Italian Lakes Wedding Planner

Big hydrangeas flowers were the main characters of Dana and Nicola’s wedding on Lake Orta.

We have already given a preview of this event on our Just Married section.
Waiting for Enrico Mocci‘s entire photo gallery I would like to spend few words on Nicola and Dana’s wedding floral arrangement.

Nicola and Dana’s color scheme varied from pastel pink to cream with the frame of big hydrangeas flowers.
Hydrangeas are simple but elegant flowers. They are very local on lakes. You can find many here thanks to climate and soil.
Hydrangeas are ideal on a summer wedding. They can match every situation: open air, garden receptions or romanic or baroque churches you can find on lakes region.

The religious ceremony was held in Sacro Monte church on top of Orta hill overlooking the lake.
For this occasion I created a white hydrangeas based arrangement with some cream and pastel cream roses adding some greenery too. Continue Reading »

It is always so nice thinking that more than being a romantic and happy moment, weddings could be a meeting between different people and different customs.
This wedding I will tell you about is a real example for that.
Francesco is Italian from Verbania on Lake Maggiore and Sarah has Indian heritage. Both live and work in London but chose to get married in Italy with Jehovist ceremony.

As Mariana and Matteo (main character of the picture who won the contest Shot of the Year 2009) Francesco deep love for his hometown affected Sarah. So this is the reason because they chose Lake Maggiore as frame for their wedding.

As floral designer I managed all flower arrangements for Sarah and Francesco’s wedding: from their ceremony who was held in Sala del Regno in Verbania and reception to Grand Hotel Dino in Baveno. Last but not least I created also bridal bouquet with red roses and wonderful sparkling Swarovski that Sarah brought from UK. Such a perfect choice! The lovely sunny weather made them sparkling all thay long just like little diamonds.

Religious ceremony with Jehovah service has been held in Sala del Regno in Verbania. It is a big and bright building with lovely garden.
Religious service of Jehovah’s Witnesses is very simple but surely strict. It follows rules that founder Charles Russell established in middle 1800 and spread through religious magazine The Watch Tower. Continue Reading »

Today I have the pleasure to introduce you a lovely Italian couple: Marialisa and Matteo.
Their wedding was a real mid summer wedding arranged between Mountains and Lakes.
First the ceremony on Church of Madonna del Boden and then down to Stresa on Lake Maggiore shores.

Church of Madonna del Boden is located on the road leading to small village of Ornavasso (close to Verbania – Piemonte). It climbs on top of one of the most spectacular Alps mountain: Monte Massone. From Mt. Massone peak the view is gorgeous. You can see Mt. Rosa, Mt. Weissmiess, Mt. Adamello and Mt. Bernina. On South view runs over River Po Plain and on 5 lakes such as Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore. Just amazing!

Church of Madonna del Boden has been built on 500 mt of altitude right inside chestnuts woods. A fresh oasis that Marialisa and Matteo simply loved during the hot August day of their wedding. Continue Reading »

Today I am going to talk to you about Yvonne and Savino’s wedding event: she is German and he is Italian, both living in Milan, and they are among the many couples who this year have made Lake Orta their chosen venue for their special day.

The wedding ceremony was performed against the enchanting backdrop of Orta’s Sacro Monte while Yvonne and Savino chose the elegant Hotel Ristorante L’Approdo in Pettenasco.
The photographer who recorded the event was Alessandro Balossi, certainly one of the best portrait photographers on Lake Orta. The two pictures we have published here are a splendid example of his ability to capture his subjects spontaneously and naturally.

I was asked by Yvonne and Savino to be their flower designer and to take care of every aspect of the floral decoration for their wedding. The color scheme was white and lilac , certainly one of the most popular combinations over the last year. Yvonne particularly wanted a bouquet which featured these colours but which at the same time would be special and quite unique, elegant but natural.

This gave me the idea to use the flowers of the lilac Hebe, which has always been one of my own favourite flowers.
The Hebe grows wild in New Zealand but can also live quite happily in our own gardens, above all the lilac flower is one of the most delicate and natural we can find in existence. Quite perfect for the bouquet that Yvonne wanted!

Apart from the Hebe, the other lilac flowers I used for Yvonne’s bouquet were Freesia and Lysanthius, while the white flowers were Avalanche roses and the Cymbidium orchid . Continue Reading »

As we promised, Alessandro Ambrosetti photographer put on disposal full Sandra and Mirko’s wedding PHOTO GALLERY, the wedding where I worked as floral designer. In today’s post I’m pleased to show you some of the photos I just love.

I start with this wonderful shot taken inside Castello di Miasino, the venue bride and groom choose for their reception. A perfect combination of elements: bright chandelier and the big coat of arms on the wall behind loving bride and groom. This is for sure a first prize photograph! Very good Alessandro Ambrosetti!

Sandra and Mirko are a young italian-german couple who choose Lake Orta as their wedding destination. Religious ceremony was held in Orta San Giulio village inside the lovely church of Maria Assunta. Bride opted for a classical floral arrangement choosing just a main flower: big Lilyum Longiflorum with simple Aspidistra leaves and Gypsophila.

Following bride’s wishes, I created for Sandra’s bouquet: a round and compact shape using Avalanche roses without any other greenery except for Gypsophila on the basis. Just a trendy style, what brides are looking for, now. Thanks to beautiful day, after the ceremony Sandra and Mirko took a walk in tiny Orta village roads and lakeshore, the perfect frame for magic wedding pictures.

Orange was the main color for the reception to Castello di Miasino. A solar and happy color, one of the most requested for summer 2009. I created glass cubes centerpieces with floating roses and gel crystals, adding some spread orange rose petals on the tables. Continue Reading »

Did you noticed that flowers are often the main characters of wedding photographs? After bride and groom of course!!
Very often photographers love choosing little details from bouquets or centerpieces. Every professional photographer has his/her personal style. As flower designer I love seeing my creations best Lake District photographer’s shoots. Skills of these professionals add new shades and different suggestions to my creations! Today I show you some beautiful Alessandro Ambrosetti’s pictures taken to Sandra and Mirko’s wedding to Castello di Miasino on Lake Orta last May.

In the first one you see one of my classical compositions, rose cube with crystal gel. Skilled usage of flash gave to my arrangement new life! It has a great impact thanks to to soft light photographer caught.

I think that lights photographer was able to create are absolutely great! Look at the picture taken in Sala del Bertelli of Castello di Miasino: bride and groom at the table with centerpiece I created and all around just a soft and smooth atmosphere.

Third example shows the table chart from a different side.
Photographer was very inspired and was able to catch the event from another point of view which is very different and unusual. Continue Reading »

Flower designers like myself consider that flower arranging in a location can be one of the most creative moments of a wedding reception. The table centre is an essential element which often distinguishes the style of the event, as do the floral decorations for the aperitif or buffet.

Clearly, quite apart from the flowers and finger food, the ambiance is of major importance too. Your wedding reception on Lake Orta deserves the Ristorante Hotel L’Approdo at Pettenasco which offers a stunning gazebo on the lake shore, with a view over the Bagnera Gulf and the Orta promontory, with Villa Crespi’s evocative minaret standing out on the horizon.

Maria and Simone are a Hispano-Italian couple who chose the Hotel L’Approdo for their wedding reception. They decided on two large floral arrangements placed on a tall tapering glass base for the aperitif table. I wanted the most natural, free style possible on this occasion, with dominating shades of pink and white.
The finishing touch was given by the pink Gypsophila and the Godetia, a gorgeous summer flower which is not all that well known but is extremely versatile. Continue Reading »

We’ve never talked about it in all wedding color schemes we mentioned.
But now It’s its moment! Summer trend color is: Acid Green.

Acid green is a wonderful color that matches every kind of composition: from classical to very modern, from minimal to very rich ones. If you plan to use it with glass elements, it will be even more beautiful. The perfect match is: glass and acid green. Glass supports are really trendy now, they completely incorporate summer freshness. Acid green too is a frizzy and fresh color that could be the perfect choice for summer season.

If you will like to use acid green as floral color scheme, consider that there are many flowers that naturally have this shade in them. Today I would like to suggest some acid green ideas that I personally love.
First of all let me thank you Enrico Mocci photographer of ArteFotoArona. All floral pictures of in this post are taken by him and he did a wonderful job!
He is really able to catch lovely details thanks to his great wedding picture experience.

Acid Green is a lively color. It recalls open air and freshness. It is a natural color. For this reason floral compositions should be very natural. Round shapse with mass spheres are the best for 2009.
Carnation often is not considered for wedding arrangements, but I saw that in the last few years it has been more requested form couples, thanks to new qualities on market including the acid green one. Round shapes enhance its qualities.

Round shapes again in a tall glass flute. I used cream ranunculus with Ping Pong acid green daisies and classical gypsophila. I also added some blooms of Lathyrus creating an eccentric and casual effect. Continue Reading »

Right after Valentina and Diane, I would like to tell you something on Bevin and Steven’s symbolic wedding in Villa Gippini, too.
As floral designer my task was taking care about floral arrangements for this lovely event my colleague and friend Valentina organized.

I personally thank Italian Lakes Wedding wedding planner Valentina, Diego and Estella photographers and San Rocco Hotel for the stunning floral images they put on disposal.

I never met Bevin before her wedding.
All we did was dealing via email. Bevin wrote me from United States telling here wishes.
I got her back trying to advice at my best always keeping in mind her needs.

Bevin decided for a simple but elegant arrangement which was perfect for such an intimate and cosy wedding.

At the very beginning we thought that tulips were the right choice. Tulips are very seasonal in April.

At the end her big love for roses came out so we decided to go with them.

So it was all about Red Roses! Red was Bevin and Steven’s theme just like LOVE.

Red was the color of Bevin’s bouquet. I created it with Red Berlin roses. This kind of roses come with blooms. They are round shaped petals. But most of all they are deep red.

Bevin wanted a Nosegay style bouquet without any greenery where Red Berlin roses were the main character.

Red were centerpieces for the reception to Hotel San Rocco. I used Red Berlin roses too.
The shape was rounded but a littel bit wider than the bouquet. In order to obtain this effect I used acid green Alchemilla and Chamaelacium greenery. All was laid down on a base of deep green ferns.

The only different color I used was white.
I used Iceberg white roses for the four bridesmaids’ bouquets, too. I loved Bevin’s choice to create a lovely contrast between bouquets and beautiful cherry red dress.

I used it to decorate columns at Villa Gippini, too. I realized it with long festoons of Ruscus embellished Iceberg white roses and Gypsophilia. Continue Reading »

One of the most beautiful weddings I worked on was Victoria and Daniel’s one last year. Victoria herself talked about it in a post she wrote for Italian Lakes Wedding site.
It is with pleasure that I come back talking about Victoria and Daniel’s wedding just in occasion of their first anniversary. I still recall the real satisfaction I felt for that event as floral designer.
On my website www.lapiccolaselva.it you could also see Victoria and Daniel’s photo gallery realized by Felix Segovia coming from Madrid.

Victoria is an kind English girl, very nice and simple. She is literally in love with Italy and its lakes. This was the reason because she choose to organize her wedding in our lovely country. It took almost a year, traveling across all lakes to take the final decision for her destination wedding. At the end she picked up Lake Maggiore.

Religious ceremony was held in San Martino church in Lesa, a tiny village on Piemonte side of Lake Maggiore, between Stresa and Arona. San Martino church is beautiful cosy and intimate and it is just few steps from the lake.
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Villa Muggia was elected as reception venue. It was simply stunning! Villa’s park was embellished with all spring blooming that bridegroom and their guests really loved. Villa Muggia ‘s park is full of azaleas and camelias. These are all lake plants that are exceptionally beautiful in Spring.

As floral designer I would like to tell you the most importan part as far as my job is concerned of Victoria and Daniel’s wedding: floral arrangements!
From the very first meeting Victoria was really decided on her wedding theme. She wanted a solar theme that really could recall Italy.
So we choose together LEMONS as main theme of the wedding. I think Lemons could be the right element for all that Victoria was looking for!
Since the color theme was really strong, I decided to smooth it a little in order to match wedding feeling of such a wonderful day.
I suggested Victoria some pastel colors she agreed with me.I picked up Vendela roses and peonies. I love peonies they make me think about vintage style, romanticism, Belle Époque, fascinating ages and elegance.
This flower is really delicate and it has a limited blooming period: April/May until mid June. Of course nowadays we can have flowers like this in every single period of the year, but consider that ordering them out of season could be very expensive and most of all the flower itself will last for very few time. Peonies cannot stay for long time under summer sun and in just 2 hours they will be totally burned. Continue Reading »