fascinating Lake Como.
The occasion to spend a fabulous time with your Guests, families and friends and only with them, surrounded by the fabulous Lake Como landscape.

Jacqueline and Jonathan have chosen to share the beauty of the Lake for their wedding, just by the waters with a constant new landscape to admire.
A classic old steamboat can be yours in exclusivity for enjoying your wedding party on Lake Como!

This magnificent restored steamboat offers the opportunity to enjoy its outdoors spaces as well as its elegant interiors which can be used for cocktails, dinners and dancing.
It’s a perfect way to give life to your original wedding party.
There are many ways you can use this floating venue. You can use it for the whole wedding party, including a symbolic ceremony celebrated on board, as well as for open bar and dances till late at night after having spent the reception dinner in a Villa on the lakeshores!

A special atmosphere on Lake Como that you and your guests will remember forever. The water perspective offers the chance to see the beauties of the lake Como shores with its villas, its luxurious hotels, its medieval and picturesque villages such as Bellagio, Varenna, Torno, Laglio (with, George Clooney’s Villa!), Tremezzo Blevio, Nesso, Moltrasio, Cernobbio and many many other lovely towns and fishermen villages.

Don’t hesitate to contact our Team for your dream wedding on Lake Como waters!
Continue Reading »

Under the strange and special light of a cloudy sky with gorgeous reflections on Como Lake’s waters, Jenny and Giles’ wedding took place. They made a very long trip to make this dream come true. Jenny comes from Singapore and Giles comes from England, but they both live in Singapore.

The bride chose as accommodation a luxury hotel in Bellagio, with a stunning sight on Lake Como. Here, between ancient rooms full of history and precious furniture, bride got ready with gorgeous make up and wearing her wonderful Vera Wang dress.

Three different groups left Bellagio by boat leading ceremony venue: Villa del Balbianello.

The first group was made up by groom and his best men and ushers, who had the important task to verify that everything were perfect… a great help for the wedding planner, thank you very much guys!
Continue Reading »

Here we are, finally, with the description of the wonderful wedding of Anya & Misha, that we anticipated a few weeks ago.

It was a very special wedding.
First of all because of the date: the same of Kate and William’s wedding, and then for the venues they chose for their staying!

The newlywed, in fact, spent their holiday and got ready in Villa d’Este.
A really exclusive and relaxing place to spend your time while waiting the fateful moment to come! Continue Reading »

In the luxuriant setting of Como Lake, among the rays of a shy sun, hidden by thick spring clouds, the elegant wedding of BethAnne & Rafal took place. They are a beautiful couple coming from two different and very far countries: United States and Poland.

Radiant and thrilled the newlyweds remained separated until the fateful moment. The preparations, in fact, went on a new stunning private Villa for the bride and her family and on a different one for the groom and his guests.

A little motorboat was waiting for the bride to take her from Laglio, where the Villa is located, to Lenno, were the ceremony took place, in the little and charming church up on the hills with a breathtaking view on the Como Lake.

Purple was the theme color of the day. An unusual, but very impressive choice.
The five bridesmaids were very elegant in their purple dresses and made a vivid impact against the bride’s cream dress. Continue Reading »

Dear Readers!
I’m so pleased to show you a preview of the wonderful wedding of Anya & Misha. This is just a little anticipation of the event but I will come back shortly speaking about every single detail of this amazing wedding on Lake Como: stay tuned!

Anya and Misha came from far away – Russia – to get married on this wonderful and charming Italian Lake.
Their marriage was celebrated on 29 April in a splendid Private Villa located in Cernobbio, on Lake Como.

Their event, despite the rain, which add a bit of dramatic feeling to the wedding, was fabulous from the atmosphere to the gorgeous floral decoration in green and white tones with thousand candles and apples and the delicious wedding dinner with party to follow with music and lot of happiness!

A great thank to our photographer Mauro Pozzer who provided us in no time these beautiful and unique pictures. Continue Reading »