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 .
I also used the same colours as Yvonne’s bouquet for the gentlemen’s buttonholes, white roses and lilac Lysanthius.

The floral arrangiaments in the Sacro Monte at Orta, were Yvonne’s choice of large Lilium Longiflorum, which I find are particularly fine in this church. Notice two arrangements I created for the two sides of the main aisle leading to the altar: two stylised vertical arrangements Lilium Longiflorum with a large lilac ribbon. A simple solution which is most effective… and above all quite economical!

The bride and groom’s car also features the same theme developed for the church with Lilium Longiflorum, greenery and lilac ribbon: in this case a long festoon transversally covers the whole bonnet of the car.

After the ceremony, the party went on at the Hotel L’Approdo in Pettenasco: elegant cuisine, a superb position on the lake shore and value for money are the keys to success at this prestigious location run by the Primatesta Family, historical leaders in the hospitality industry on Lake Orta.

The wedding reception is held in the elegant spacious Calle Room at the Hotel L’Approdo: you will see that the table centres and fancy sweet boxes have the same color scheme chosen by Yvonne and Savino, white and lilac.

Something special the Hotel Ristorante L’Approdo does is to offer the bride and groom a trip on the private motorboat to the island of San Giulio, a unique opportunity to admire Orta San Giulio and take some wonderful wedding shots!

The Hotel L’Approdo and the florists La Piccola Selva wish to thank Alessandro Balossi for having allowed us to use the pictures of the wedding and our best wishes for a life happiness to the bride and groom, Yvonne and Savino!

Monika Andenmatten is La Piccola Selva’s floral designer.
Based in lake Orta, has worked with brides for over 20 years to create floral arrangements for weddings in the Italian Lakes district.

For more information about wedding flower arrangements on Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore please contact us.

I would like to thank the Koiné String Quartet for the wonderful music at our wedding ceremony. Booking the musicians and picking out the music was all very simple on the web site and the musicians were happy to try and accommodate some of our music selections that were not on the extensive list of music offered on the site.
On the day everything worked out perfectly and the music really added to the whole ceremony particularly while the guests were arriving and mingling afterwards. Thanks again!

As floral designer I’m always looking for interesting and creative solutions but this always depends on bridegrooms choices!
To give you an example Rossella and Giorgio’s wedding was a great occasion to work on a charming theme to me: autumn colors.
Rossella and Giorgio got married last Saturday in Orta San Giulio, lake Orta. A simple ceremony at Villa Bossi followed by a nice reception in wonderful atmosphere of Palazzo Penotti Ubertini.
Bridegroom’s wishe was having a color scheme that could reflect intense Autumn colors with some elements recalling this romantic season that lots of poets love.
As far as the floral arrangements, bouquet and ceremony table arrangement were concerned I opted for a strong contrast between chocolate brown and purple smoothen by soft shades.
I used Black Baccara rose, Leucodendron with Hypericum berries, dry Hydrangea and Gypsum leaves.
On tables at Palazzo Penotti Ubertini I completed the arrangements with rose petals, pine cones and chestnuts.
You can see the final result above. I really hope you like it too!

Together with Castello dal Pozzo, Villa San Remigio is today one of the best destination to celebrate a civil wedding on lake Maggiore.

Villa San Remigio is located on the top of Colle della Castagnola, near Verbania Pallanza and overlooks Lake Maggiore. Its garden was studied and realized from a young couple of lovers. It has a romantic and interesting story.
Musician and poet Marquis Silvio della Valle di Casanova and passionate painter Sophie Browne, after their wedding in 1896 decided to realize their dream, transforming into a villa an old grandparents’ chalet. They renewed the park that became their lover refuge.
After more than 100 years Sophie and Silvio’s dream this wonderful villa is now on the disposal of bridegrooms who want to crown their big day.
Just a touch of continuity and good fortune.
An informal part, a garden and a wood with Mediterranean plants compose the park. They are all inspired by romantic mood of young lovers.
Thirty gardeners worked to build the park during 1910 and 1916 to model the hill, obtaining a great result!
Sophie and Silvio completed their eight hectares garden in 1916 end right after that they opened it to visitors.
They were opened to fixed hours and the entrance was given as charity.
Public opening lasted in 1929.
Villa San Remigio has an articulated structure.
You can have access to the central body from both entrances through internal stairs.
One of the most important rooms is La Sala della Musica (Music Room) with a big piano where usually are held civil celebrations.
Surrounding main room you will find the gothic little room and the humanistic study.
Antique furniture is stunning and precious: doors, frames, fireplaces, and wooden ceilings.
Its Lombardy Baroque façade has beautiful and huge artworks.

At Villa San Remigio sides you will find a balcony from where you will appreciate an amazing view on the Lake. Under the balcony there is a rock gallery used also as Winter garden. This is for sure on the most stunning and evocative part of the entire garden, used also for wonderful wedding photos. Please browse through the Villa San Remigio Photo Gallery.
This villa is now owned by Regione Piemonte and it is of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province headquarter.
During spring and summer weekends gardens are opened to visitors with a single entrance at 10.00 am for a total guided tour of 2 hours.
In order to celebrate a civil bending in the villa you have to book previously.
In this case park and rooms will be on disposal and Mayor of Verbania will be the officer of the celebration.

Lake Orta has always been one of the best destination for bridegrooms coming from all over the world. But not only!

Often is the trait d’union between different culture, very far from each other.
This is the case of Cristina and Derek. She comes from Genova and he is from Scotland.
A long love story and then the decision to getting married. Considering the wonderful places they both come from it is not easy making a decision. Portofino, Five Lands, Porto Venere or even some legendary castle in green Scottish country side.
What a difficult choice! And here it comes Lake Orta. They immediately fell in love with it. The perfect destination for their wedding.

Considering the distance it was not easy organizing all the event: ceremony, reception, flowers, music, invitation, guests coordination coming from Scotland and Ligura.
They decided to hire a wedding planner specialized in Lake Orta area. Their natural choice went on Valentina Lombardi from SposiamoVi – Torino. Valentina is a wedding planner with long experience on Lake Orta and she works with skillful professionals on the territory.

The photographer is Raffaello Mazzoleni who is the author of beautiful photojournalistic pictures that you can see in the SCOTTISH WEDDING PHOTO GALLERY for Cristina and Derek.

Floral arrangements are from La Piccola Selva thanks to the fantasy and creativity of floral designer Monika Andenmatten. La Piccola Selva has been leader for more than 20 years in floral arrangements and bridal bouquet creation for churches and best venues on Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore.
Cristina and Derek for their reception venue decided for Hotel San Rocco in Orta San Giulio.

After almost an year of planning here is the wedding day. It is a hot day of the end of August. Everything is planned in every single detail. Theme for wedding is a good combination between Italian culture and Scottish one.
Scotland is everywhere, beginning with pipe sound that is the perfect background of the party, and then color of flowers and most of all Derek and his brother’s family kilt.
This is the traditional Scottish suit for ceremonies; it is a heavy wool skirt in tartan fabric with a unique design of fabric coming from Scotland Highlands with the sporran a little leather bag used for carrying money and whiskey!

Civil ceremony is held at Villa Bossi, town hall of Orta San Giulio.
Bride arrival with rowing boat is very charming with solemn pipe sound in background.
Pipe and its player is the main actor of the delightful little walk that newly weds and their guests had up to Orta Main Square. It will follow Cristina and Derek also during their trip on motorboat on the lake.
Cristina and Derek will also dance on pipe sound for their first touching dance a Gay Gordon.

Just as in any traditional wedding theme planning, you need to look at each aspect of your bridal plans and decide how and what cultural traditions could be included. From colors to bridal attire to accent decorations, there’s much to choose from.

Hotel San Rocco served a gourmand lunch with perfect service.
Every table is enriched with a whiskey bottle, one for each region of Scotland, from Northen Highlands up to Islay Island.

The day after for bride and groom and their guests was still party time!
Every one was invited on a boat trip to watch the fireworks in Omegna at the World Championship of Fireworks.
The finest part of the shoe is the famous “fire falls”, a real lightful fall that cross the lake from side to side of Omegna bay.
A real sparkling closing just like Cristina and Derek’s wedding!

The Sacro Monte della SS. Trinità di Ghiffa is located on Piemonte’s shore of Lake Maggiore very close to Verbania Pallanza. It is reachable from the lakeshore road that coasts the Lake aside of villas and parks.

Ghiffa is a touristy and wellness village on a small promontory and characterized by an all year warm weather. Ghiffa and its Sacro Monte with quiet Lake Maggiore and charming mountains near Verbania offer a harmonic combination of nature and culture that make those places the perfect frame for your wedding on Lake Maggiore.

The Sacro Monte of Ghiffa is a baroque monumental complex that includes churches, porches, frescoes and chapels at 360 metres on sea level with stunning view on a wide part of Lake and hills.
This place is a Natural Reserve too. It is located at foot of Cargiago Mt.
The park is 200 hectares. It has many little roads with its tiny stone made walls and votive chapels.
The Sacro Monte of Ghiffa includes 3 main chapels voted to bible characters and 2 other chapels and Via Crucis porch. This place was very popular and seems it should have been a wider project representing episodes from old and new testament, but unfortunately its was never brought to end.

Wedding ceremonies are celebrated in the main church, the Sanctuary of SS Trinity.
It was built between 1605 and 1617 on an ancient medieval building. The church can host about 80 people and can be decorated with stunning flower arrangements especially on external columns, on tiny altar and on the inner balcony.
At the end of the ceremony bridegrooms can have their beautiful wedding pictures appreciating the mystic scenery of the Sacro Monte and unforgettable views over Lake Maggiore far below. Near the church there is a tiny restaurant with wide parking area for bridegrooms and their guests.

Attention: UPDATE July 2011
Hotel Restaurant Villa Crespi IS NOT ASSOCIATED to Italian Lakes Wedding Team anymore because of their new policy on weddings.

As alternative to Hotel Restaurant Villa Crespi you can find on these pages the best venues, villas, restaurants and hotels recommended by Italian Lakes Wedding.

Villa Crespi is located in Orta San Giulio, on lake Orta one of the most fascinating Lakes of Piemonte.

This home was built by the end of 1800 from Beniamino Crespi, a rich Italian business man charmed by Baghdad appeal. It took 12 years to build this wonderful building and for its handcrafts he decided to use the most precious materials. Green marbled came from Polcevera, red one from Levanto, he wanted Sicily jaspers, Swedish, Spanish and French marbles. As for stuccoes he wished for handmade embossed copper moulds. There were stalls for horses, a greenhouse, a dock a big wall with wonderful iron gates and a 48 meters minaret; all this was surrounded by terraced gardens toward the Lake.

After more than 100 years, after hosting princesses and queens, Villa Crespi is now an luxury hotel. Bridegrooms coming from all over the world simply love it. They choose it for an exclusive ceremony, a special wedding, a different reception, an important party or just for an unforgettable dinner.

A suggestion for all the brides that dream of a unique and really different wedding: why don’t you opt for an ethnic theme wedding?
It is one of the most wanted trends of the moment!
Villa Crespi thanks to its memorable Moresque atmosphere will be the perfect fairy tale scenario for your precious Ethnic Wedding.

Turning your attention toward an ethnic wedding theme is a wonderful way to personalize your wedding day. Why not be different and use the customs and traditions of your own or a different culture?
Your wedding guests will also appreciate experiencing some other wonderful cultural traditions.

Just as in any traditional wedding theme planning, you need to look at each aspect of your bridal plans and decide how and what cultural traditions could be included. From colors to bridal attire to accent decorations, there’s much to choose from.

In most cases, you can interject certain colours into your colour scheme for example if you are planning an Oriental wedding you could include reds and yellows, perhaps. However, don’t go overboard with this or your decorations could become garish and tacky. Accents of colours work best.
As far as wedding favours are concerned just give a look to ethnic house decorations that you might have, to provide you with some inspiration.

Most important are ethnic wedding decorations!
Try to choose wedding flowers and arrangements such as Orchids, Lotus blossoms, Waxflowers and South Africa’s Proteas…
Use decorating accents and props strategically to help bring the “feel” of the theme to your guests. For example fringed table runners in deep colours would surely enhance an Arab or East-Indian theme.
Some other ideas to add a touch of ethnic to your wedding could be hire a musician for the ceremony to play a traditional musical instrument and maybe play some of this type of music during key parts of your reception.

The above should help you with generating some of your own ideas on what you can use for your ethnic wedding theme. Moreover one of our coordinators would be pleased to help you finding some more on what you can do to highlight your ethnic background at your wedding.

Among the reasons that determined this new trend there: second weddings, that can be celebrated only at the town hall, the open-mindedness and swiftness of this kind of bending and also the increasing number of Destination Weddings.

Many think that civil weddings are less expensive and less formal than one celebrated in the church. But for sure it is not less important!
It is definitely a very important a sacred celebration equivalent to swear in a court. In fact Italian Law wants two witnesses present to the ceremony to be a guaranty, with their sign, of the absolute legitimacy of the bending that will bond between bride and groom.

In effect, civil ceremony is a celebration that has to be done in perfect agreement with Italian Laws instead of religious ones.
Civil bendings can be celebrated by mayors, or delegates and has to be done in authorized venues such as Town Halls, but also Villas, Castles, Hotels or even Garden, but all those places have to be authorized.

Your civil bending could be enriched by the beauty of many Town Halls, unforgettable villages, sinuous hills and hospitality of the ones who host bridegrooms for the celebration at the Town Hall.
For the couples that wish to celebrate their wedding on Lake Orta or Lake Maggiore, civil bending is available in almost every town: Stresa, Orta San Giulio, Verbania, Arona, Oleggio Castello, Baveno, Cannero Riviera, Laveno, Luino, Angera and Mergozzo. For a real fairy tale wedding the most wanted venues are Villa Bossi, Castello Dal Pozzo and Villa San Remigio.

Villa Bossi is in the ancient village of Orta San Giulio just on the lakeshore and in front of St. Julius Island.
In Villa Bossi, Orta San Giulio Town Hall gives couples coming from all over the world, to say “YES” living a charming atmosphere that only this village offers.
The most wanted way to reach the town hall is by boat for sure! You will be accompanied by the soft sound of the waters and from the magnificent façades of villas that provide a unique frame for your big day.
An idyllic scenario that you will remember forever. Many tourists come here once they just fall in love with the place and decide to come again to celebrate their civil bending.

Castello Dal Pozzo is in Oleggio Castello, in a strategic position between Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta. There are many reason to choose this solution for a civil bending. It is right into a secular park, the castle is a real English-style venue from gardens to furniture, fro the little lake to the family chapel in Tudor style.
Moreover the castle allows their guests to appreciate a spectacular panorama on Lake Maggiore and use the wonderful rooms to organize the wedding reception.
Civil celebrations at Castello Dal Pozzo are held in the ancient family library, an elegantly furnished room with precious ceiling and documents.
Castello dal Pozzo is the perfect venue to live just like in a fairy tale, just like in a dream.

The third most important venue for a beautiful civil bending in Lake District is surely Villa San Remigio in Verbania Pallanza.
It is right into the green area of Castagnola hill, by famous Botanic Gardens of Villa Taranto. Villa San Remigio is a magical place that will add a touch of emotion to an unforgettable day.
In Villa San Remigio civil bendings are celebrated in the Sala della Musica (Music room) among frescoes, antique furniture a grand fireplace and a stunning piano.

Italian Lakes Wedding can help you arrange all types of weddings: a valid civil wedding, religious wedding, catholic or protestant, symbolic or orthodox ceremonies or a simple blessing.
There are necessary papers to be drawn up and presented to the local authorities.
These documents vary according to the type of ceremony and the nationalities of the bride and groom.
Italian Lakes Wedding has long experience in working with these documents and can guide you smoothly through the process.
For more information please contact us.

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….

• When you travel, what is one thing you can’t live without?
  Almost everything….I have always heavy luggage!
  Mostly, a Camilleri’s book, the I-pod and cosmetics.
• What is your idea of a unique romantic destination?
  Lake Orta for sure and a charming Winter Wedding on the top of Alps.
• SposiamoVi has been around for a few years, care to fill us in on a few of the trying obstacles you faced in the beginning stages?
  Most of all the diffidence of some Italian companies to understand this new job.
  But I think that now is pretty much better!
• Reasons why prospective clients should choose SposiamoVi first and foremost?
  SposiamoVi provide to clients high standards level professionals, stress relief and a professional competence that help you to organize your best day at the top.
• Lake Orta has been ranked as being one of the best Wedding & Honeymoon destinations in the Italian Lakes area, numerous times I believe…what would you attribute to Lake Orta’s success?
  It is just as people coming from abroad imagine Italy. Romantic, charming, cozy, antique, poetic and….so Italian!
• Any tips or advice to a soon to be bride?
  Just be herself and choose what she prefer without being influenced to other people but just deciding with her partner what they will love best!
• More grooms appear to be getting involved in the planning process. What do you think of this trend?
  It really seems that men are more involved in wedding planning. This is a good news! Maybe it is because they need to be involved or because they pay more attention to style and trends now….or just because they love building this big event with their brides. Anyway it is a very good news!
• What is your most memorable wedding event / bridal couple that you will never forget?
  I think I will never forget any of my bridegrooms. In their differences they will stay all in my memories. Planning such an event creates a sort of special relationship between bridegrooms and me and I’m pleased to have built those.
  So I really do not want to say I will remember best him or her….I will just keep in my mind every single event….At least I will try to!
• Is being a wedding planner very stressful?
  Yes it is! But it is also a real satisfaction!! I think is one of the few jobs where clients say “thank you”…and they really mean it!
• Is there a primary difference in planning for an Italian couple as opposed to say a US or UK/Ireland couple?
  Yes there is. Foreign couples are used to hire a consultant for every kind of service…while in Italy people don’t really understand the meaning of this job. We are a step beyond other countries. Commonly Italian people hire a wedding planner if they don’t have time to plan the event…while people coming from abroad, side of time saving, hire professionals to have good advice and they really trust the professionalism.
• Finally, what do you enjoy most about working with a bride and groom to plan their wedding?
  I love building together the event. I like studying together the best solution for make bridegrooms dreams come true and seeing in their eyes their excitement about that, looking forward for the date to come!

Thanks Valentina and good luck with all of your future projects!

• What do you think about the new trendy Winter Wedding?
  I think that is a pleasant solution for bridegrooms that want an emotional wedding.
  Winter light is smooth deeply emotional full of intimate suggestions.
  Every decoration can be studied in every single detail and there are much more availability of venues and creative assistance.
• Can you explain us your Fall/Winter collection? It is sophisticated and very feminine…
  I wished realizing a gown collection that would be smooth and light with embroideries that gently lay on wiggly fabrics. The true innovative issue is on accessories, the real central characters of the collection. There are many new proposals: organza matching boleros with ruches and voile or georgettes to dress up gowns adding a touch or charm and romanticism. There are also plumes and furs on the stoles and veils enriched by laces with modern and inedited tailor cuts. Moreover you will see details for practical but elegant hair solutions to complete bride’s style of next collection preview 2008-2009.
• We noticed that your winter collection is very versatile; even if the gowns have a clear winter connotation they could be worn in every other season…
  I’d say that this is a special dedication to the eternal seasons of love…Cold is a personal circumstance; emotion of style is my mission.
• What will be next Spring Summer collection style?
  For Spring 2008 I propose my new satin wiggly lines with transparencies and charming details such as necklines and bijoux. The romantic part is filled of fabric particulars such as laces, tulles, taffetas for elegant gowns, the “new traditional” for the bride who likes cathedral style.
• What is the most requested colour for Domo Adami bride?
  Natural silk colour is certainly the most wanted. There are some brides that ask for a gown with a steady colour to be discrete and elegant…but what a satisfaction!
• How do you choose fabrics?
  I smell the perfume of the fabric. I touch it and I feel creative vibration that woof suggests…. Matching harmony is a joy that I identify and love. This is how a Domo Adami dress born.
• In your collections we can appreciate a clear preference for full dresses…
  In my traditional couture experience there is the need to dress up bride personality with a full dress, a more sophisticated and elegant solution that prove bride’s confidence that you won’t perceive with a petticoat and a skirt.
  In this case there is the theatrical artistic component that explains fast and vivid accents of French tradition like two different personalities.
• We noticed that veil came back on stage, how bride should wear it?
  It has to be coordinated with the gown. There is no need to exaggerate with inapt lengths and laces. Veil gives bride a secure appeal at the ceremony but she has to leave it out before sitting at the table.
• Long or short veil?
  Always coordinated with the gown according to bride’s body built, church and context proportions.
• Make up and hair play an important role. What will you suggest to Domo Adami bride?
  To be oneself! But have an elegant make up on. Professional make up artist know how to give charming lights and shadows to the eyes according to ordinary habits of the girl but with some accents for a unique and one-time party.
• What about accessories? Which are the best solutions for your brides?
  Many and always fine. I saw a lot of brides that simply want everything choosing solutions that are not elegant at the end. A bride can do everything she wants but only a wise advice can suggest a stylish result.
• How will you define DOMO ADAMI bride?
  Joyful being natural and beautiful, elegant for her feelings and rich in her personality.

The interview was edited by Alice, Cinzia and Valentina of the wedding planning group SposiamoVi, an important international network of wedding planners who offer bridegrooms a professional and creative support troughout the whole planning of their Big Day blended with a wide choice of top class services.