Italian Lakes Wedding Planner

Today we are discovering one among the most ancient villas in Lake Maggiore.
It still preserves the beauty of Victorian Age: Villa Claudia dei Marchesi dal Pozzo.

Villa Claudia dei Marchesi dal Pozzo is a unique wedding venue on Lake Maggiore.
Its main features are the following:

• Breathtaking view on Lake Maggiore.
• The possibility to celebrate a legal civil ceremony in its garden overlooking the lake, side the pool or in one of the rooms of the villa itself.
• A wide park with swimming-pool. It is ideal for a lovely aperitif, dances or a relaxing after dinner.
• A elegant reception area inside the wonderful rooms of the villa or in the wonderful outdoor space lake view.
• Three amazing suites inside the villa with wide terraces for your accommodation.

In Villa Claudia dei Marchesi dal Pozzo you can really enjoy the wonderful rooms having your reception inside them in a great atmosphere but you can also opt for the garden lake view.

Villa Claudia dei Marchesi dal Pozzo is located in Belgirate a lovely little town facing Lake Maggiore few kilometers from Stresa and motor-way exit of Arona.
Thanks to its private pier you can reach the villa with a private motorboat right after a lovely boat tour for wedding pictures on the Borromeo Island and Gulf or a moving ceremony in one of the churches on the lake such as Chiesa Vecchia of Belgirate overlooking the lake or San Grato Church or San Donato curch in Brovello Carpugnino. Continue Reading »

Italian Lakes Wedding is pleased to introduce you Marta Guenzi works.
She lives in Arona and she has just joined Italian Lakes Wedding professional team that operate on Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore.

Marta Guenzi is a experienced wedding photographer. She has a very romantic and evocative style. She loves her job. She is a real up to date artist!

For the ones who are looking for a photographer that is able to tell the wedding day in a spontaneous way without any pose Marta is the right one.
She is discrete and she is not an interference in the natural flow of the events.
Her story telling is candid bride and groom won’t need to pose in front of her but just being natural!

For the bride and groom who would like to have some posed pictures Marta Guenzi will invite them for a short relaxing walk. These moments are perfect for some wedding photographs. She knows very well the area and if she does not know it she always do detailed inspection visit before the wedding day to be sure to know all about the area.
All this allow her to work in the right way, shooting very personal pictures but even creating a emotive feeling between her and her couples.

Marta Guenzi studied at the famous Photography Academy of Scala Theater in Milano.
Have a look to her gallery, you will notice how she perfectly mix photojournalism, fine art and portrait photography.
Marta Guenzi shoots the most important moments of the day always choosing a wonderful and true and perspective. Continue Reading »

Abbazia di Santo Spirito – Villa Giannone is a wedding venue different from all the others. It is a real mix of history, art, nature and all this is just few minutes from Lake Maggiore.

This wonderful mansion is located on the hills South Lake Maggiore, only 10 minutes drive from pretty town of Arona in a unique country environment. It is a green and relaxing oasis, the perfect setting for your special day!

One of the main feature of Abbazia di Santo Spirito – Villa Giannone is that it is the only venue in Piemonte and Lombardy region that has a private chapel inside the venue itself. The romantic chapel can host your legal religious ceremony but the ceremony can be held also outdoors in the lovely garden.
Your reception can be hosted in the garden too or inside the ancient armory with arches that can seat up to 180 guests.

And let’s not forget how close the Abbazia is to Milano Malpensa airport!

Once you go inside the Abbazia you will breath the atmosphere of ancient times. The building was edified in mid 1200 by Humiliated Monks who used to farm and wool weaving.

At that time the tower was built and this is the real symbol of the Abbazia. In 1200 too was also built the pretty little private church where bride and groom can celebrate their evocative and romantic wedding.

During centuries Abbazia had several owners that changed this convent in a luxury court with horses and dogs for hunting.
At the end of 1700 Abbazia was acquired by Giannone family who is still the actual owner. The Abbazia now is a wonderful venue for elegant country weddings.

Abbazia di Santo Spirito – Villa Giannone is surrounded by a wide park with secular trees and blooming areas. The venue faces a lawn where you could celebrate your outdoor religious ceremony in the nature, such an enchanting atmosphere!

At the end of the park there is a rustic portico with stone columns with scented jasmines on. It could be the perfect place for your buffet aperitif. Over here you can also arrange lovely garden furniture or even tables and chars for your outdoor wedding meal. Continue Reading »

We have the pleasure to introduce you LMW planners team.
They are group of experts on Lake Maggiore that starting from this week will collaborate with Italian Lakes Wedding Team and be part of the list of our authors who write on our blog: number 1 wedding blogs in Italy.

LMW Planners team will write for your some posts on Lake Maggiore.
Some of the best wedding photographers collaborate with LMW Planners team such as Davide Caravaggio of Pallanza who is the author of this opening post – in home page also on Lake Maggiore Wedding. There is also Piero Gatti of Baveno and Enrico Mocci of Arona.

Lake Maggiore Wedding will collaborate also with a long list of photographers coming from every part of Italy: from Estella & Diego – PHOTO27.COM (Milan) to Simone Mottura – Blanco Y Negro (Torino) and do not forget about Carlo Conti – Reportage per gli Sposi (Milan) and last but not least Raffaello Mazzoleni (member of WPJA – Wedding Photojournalis Association).
Amazing images on Lake Maggiore has been taken by best Italian Wedding Photographers will be the best part of LMW Planners Team’s posts. Continue Reading »

From today we would like to start a new section of our blog: Wedding Countdown.
We will tell you some things about our bride and groom before their actual wedding , some pictures and stories about their engagement and life before the big day!
We will start with Lina and Borja.

Their countdown started more than 1 year ago when they contacted us to plan their wedding on Lake Maggiore.
Today there are just 5 days to go, they will get married on July 17.
Lina is Chinese heritage but she was born and she grew up in Verbania – Lake Maggiore. Borja was born in Spain and he has lived for many years in Milan.

They first met 5 years ago. Lina was in her last year high school and Borja was a student to University for Telecommunication Engineering in Milan. Continue Reading »

Among all past Autumn weddings Chiara and Stefano’s wedding was one of my favorites. Bride and Groom were very nice and they choose a wonderful location for their wedding… but most of all Chiara’s dress was simply amazing.

As floral designer I really appreciated bride’s approach towards me. Even if she gave me precise information on her color scheme, she totally trusted me giving me wide freedom on style and shapes for her floral arrangement. This gave me the opportunity to express myself without being to tight on fixed schemes. I believe that for a floral designer is could be the best way to create and express her skills.

Chiara and Stefano’s big day was arranged on Lake Maggiore. Photographers Manuele and Laurence of Studio Foto Benaglia followed the days with their pictures. The followed the group from the early hours of the day until very late at night. This great italian-french couple of photographer realized a lovely natural and spontaneous reportage service taking every single detail of the day. Have a look to the nice Photo Gallery on Chiara and Stefano’s wedding relized by Foto Benaglia.

From Veneto to Piemonte region: Chiara and Stefano reached Lake Maggiore from Treviso in Veneto region, just like at least half of their guests. Chiara was born in Arona and her heart was set here and Stefano fell in love with this lovely town too. So they opted for Lake Maggiore for their destination wedding. All guests loved this choice they did not know how beautiful could be our magic lake.

Chiara choose red for her wedding theme color. Deep red for flowers, invitations, and wedding shoes. Cherry red for a fantastic organza roses fall on her wedding dress. A very original dress for sure! Chiara designed it and she could realize it thanks to the help of Rosanna, the owner of a little atelier in Feltre on foot of Belluno Dolomites.
The shoulder cover, bustier and part of the skirt were mad of laces with plisse’ tulle. Main feature was roses fall in cherry red that started from waist point to create a little train.
Simply wonderful!

Groom opted for a tailor made suit, too. He was surely elegant and handsome.

Chaira and Stefano got married on October 10 on a wonderful warm day similar to summer time. Religious ceremony was held in Santi Martiri Church in Arona, also known as San Graziano church. Church is located in highest part of the town and has a baroque facade and Gothic nave inside. One of the most beautiful detail is the lovely staircase that from San Graziano square leads to church’s entrance.

Floral arrangement was really detailed. On side of aisle red carpet I placed a series of balloon shaped Buxus enriched with red roses and white Gerberas. I also added scattered rose petals on the floor and little bouquets on the pews.

On white marble balusters I created different height arrangements, just in the middle between ancient and modern style. On a white Gerberas and Monstera leaves base I placed Passion Roses on different levels and on side of them I added some Bear Grass. Continue Reading »

Lake Maggiore area is a wonderful area with many different characteristics. It is surely known all over the world for Borromeo Gulf scenery and pretty villages on the coast.
If you are planning your wedding on Lake Maggiore why don’t you take in consideration another opportunity… A country wedding.
We are pleased to give you some ideas. A monk ancient abbey close to Arona, Massino Visconti Castle, a medieval fortress on Stresa hills with amazing view on the lake, an agritourism on Monterosso, or even Verbania mountains with horses ranch and typical production of sausages, cheeses and a 360 view on the lake.

Today we would like to tell you about a place a little far from here. Going up on Lake Maggiore towards Switzerland, passing wonderful coastal towns of Ascona and Locarno you can reach to extreme North Lake town of Bellinzona is.
This is the country wedding destination on the lake we would like to tell you about.

Raffaello Mazzoleni photographer was there for Italian Lakes Wedding Team. He gave us the entire footage in few days, quick as he usually does.

Even if Raffaello Mazzoleni is a WPJA member, sometimes he also loves taking posed photos when couples ask for them. This service is the right combination between reportage style and a classical wedding service.

Natascia and Paolo are the main characters of the event. They celebrated their civil ceremony to Bisca town hall and arranged their reception to follow in the wonderful scenery of Castles of Bellinzona, in Canton Ticino.

Castles of Bellinsona are divided in three fortress.
First one is closer to Castelgrande town and it has two towers Torre Bianca (WhiteTower) and Torre Nera (Black Tower) On highest hill there is Castle of Montebello. Most of the pictures Raffaello took show this lovely spot. The biggest castle is Castle of Sasso Corbaro that overlooks all the others. It was built by Duke of Milan in 1479. View here is wonderful and it embraces entire Lake Maggiore area.
Natascia and Paolo choose the restaurant inside the lovely castle for their wedding reception. Buffet reception was held under vines pergolas in the courtyard of the castle itself. Food was very good and 4 heart shaped cakes were just delicious. Bellinzona wines are very special!
Right coast of Canton Ticino is exposed to sun rays and this makes grape production very easy. Among the most famous wines of the area we remember Red Merlot DOC of Ticino and White Chardonnaly Doc of Ticino.

Bellinzona Castles are a sort of barrier between Alps and Lake Maggiore. Duke of Milan decided to build this complex during 1400 to contrast Swiss troups invading the territory. They still have high walls, towers and battlements and they still represent a good testimony of medieval architecture on Alps. In year 2000 the entire area has been declared World Umanity Patrimony by Unesco.

Raffaello Mazzoleni was able to capture in his pictures the dramatic atmosphere of the area: castle, cloulds, sky, cliffs and green all around. 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 »

Arriving from Malpensa airport the first important ancient palace we meet is Villa Giannone, the so-called Abbazia di Santo Spirito. It is located few minutes’ drive from Malpensa airport in the small village of Comignago, in Piemonte.

Abbazia di Santo Spirito was built in 1282 by monks, it was a convent and it maintained its ancient appeal during centuries: internal courtyard has a high tower bell of the close little church in which you can celebrate your religious ceremony. The villa right is in a wonderful Italian style garden with flowers, roses arches embellished by secular trees: the perfect scenario for a country wedding, just few minutes from Lake Maggiore!

Driving across Arona and going up on Piemonte’s side of Lake Maggiore you will reach Stresa, the most important touristy destination of the entire lake. For the ones who want to experience the luxury of ancients villas, Villa Muggia in Stresa is the right address!

First owner was George Von Siemens, after him was the turn of Muggia family and actual owner is important Toso family from Torino. Beautiful rooms inside the villa match perfectly with the wonderful park: scented flowers, magnolias, cone pines, and bronze statues made by Domenico Colanzi, not to forget the stunning fountain!

Rooms and suites furniture is real antique. Some pieces were owned by Napoleon and there are wonderful and precious carpets, pictures, curtains and Murano glass chandeliers. You will also find Venetian mirrors, silvers and crystals and even a 1700 cart! Villa Muggia can be the perfect venue for a wedding inside the charming rooms or even in the wonderful park under a precious marquee with stunning view on the Lake. Continue Reading »

Lake Maggiore is one of the most famous touristy destination in Northern Italy. It hosts rich and scenographic villas. On Piemonte’s side of the Lake, starting from lake shore up to the hills before Mt Mottarone you will have the occasion to admire wonderful parks and amazing villas with their porches, balconies, terraces, galleries, staircases, towers and belvederes. Some of those are now open and transformed in luxury venues for weddings, meetings, congresses, fashion and company events… It is not by chance! Continue Reading »

The photographer Enrico Mocci of ArteFotoArona Studio, with offices in Arona and Orta San Giulio, is one of the professional more active in Lake Maggiore and Orta area: in these days he’s presenting his new Photo Gallery, a fantastic collection including around 70 images showing the best wedding photography services realized by Enrico Mocci during the whole 2008.
This portfolio represents the technical competence and the style that have always distinguished Enrico Mocci’s works: a style modern and creative, sometimes romantic and rich of nuances that represents a perfect fusion between the portrait and reportage style.
Enrico Mocci’s shots also impress the beautiful scenery of Piemonte lakes, from Orta San Giulio to Stresa and Verbania Pallanza. The pictures showing the interiors were realized in very famous wedding venues like San Rocco Hotel, Villa Crespi, Villa Bossi and Miasino Castle.

Many couples in Italy like something different than the traditional posed style of photography. They prefer a more natural approach to their wedding photography to show the fun and enjoyment of their wedding day with their families and friends in the Italian Lakes District.
There are many stories and vignettes at a wedding: the bride getting ready, ring bearer being coaxed to walk up the aisle, the bride’s mother watching the father-daughter dance. Moments like these, when photographed without posing, are Wedding Photojournalism or Wedding Reportage Photography.

So what is reportage wedding photography or wedding photojournalism? It is a way of photographing a wedding without setting up any of the photographs. The wedding photojournalist usually arrives well before the bride is dressed and stays until they take last photo of the bride and groom leaving the reception.
The photographer stays in the background and photographs events as they happen without any prompting. The advantage of reportage photography for the couple is they can spend more time with their wedding guests. This style of photography shows the atmosphere of the wedding and is non intrusive. The photographs are taken in a mixture of black & white and colour, telling the story of the day as it unfolds.
The Italian Wedding Photojournalist Raffaello Mazzoleni offer this method of photography for your celebration day in Italy. Continue Reading »