Italian Lakes Wedding Blog - Destination Weddings Italy

As a wedding coordinator I travel a lot in Piemonte organizing events: Langhe, Monferrato, Olympic valleys near Sestriere, up to Stresa and Pallanza on Lake Maggiore.
Every single place has a special appeal but nowhere is like enchanting Lake Orta to me. Planning a wedding in Orta San Giulio is always a magic emotion…

This was also in for Luisa and Massimiliano’s wedding.
A Saturday in the beginning of this summer. The day begins with a shady sun that soon turns in a wonderful, sunny and warm day. Just like Luisa wished.
Luisa and I have worked together for months, just one close to the other to plan her wedding in every single detail. Continue Reading »

If you are wishing an Italian Wedding with a religious ceremony, the area between Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore is just perfect. This area is very rich in churches and sanctuaries located in panoramic setting such as Sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso, Sanctuary of Madonna della Bocciola, or in medieval village as Maria Assunta church in Orta San Giulio or St.Rocco church in Corconio. There are even some churches in the wild nature such as Madonna di Luzzara church or Oratorio di St. Sebastiano in Lesa, just near Stresa.
Some others are monastery just on the lake as Eremo of St.Caterina del Sasso on Lombardy shore of Lake Maggiore or monk’s convent of Mesma Sacred Mountain.
Among the most magical spots for a religious wedding we cannot forget about Sacred Mountains built between XVI and XVII centuries. These religious buildings have a deep symbolic and cultural meaning and they are simply beautiful. They are perfectly integrated in a natural landscape made of woods, hills and lakes. These places have a high artistic value for their statues and chapels some are also part of UNESCO heritage.
In Italy there are 9 sacred mountains spread all over between Piemonte and Lombardy. Among those, the ones situated on Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore are the most fascinating and strongly recommended from Italian Lakes Wedding for your religious wedding in Italy.
These are Sacro Monte of SS Trinity’of Ghiffa, and Sacred Mountain of Orta San Giulio, two sacred complexes characterized from the perfect fusion between surrounding landscape: wood, architecture, lake view are the elements that make unique this settings just perfect for a wedding on the lakes.

We would recommend that you ask a few simple questions before taking the time to visit the venue and let alone book it!

1. Where is the venue located?
   The venue must be situated in a convenient position, not too far away from the church that you have chosen for the ceremony or too far away from the airport where all your guests will be landing. Make sure it’s not up a steep hill, difficult to reach for those who are not so athletic or those who are carrying babies.
   If you are keen on a remote location, make sure it can accommodate all your guests for the night of the wedding (or that there is an alternative option nearby) so that they won’t have to travel far after the party.
2. Are you allowed to play music and dance until late?
   Find out whether there are any restrictions with regards to playing music and dancing. Some Villas have rooms full of antiques and the owners won’t let you dance inside and some others are located in residential areas where music cannot be played after a certain time.
3. Will the venue be at your exclusive disposal?
   If you are looking for privacy and fancy a unique event, do make sure that the Villa offers exclusive hire and that nobody else will be allowed access to the premises during your stay and especially during the event. Continue Reading »

It is my pleasure to introduce the newest member of the Italian Lakes Wedding team: Giovanna Benati of Poker d’Eventi, a wedding planner agency based in Verona, Italy.
I recently spoke with Giovanna about Poker d’Eventi and how the company can help you plan a destination wedding on lake Garda.

• Giovanna, could you tell me something about yourself and how you became involved in wedding planning?
  After working for many years in the organisation of events for large companies and often in extremely formal situations, a close friend of mine called me to give her a hand with the organisation of her own wedding.
  Time was short (as is always the case with large companies and big events and conferences) and I helped in making the wedding a fantastic experience for everybody.
  I have to say that what made this experience unforgettable for me was to see my friend so relaxed and free to enjoy the day, leaving everything in my hands. She even allowed me to be as creative as I wanted and that is how the passion for this work was born.
• What is your favourite part about event planning?
  I think the most exciting moment is when I present my ideas and plans to the couple. Their faces light up at being able to imagine their wedding and they can finally begin to get excited about the day.
• Where are your top three picks to have a destination wedding in lake Garda?
  Lake Garda offers so many options for the creation of a wedding that I really wouldn’t know how to choose. I like to give couples the chance (if possible) to see some of the lake and a few of the locations that I have selected before coming up with final choices. If I were to get married again however I’d love a wedding on water, an event on a boat.
• Is it difficult for non-residents to get married in lake Garda? What are the requirements?
  No it really isn’t a problem in my experience, the people at the town hall actually seem happy to help in the completion of documents etc. Obviously each case needs to be looked at separately and documents also need to be prepared in the country of origin, but we calculate the time for all paper work in the organisation.
• After the wedding, what nearby romantic places might couples want to visit?
  After travelling so far, many couples see Venice (and a trip on a gondola) as a stone throw away, Florence is a popular stop over and of course Verona with Juliet’s balcony and the Arena Opera House is a must but I think the most romantic and enchanting place is ‘Castel San Pietro’ where the most breath taking view of Verona from above can be experienced.
• Do you have any advice for folks who’d like to get married in lake Garda?
  Plan ahead. Garda and the various locations suitable for such an event are becoming more and more popular so we need to book in advance. With enough time we really have no limits as to what can be achieved.

Continue Reading »

A good photographer is of major importance both during and after your event; you should choose it carefully to avoid any disappointment.
You would want someone that can relax you while shooting and can establish a good connection with your guests to make sure that they enjoy being photographed and look natural in the pictures.

Listed below are a few tips that might help you shortlist the most talented ones:

• Bored with the usual cheesy shots? Search beyond wedding photographers if you are looking for cool and stylish images. Many fashion and lifestyle photographers can normally be hired for important events as well…and what is more important than your special day? Fashion photographers are great when it comes to portraits of you getting ready and walking around in your gorgeous wedding gown…lifestyle ones are ideal for parties and their pictures are bound to reflect the magic atmosphere of your reception!
• Do not splash on decoration while saving on a photographer by trusting the ability of friends and family (unless they are professionals). The photos are the only lasting memories of your day, you will be sharing them with your children and grandchildren in the years to come and you just want them to be perfect. Top photographers do charge a lot for a reason…years and years of experience that provided them with a great eye and the ability to play with the light.
• Search the Internet to come up with an initial list of names, look at their websites and pick the ones that grab your attention. Contact them, ask them to send you their portfolio and prices but most importantly meet them in person to test the chemistry you have with them.

Continue Reading »

I recently met Valentina Lombardi of SposiamoVi Group and had a wonderful chat about the wedding events industry in the Italian Lakes area, and learned a bit about Wedding Planning.

Having a Wedding Planner can do wonders for your wedding! For the busy couple that doesn’t have the time, or needs to travel a lot, a wedding coordinator can provide a sense of security and ease.

Wedding planners are professionals at making your special day memorable and stress free. They know the ins and the outs of planning a wedding!

Check out Valentina’s interview: Valentina is truly wonderful, and she gives us a lot of insight into her wonderful job!

• Valentina, what made you decide to become a wedding planner and how did you become one?
  I decided to be a wedding planner a lot of time ago.
  I’ve worked as event planner in a US software company for years.
  My creativity wasn’t satisfied so I decided to make my dreams come true, I met my Genova colleagues Cinzia and Alice and everything started…

 

 

• What do you like about your job?
  I love helping couples to build their own event following their style and passions.
  Working together with them to build the perfect day!
• How would you describe your working style?
  I try to interpreter couple tastes in order to suggest them the best solutions for them.
  I really do not want to force them into a decision…I’d rather prefer to be a consultant for them.
• What’s your idea of an excellent/lovely marriage proposal?
  Getting married on Lake Orta…. the perfect venue for a perfect day. Cozy, romantic and charming as Italy can be!
• Favorite thing to do outside event planning?
  I really do love Disney and 50s musical movies, swing music, shopping, discovery channel, traveling or relaxing with my family and I used to sing in a band….

Continue Reading »

The golden rule of wedding planning is to plan an event that you can afford. Always shop around for good prices and great ideas…you can host a fabulous event without necessarily splashing a fortune!

Always start with the season and work that into the day. Fresh seasonal fruit and flowers will always offer the best value for money and superb quality. You may want to choose wedding colours that match the flowers and a wedding menu appropriate for the season. If it’s cold you will want a hearty meal whereas with hot weather you should opt for a lighter and fresher selection.

Really study your location and work with it. Make sure that the style of the wedding fits in perfectly with the venue and that you enhance the beauty of the latter with the right decoration. Look at the colors of the wall coverings, the fabrics and the soft furnishing and complement what is already there.

It doesn’t really matter what style you choose for your event as long as it reflects your personality. Do not re-create a very formal atmosphere if you are more of an easygoing person and vice versa.

The secret to create a WOW effect is consistency…the theme, the colours, the decoration need to be the same throughout the whole event in order to create a link between each moment of the party (the celebration in the church or registry office, the dinner, the dancing, etc).