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.

The Villa is available at exclusive use:
• On Monday and Wednesday at any time starting from early afternoon (these are Balbianello closing days).
• Every day after 6pm (on Sunday only symbolic ceremonies).

The rental fees of Villa del Balbianello depend on the guests’ number attending the wedding / event.

PRICE LIST 2011

CEREMONY (symbolic or civil) – (only rental fee – max 2 hours staying):
• Up to 20 guests Euros 1.200 + 21% vat with the Villa still open to visitors, € 1.700 + 21% vat on Monday and Wednesday with Villa closed (after 6pm), Euros 4000 + 21% vat on Saturday.
• 21 to 50 guests Euros 2.200 + 21% vat with the Villa still open to visitors a€ 3.200 + 21% vat on Monday and Wednesday with Villa closed (after 6pm), Euros 4000 + 21% vat on Saturday.
• Over 50 guests always Euros 4.300 + 21% vat but only with the Villa available after 6pm or also earlier only on Monday and Wednesday.

CEREMONY + APERITIF / COCKTAIL – (only rental fee – max 3 hours staying):
• Up to 20 guests Euros 1.400 + 21% vat with the Villa still open to visitors and € 2.200 + 21% vat with Villa closed (after 6pm), Euros 4000 + 21% vat on Saturday.
• 21 to 50 guests Euros 2.400 + 21% vat with the Villa still open to visitors and € 3.700 + 21% vat with Villa closed (after 6pm), Euros 4000 + 21% vat on Saturday.
• 51 to 100 guests Euros 5200 + 21% vat.
• Over 100 guests Euros 52 + 21% vat per person.

CEREMONY + RECEPTION – (only rental fee – max 6 hours staying):
• Up to 20 guests Euros 4.000 + 21% vat
• Up to 40 guests Euros 6.000 + 21% vat
• From 41 to 70 guests Euros 7.000 + 21% vat
• From 71 to 80 guests Euros 8.000 + 21% vat
• From 81 to 100 guests Euros 10.000 + 21% vat
• From 100 to 150 guests and over Euros 100 + 21% vat per person

For civil ceremonies please consider the following extra costs:
• Town Hall fees from 1.200 Euros).
• Interpreter fee (100 / 150 Euros + 21% vat).
• Chairs (10 Euros + 21% vat each).

For symbolic ceremonies please consider the following extra costs:
• Celebrant fee (from 400 up to 700 Euros + 21% vat).
• Chairs (10 Euros + 21% vat each).

The Villa is available until maximum Midnight – this is only if you have here both ceremony + reception – but can be available until 2am paying an extra fee of Euros 2.000 + 21% vat.

The menus are from 170 / 200 + 21% vat per person, this cost is on top to all the other fees above mentioned (please consider it just as an indication since the catering quote depends on many different factors such as guests number, season, day of the week etc…).

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Villa del Balbianello has only two small indoor rooms (Library and Cartographer room) available in case of bad weather or particular requests. These rooms are one opposite to the other, at the two sides of the Loggia.

The use of these 2 rooms is subject to the following costs:
• The two rooms are both available only on Monday and Wednesday.
• During the other days it’s only available one or the other at your choice.

The costs are:
• The costs are upon request.
• Dinner under the Loggia (which is the only roof covered place of the Villa) is only allowed for groups of maximum 45 guests.
  For groups of max 70 guests this is only accepted on Monday and Wednesday.
  Also with small groups, marquee is necessary to create the ceremony space and dancing space repaired from rain.
  Over 45 guests / or 70 guests the dinner is served in the Gardens where it’s mandatory to put a marquee with floor.
• The cost of the marquee goes from 12.000 Euros (for small groups) up to Euros 35.000 + 21% vat.

• Balbianello doesn’t offer any type of accommodations.
• Balbianello is open only from mid March to mid November
• Balbianello is only reachable by boat, therefore there are extra costs for the transfers to and from the Villa.
  We would like to suggest another opportunity too.

We can also advise to use this wonderful spot of Lake Como as an amazing set for your wedding pictures. In this case we could arrange for you the ceremony and reception somewhere else on the lake and then let you reach Villa del Balbianello afterward with a boat tour for your wedding pictures. This will involve a smaller budget but will let you enjoy the beauty of Villa del Balbianello anyway.

• Cost for photography set for photographer and bride and groom to the villa is 100 euro.

You can also decide to involve your guests in this tour letting appreciate the beauty of Villa del Balbianello too. Rate will be only entrance ticket.

Only Gardens:
• ADULTS: € 6,00
• CHILDREN (4-12 YEARS): € 3,00

Gardens + Villa:
Visit with guide mandatory, groups of max 15 persons each turn, duration of 60 minutes:
• ADULTS: € 12,00
• CHILDREN (4-12 YEARS): € 7,00

We hope that our information on Official Costs of Villa del Balbianello may be useful.
In case you may need furhther information or details please do not hesitate to contact us we will be pleased to help.

Italian Lakes Wedding Team is made up of several professional wedding planners and floral designers with a long experience on Italian Lakes locations.
The Team knows the territory in every single detail and will be able to follow you on every important choice you will take.
Our coordinators are based locally in the areas we serve so whether you decide for a wedding in Rome or Bracciano, a wedding in Como or Stresa, or a Wedding on lake Garda or Lake Orta, we will grant the same level of service.
Our Team will be able to provide you every kind of supplier, florist, photographers, musicians, designers celebrants, witnesses and help as far as your documents are concerned, and anything you may think of.
Italian Lakes Wedding Team will literally pamper you!

For any information about wedding on Lake Como please CONTACT US.

A wonderful day in Orta with a mild temperature, almost like summer, pretty unusual for this period considering that Spring has just arrived!
This was the perfect frame for Siobhan and Stuart’s wedding!
As tradition wants Siobhan arrived to Villa Bossi by a rowing boat with her father. The civil ceremony had also a special touch with a wonderful blessing conducted by our celebrants Diane and Giuseppe.
After a pretty walk in the medieval village of Orta bride and groom had a wonderful aperitif in the gardens of Villa Gippini part of San Rocco Hotel, where Siobhan and Stuart also had a delicious dinner with all their guests.

We would like to thank Independent Pictures photographers who gave us in few hours the first wonderful shots of this sweet event.

This was perfectly highlighted by glorious sunshine which thankfully arrived after a few days of bad weather. Their wedding was characterised by a limpid blue lake, a light breeze that chased away the clouds and bright green of the landscape all around. An exceptional contrast of colour made the various yellow hues used in the arrangement designed by Monika and myself, stand out even more.

The event was organized by Valentina, Italian Lakes Wedding’s experienced wedding planner, who has become a true expert in weddings taking place at Villa Rusconi Clerici.

I planned this event in collaboration with my lovely and valued colleague, Stefania who is based in the Southern Lakeside regions of Italy, (including Lake Bracciano) but who occasionally assists us here in the Northern Lakes.
It was such a pleasure to have assisted Melanie, who was one of the most co-operative brides of this year. As a couple our bride and groom ‘to be’ complemented one another perfectly. Melanie was an incredibly stylish American Bride and David, a very handsome British Groom. They had enjoyed their first vacation together in our country and so had their hearts set on Italy as the destination for their special day. We had to plan certain details at relatively short notice but Melanie was precise and punctual, which made working with her a sheer delight!
Valentina – wedding planner

I was inspired by Melanie’s creative ideas and pleased to offer suggestions based on my vast experience of organizing weddings in the area. It was fulfilling to collaborate with the Bride and help make her dream of a stunning and sophisticated wedding at Lake Maggiore come true.
Melanie and David expressed a desire for a romantic blessing ceremony, (tastefully and thoughtfully conducted by Celebrants, Giuseppe and Diane) and their vision of an elegant and chic countryside event was realised at Villa Rusconi Clerici, one of the most romantic locations in the area.

Paola from La Piccola Selva helped us to achieve the required atmosphere by designing beautiful arrangements of country style flowers with a touch of elegance, a consistent trademark of La Piccola Selva.

We selected only the most professional catering service, whose culinary skills contributed to the overall success of the event held exclusively at the Villa. The Bride and Groom were treated to a sumptuous aperitif with their wedding guests in the grounds, followed by an enchanting dinner by the majestic lake. This was an intimate wedding and certainly one of the most romantic of the season!
Valentina – wedding planner

When Valentina introduced me to Melanie, I soon realised that our bride had precise ideas concerning the theme of her wedding. She wanted a flower arrangement with a typical mediterranean flavour, cheerful and sunny, based on yellow tones. The choice was soon made to include the complementary characteristics of lemons and sunflowers.

Lemons and sunflowers, together with elegant ‘Bottom Green’, became the main elements of all the floral arrangements, including those for the ceremony aswell as the chairs and table centre pieces used for the reception.

Sunflowers in particular played an important part in the design of the event. The sunflower is a rustic, vigorous and sunny flower, perfect for an outdoor wedding event such as Melanie and David’s.
Thanks to their impressive size, the sunflower stands out even from afar and is perfect for an effective floral composition. The sunflower is a true protagonist and for this reason we decided not to add other kinds of flowers. In Melanie and David’s case, the combination of lemon fruit was not only natural but further enhanced the beauty of these striking mediterranean flowers.

Instead, for the informal aperitif in the beautiful gardens of Villa Rusconi, we created lovely centrepieces with glass cube vases, in which we arranged lemons in an asymetric manner.

The only exception was the Bride’s bouquet, for which we used mini ‘calle bianche’ as Melanie wished. The bouquet was refined and elegant, perfectly suited to the bride’s slender silhouette and glamorous wedding dress.

Last but by no means least, I would like to give special mention to our Celebrants Diane and Giuseppe, who skillfully conducted the ceremony, held in the spectacular grounds of Villa Rusconi, overlooking the shores of the lake.
It gives me great pleasure to conclude this article with some beautiful words written by Diane Wheeler regarding our bride and groom.

We travelled to Lake Maggoire the day before the ceremony to meet Melanie and David at an informal pre-wedding gathering at a restaurant in Stresa. We received a warm and enthusiastic welcome and were immediately introduced to their wedding party, including Melanie and David’s gigantic but cute dog, Dexter!

Melanie was most definitely a bride who knew what she wanted and took a keen interest in all aspects of her wedding. She was very involved in the construction of her ceremony, which also involved a ‘sand ceremony’, which took place directly after the bride and groom exchanged their mutual vows.

Incidentally there was a moment during their vows when we all thought the heavens were going to open but only a few drops fell to bless the bride… and the umbrella that had hastily been offered by a gallant best man was soon gratefully put to one side!
Diane – celebrant

While Giuseppe performed original words (scripted by us) describing the beautiful symbolism of the event, Melanie and David each poured bottles of different coloured sand in turn, which combined within one vessel to form a striking momento which they would be able to display at home.

The bride and groom also adapted vows to make them more personal, which not many couples do. We think this kind of involvement demonstrates imagination and great personal interest in the content of their ceremony. Melanie in particular was very creative and gave us some great personal information to work with.

The story of how they met was highly entertaining and we were provided with ample material from which to compose a touching script. One thing became quite clear…there was definitely a third party in the relationship and Dexter was not only present during the ceremony (albeit in the background) but also featured in sentiments expressed by David… who wanted Melanie to know ‘that on seeing her beautiful face every morning on the pillow next to his, that he is reminded that he is the happiest man in the world’…when Dexter doesn’t obsure the view!
Diane – celebrant

For further information on a wedding to Villa Rusconi – Lake Maggiore please CONTACT Italian Lakes Wedding Team.

All Images © Italian Lakes Wedding © All rights reserved.

Together with Monika, Paola is La Piccola Selva floral designer. She is part of La Piccola Selva team who are specialized in floral arrangements and lovely bridal bouquets on Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore.

After her graduation in English language her passion for nature and flowers brought her to a long and successful career in floral design.
Thanks to her long experience and creativity Paola will be able and happy to suggest you best flowers, color, details, shapes and styles that could match your tastes and ideas.
She will be able to add a final touch that could turn your wedding in an even more special day!

When I first met Lisa and Darren I was touched by their enthusiasm. They such a nice and solar couple. When I showed them Villa Rusconi Lisa’s eyes sparkled and I knew that that was the right the right place for them!
Then almost a year wonderful year of planning followed. And I have to admit we developed a very special relationship that ended to consider each other like good and old friends!
Valentina

We wanted our wedding to be relaxed but an experience our guests would never forget and I think we achieved this 110 percent!  Our friends are still raving about it now!
The setting of course is stunning and couldn’t fail to impress.
Lisa

Lisa decided to getting ready with her friends to closer Grand Hotel Majestic.

The hotel is very close to the villa and she had the possibility to have some first pictures in the wonderful garden of the hotel itself and then taking a boat for its pier to reach the wedding venue by boat with her friends and her father.

Wedding ceremony was arranged in the garden of the villa and blessed with a great sunny day.

Diane Wheeler was conducting the ceremony for them. Diane says about the couple:

Lisa and Darren are wonderful people and Lisa wins my vote as the most relaxed bride of the year!
She was trusting and flexible in her approach towards the content of the ceremony and entirely open to suggestions.
The fact that both were willing to trust me as their Celebrant meant that they were free to simply enjoy the moment.
Diane

As as far as the ceremony she also adds:

During the ceremony they were clearly moved and appeared to be absorbing every single word… I made sure that Lisa’s affection for ‘Clair de Lune’ was reflected in the ceremony and the quartet did an excellent job by intuitively playing this piece during key moments of emotional intensity. Their guests  were also a great asset because they were enthusiastic participants. The vibe was romantic and fun… it was definitely one of those ceremonies that will remain in my memory for being complete in every sense.
Diane

Diane was surely more than happy to perform a lovely and romantic ceremony for such a great couple.

I adore performing ceremonies in this perfect spot by the lake and Lisa and Darren’s ceremony was one of the highlights of this year for me personally. I am so happy to have had the opportunity to return yet again to be a part of another wonderful experience!
Diane

Theme color Lisa chose was white and pink and with a little touch of red on the wedding stationery.
Monika and Paola from La Piccola Selva created a lovely decoration made with perfect pink roses and white hydrangeas.
Valentina

Here what Paola one of the florist designer of La Piccola Selva together with Monika says:

Fuchsia Aqua roses and white hydrangeas were the main character of Lisa and Darren’s wedding. Monika and I created such a pretty and romantic decoration for them.
From the very first contact via email Lisa had very clear ideas, in a short time we defined all the decorations for the wedding including the bridal bouquet.
It was a wonderful compact and rounded shaped bouquet made with Aqua roses and white hydrangeas with a little touch of elegance: mini white callas.
Paola

After the ceremony there was a rich aperitif to follow served in the garden of the villa but there was another surprise to come!

Lisa wanted from the very beginning a boat trip for all the group following the aperitif. So we rented a big boat to take them all for a wonderful trip across Borromeo Islands and Lake Maggiore coasts.
The boat is surely a perfect place to have a nice aperitif.
It has a lounge area inside and outside to make the trip a unique experience!
Some waiters served Prosecco and canapes and they also had some music on a great idea for sure!
Valentina

My favourite part was the boat trip on the lake, I think this was a real ‘wow factor’ and really showed off the islands and surroundings. We didn’t want to just give a ‘free bar’ we wanted our guests to experience the beauty of the Italian Lakes.
Lisa

At the end of the tour and after few pictures beautifully taken by Photo27 the group had a great dinner in the pavillion of the villa.

The catering and service was outstanding, our speeches ran over a little, ok a lot(!), and I was concerned the next course might be ruined, but they managed to bring out hot and high quality food as soon as the speeches were finished.
Lisa

After that as we said in Italy “night is young”!
Lisa Darren and the all the group had a great fun in the cellar of the villa with open bar, a rich Italian friandies buffet and lot of dances!

We want to thank the DJ, he did a top job in getting everyone dancing, the photos are hilarious!
Lisa

 

The party was a great fun for all even for the dj, photographers, catering company and planners!

I usually leave the group having fun after the wedding cake cut and reception but they were such a great group that they completely involved the dj, Photo27 Team and ourselves in the party!
Valentina

Well this was for sure one of the greates party we ever had to Villa Rusconi. We cannot add more than Lisa words and also Lisa and Darren’s guests comments.
Lisa and Darren were so kind so share them all with us and allow us to post them here.

Such a great couple and such a great group! Our best wishes for a great and happy life together!

I just felt special, a celebrity for a day. 
A few of our guests said they felt they were at a ‘Hello’ magazine wedding, which was a huge compliment to everyone who contributed to the day.
 
However, none of this could have happened without you to guide us every step of the way and to be there every minute on the day to ensure everything ran smoothly.  We felt you were part of the day, I’m glad our friends made you so welcome. 
We both feel we’ve made lovely Italian friends!
Lisa

We are on our way to airport sadly but thank you for a wonderful weekend and introducing us to such a beautiful part of italy. Such a brilliant wedding.
Sarah

An unbelievable day we will never forget. Thanks for letting us share it with you.
Mike & Sian

WOW what a wedding . Thank you both so much for inviting us! We can’t wait for you renew your vows so we can come back.
Anth & Craig

We had an amazing day, we loved every minute, like the song says….. Such a perfect day!
James & Kelly

Thanks for the most incredible day, what a memory that will last for ever.
Gem & Ian

What an amazing day, everyone will remember every single moment forever. The most beautiful for the loveliest people, hospitable and generous people I know.
Hannah

What a beautiful day, simply perfect!
Tom

What a day, not another like it.
Gwen & Peter

What can I say…. A truly amazing day, one of the best days if my life, I think I must have been dreaming. The Villa was so beautiful, I thought I was at a movie set. I couldn’t get over how gorgeous it was, the most stunning view ever. The people were amazing, I didn’t stop talking and laughing from start to finish. A day I will never forget.
Hannah

Well, the wedding of all weddings.
A wonderful, stylish and classy day on the lakes with such wonderful people.
Lora & Smudger

What a fabulous day, we have never been to a place with such a beautiful backdrop.
Nikki & Stuey

I cant believe what an amazing day we all had, it felt like a dream and still does really. As said on the day if Carlsberg did weddings it would be like this! We love u guys so much and u r the most loving and generous couple we know. Cant wait to c u when u get back. Thanks again for an unbelievable day, its one of the best days of my life so far.
Going to have to go now b4 i cry again!
Paula

Hello reads! On our way to airport sadly but thank you for a wonderful weekend and introducing us to such a beautiful part of italy. Such a brilliant wedding and so generous to your guests, thank you. Enjoy ome quiet time without us lot to worry about and we’ll see you when you get back.
Sarah

One of my favourite comments, which isn’t written below was from my friend’s dad, Tot, who said if we’d had a million pounds to spend we couldn’t have improved our wedding day!
Lisa

For any information about wedding on Lake Maggiore please CONTACT the Lake Maggiore Wedding planners team.

Lake Maggiore Wedding team is made up of several professional wedding planners and floral designers with a long experience on Lake Maggiore locations.
The Team knows the territory in every single detail and will be able to follow you on every important choice you will take.

LMW planners team is dedicated to providing the very best to our couples. Weddings are an emotional time. Let a wedding coordinator help relieve the stress of the planning and allow you to enjoy the day.

First comes love… then comes planning!

Orta is a pretty little village. It is completely pedestrian, medieval, facing quiet lake and it is tiny St. Julius Island.

Best option is a romanic civil ceremony to Villa Bossi. We suggest to opt for a wedd day when narrow roads of Orta village are less crowded and more intimate.
You will discover real Italy here. You can choose to get ready in one of the lovely hotels in Orta overlooking the lake.

Bride could arrive alone with a rowing boat while groom is waiting for her to Villa Bossi. Just like Suzanne and Russell did.

They stayed to Villa Crespi to get ready. Then they had a romantic ceremony to Villa Bossi and after a romantic boat tour on the lake, they landed to the restaurant on St. Julius Island for a cosy dinner for the two of them.

The same choice was taken by Bronwen and Josh – we mentioned about this lovely couple is a recent post Monika wrote.

They came from Australia to get married here. They did not tell anybody about that. This is what a real elope!
It was the most romantic wedding of all and it was also the starting point of a one month long honeymoon across Italian country: Portofino, Tuscany, Amalfi Coast. What a great idea!

Marcus and Rebecca did the same but added more. They took the occasion to have a special dinner to Villa Crespi which has a 2 Michelin restaurant inside.
A romantic ceremony to Villa Bossi first and then a romanic and gourmand dinner to celebrate this event.

There are many special little corners to celebrate a wedding for two on Lake Orta. The location will make it even more special thanks to its intimacy cosines and quaint style.
Do not worry we will be able to provide you celebrant, witnesses and help as far as your documents are concerned, a great photographer to make it eternal, a pretty bouquet for the bride and anything you may think of.
We will literally pamper you!

We are sure you will remember it forever and you will have great shots to show everybody when you will come back.
They will be all willing to do the same!

Valentina Lombardi is the Italian Lakes Wedding coordinator for Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore area.

She follows Italian and foreign bridegrooms who wish to celebrate their wedding in Piemonte and Italian Lakes area.
Valentina is Italian; she has worked in event organization business for years before becoming a wedding planner.

For any information about wedding on Lake Orta please CONTACT US.

All Images © Italian Lakes Wedding and:
photo 1, 8, 9 and 10: Ollmann-Ottaviano photographers, Torino
photo 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7: Estella & Diego photographers PHOTO27.COM – Milan

I would like to start by thanking the photographer Carlo Conti, who has kindly provided these fabulous images of the day. After many years of experience as a fashion, still life and architecture photographer, Carlo Conti has founded RPS Studio – Reportage Per gli Sposi – choosing to continue his career as a specialist wedding photographer. His style is characterised by a great ability to capture the most natural and spontaneous moments of any event in order to compose a fresh, modern and lively album…the pictures of Nicky and Chris’ big day are a very good example of his creativity.

Nicky & Chris are both born and bread in London. Nicky is pursuing a successful career in human resource, while Chris owns a recruitment agency focusing on the sports sector.
Being two very busy young professionals, they did not have a lot of free time to dedicate to the organisation of their wedding and decided to rely on the expertise and professionalism of Chic Weddings, a leading wedding design agency that works with the team of Italian Lakes Wedding.

Nicky and Chris were dreaming of a wedding by the water, informal and elegant at the same time. An event that matched their personality, not too flashy but very fun. After evaluating various options, they opted for Villa Rusconi Clerici for its wonderful position right on the shores of Lake Maggiore.

The colour theme chosen by Nicky & Chris focused on ivory and lilac, with a hint of purple. This successful combination is very much on trend recently and is often requested by my clients.

The ceremony at Villa Rusconi Clerici started with the arrival of the bride, Nicky, by speedboat. She was accompanied by her father and her lovely bridesmaids. The location benefits from a private jetty which offers the possibility of organising an extremely scenic entry as well as lake tours for the guests during the cocktail reception.

Nicky chose a sleek and modern bouquet, in perfect harmony with her dress: to design it I mixed mini white Calla Lilies, purple Lysianthus and Rose Tibet, enhancing the long shape of the bouquet with a few leaves of Beucarnea.
Purple was the predominant colour of the whole party and was found in the centrepieces, in the bridal bouquet, in dress of the bridesmaids and even in the cufflinks and tie of the groom and his father.

As wished by the bride and the groom, the buttonholes had also a hint of purple, obtained with the use of a beautiful type of Lysianthus called “Cinderella Blue”: it is a strong purple, almost blue variety of the bloom which is rather flexible and can be easily used in any floral composition.

The blessing was celebrated in the garden of Villa Rusconi Clerici, right by the water and with a stunning view of the lake. Diane and Giuseppe, two Anglo-Italian celebrants, hosted the ceremony for Nicky & Chris. I had the pleasure to meet them before at the weddings of Janet & Ian at Villa D’Este on Lake Como and of Bevin & Steve at Villa Gippini on Lake Orta.

For the decoration of the chairs of the bride and the groom, I opted for a small variation on the common theme, using long bloom of white Corylus Contorta together with Calla Lilies, Roses and Lysianthus. This mix provided a very contemporary and glamorous effect.

Following the ceremony, all the guests moved to the main lawn in front of the Villa for the cocktail reception.

At that stage, the light of the evening was changing and the water of the lake was becoming orange and pink, creating a stunning and romantic atmosphere.

As usual, the dinner was served in the garden Pavilion of Villa Rusconi Clerici where the guests were able to enjoy a view of the lake: the tables were decorated with a simple floral composition designed with glass cubical vases full of transparent gems and a mix of cream roses and purple Lysianthus.

The party then continued in the ballroom of the Villa where the bride and the groom entertained their guests with a sensual tango.

In this post, I have shown you only some of the magical images of the wedding of Nicky and Chris at Villa Rusconi Clerici: look at the full album created by their photographer Carlo Conti from RPS Studio in Milan if you wish to see more. You will be impressed!

Thank you again to Clara & Eva, founders of Chic Weddings, a wedding design agency based in both London and Amsterdam for all their care in organising such a beautiful event….and very best wishes to Nicky and Chris from the team of Italian Lakes Wedding!

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 weddings at Villa Rusconi Clerici please contact us.

The beautiful villa garden adjoins a jetty by the picturesque Lake Orta. This was a lush and sophisticated setting for a beautiful blessing ceremony performed by main Celebrant Giuseppe and assisted by Co-Celebrant Diane.

The groom awaited the arrival of the blushing bride while managing to hide his nervousness admirably, aided by a little Irish humour on the part of some of the male contingent. The lake provided the perfect background for professional photos against the descending sun. The musicians performed Corale dalla cantata n.147 (Bach) for an entrance with strings, initiated by the ‘women in red’ (several stunning bridesmaids) plus a couple of small adorable Irish boys who were the all important ring bearers.

Bevin was led by her father down the aisle of red carpet adorned with petals and looked stunning. She was overcome with emotion during the vows. The couple had requested a relatively brief ceremony but were pleasantly surprised when the proceedings were concluded with an unexpected performance by the Celebrants of an antique Italian love Sonnet…. a romantic ending to a perfect memory… 

The intimate wedding party enjoyed a celebration at the villa together in the evening during which there were surely many shouts of Slàinte (Irish for Cheers!).

 All Images © Estella & Diego, Photo27.com – Milan

Diane Wheeler is an English Literature graduate and ex-teacher who has lived in Italy for many years. She has considerable experience of scripting and performing blessing ceremonies and will individualise your blessing by composing a script especially for and in close dialogue with you. Diane takes great care to ensure that every couple feel supported and guided through the process. It is more a passion than a job for her as you will soon see! Diane also complements the ceremony with expert recitation of some of the most beautiful poetry and moving readings of the English language.

For more information about blessing ceremonies on Lake Orta please contact us.

Special One: Lake Orta as you’ve never seen before!
it was a wonderful Spring sunny day. Sky was clear with small clouds. Lake water was completely transparent and mountains were green after a long winter.
This was the great scenery for Bevin and Steven’s wedding.
Just the right day to promote this lake!

Special Two: Diego and Estella photographs.
Diego and Estella are two creative and state of the art photographers!
We decided to put them as “Special Event” of the day because their shots were simply great. Let’s have a look to the PHOTO GALLERY with the most beautiful Diego and Estella pictures of Bevin and Steven’s wedding.

Special Three: Villa Gippini, the most exclusive venue on Lake Orta.
Villa Gippini is an ancient villa date back to 1500 located just on the lake shores.
It was built in the medieval center of Orta San Giulio.
Nowadays Hotel San Rocco is the owner of the villa and it rarely allows its utilization for special events, like Bevin and Steven’s wedding.

Villa Gippini is a private venue which not open to public. It created a very intimate atmosphere for the wedding.

Special Four: Bevin’s bridesmaids.
They were all in a elegant but sexy cherry red dress.
The four bridesmaids were all so friendly and smiling. They were able to add a touch of glamour and real fun to the ceremony that sometimes could seem even too serious.

Last but not least: Bevin and Steven!
They were the real main characters of the day!
Bevin is a lovely and friendly Californian girl and Steven a shy and brilliant Irish guy.
They decided to get married in Orta without coming over before. They just fell in love with the beauty of this place looking at the images they saw and stories they read.
When they arrived here they discover something even better they could even though.
They decided for a small party wedding but it was really fun…they got style!

Symbolic ceremony was conducted by Giuseppe Rossi and Diane Wheeler celebrants.
Floral arrangements were created by Monika Andenmatten. They will post soon their thoughts on this wedding too.

Exclusive venue, wonderful spring sunny day, the ceremony by the lake, the lovely organization.
This was Italian Lakes Wedding succesful formula for Bevin and Steven wedding.
Something special on Lake Orta!

Valentina Lombardi is the Italian Lakes Wedding coordinator for Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore area. She follows Italian and foreign bridegrooms who wish to celebrate their wedding in Piemonte and Italian Lakes area.
Valentina is Italian; she has worked in event organization business for years before becoming a wedding planner.

For more information about symbolic wedding ceremony at Villa Gippini on Lake Orta, please contact us.

So it was with great excitement and anticipation that I met Janet and Ian, who were staying at the Villa before and after their ceremony. To be there in the evening was an experience reminiscent of a Hollywood film from the 1950′s. A jazz pianist and singer serenaded snappily dressed clientele sipping cocktails in the beautiful grounds while gazing dreamily out towards a lake illuminated by fireworks. A newly married couple waltzed romantically around a large interior ballroom beneath the gaze of a thousand crystal eyes of an antique chandelier… It was the stuff that dreams are made of and the ceremony was still to come!

The day of the blessing boasted perfect weather conditions with glorious sunshine and heat relieved by a fresh breeze. The blessing took place in the latter part of the afternoon, always a good time for photographs. The floral arrangement was simply stunning with lemons and sunflowers as the dominant theme. The most amazing mosaics I had ever seen decorated the entrance to expertly manicured gardens, much loved by Sir Winston Churchill during his many holidays spent at the villa during his career as English PM. He spent many hours on the veranda engaged in his passion for painting. He would have loved the scene that day.

As the guests arrived to take their seats I wondered about the many historic public figures and famous celebrities that had also been spellbound by this enchanting and majestic villa. It was a very surreal moment… ‘The Flower Duet’ from Lakme initiated the proceedings, which was a fitting accompaniment to such a creative floral arrangement. Janet began to make her way towards me accompanied by her father. Her hairstyle was captivating and creative, reflecting the bride’s personality and was the subject of much discussion amongst the guests. The groom was without doubt one of the most relaxed I have ever seen! However he was clearly moved and I found myself also overcome with emotion during the mutual swearing of their vows. The bride had told me that they had chosen the villa because they had fallen in love with one another here during an early trip taken together, thus proving that Villa D’Este casts a powerful spell…

Both Janet and Ian had confessed previously to being emotional types and so a little humour was welcomed during the introduction, enabling the couple to relax.  The first reading was the popular ‘Blessing For A Marriage’ and the second ‘Marriage Advice’, performed by one of the guests.

The wedding party were wonderfully warm and appreciative of the ceremony. The happy couple’s generosity knew no bounds and I was invited to attend the wedding dinner and festivities later in the evening. This was a lovely surprise and an experience I will forever cherish. I was so proud to have been a part of such a special day especially since Janet and Ian are one of the sweetest couples I have ever composed a blessing script for. I was even treated to a round of applause at the wedding table! Their humour, warmth and enthusiasm made the job not only straightforward but a pleasure too.

I couldn’t recommend Villa D’Este enough as a wedding or blessing location. This was certainly the blessing highlight of 2008 for me personally and I remained so enchanted that I found myself returning only a few weeks later…just to make sure it had all been real!

Diane Wheeler is an English Literature graduate and ex-teacher who has lived in Italy for many years. She has considerable experience of scripting and performing blessing ceremonies and will individualise your blessing by composing a script especially for and in close dialogue with you. Diane takes great care to ensure that every couple feel supported and guided through the process. It is more a passion than a job for her as you will soon see! Diane also complements the ceremony with expert recitation of some of the most beautiful poetry and moving readings of the English language.

For more information about blessing ceremonies on Lake Como please contact us.

Diane is a co celebrant and works with us, arranging blessings and symbolic ceremonies liaising with Italian Lakes Wedding. She has a gentle manner, a good sense of humour and is very passionate about her work. She demonstrates great skill in collaborating with the bride and groom, constructing their dream ceremony in close dialogue with them. She has considerable experience of scripting and performing blessing ceremonies in Italy.
Diane takes great care to ensure that every couple feels supported and guided every step of the way. She also complements the ceremony with expert recitation of some of the most beautiful poetry and moving readings of the English language.

All that remains is for us to welcome Diane to our team and wish her the best for future blessings!

Contact Diane Wheeler, blessing celebrant in Italy.

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