Italian Lakes Wedding Planner

As floral designer one of the most important moments during a wedding planning is the decision to take for floral arrangements and colors to use. During first contacts I always try to understand bride and groom’s tastes and needs to suggest the best solution for them.
Sometimes they have very clear ideas in their minds. Basing on this and on my experience and creativity i try to develop a floral arrangement project that will be just perfect the day of the wedding.
This is what happened with Jennifer and Oliver a British couple whose wedding was planned for September 2009.

One year before Jennifer told me about the floral scheme she had in her mind. All was based on purple matching with ivory. The very good hint arrived in following emails when Jennifer mentioned about the idea of adding Mediterranean aromatic herbs among flowers.

I was delighted with the design and colours they were truly beautiful. One of my many memories from our special day is the scent of the mint and rosemary in the flowers. I kept getting scents of the mint throughout the day and it is something that will always remind me of my wedding day.
All the guests commented on the amazing table displays – it was better than how I’d imagined – romantic and elegant with the candles and petals.
I even managed to fly home with my bouquet and we are drying it out to keep as a memento of the day!
Thank you once again for your fantastic work – the flowers were truly beautiful.
Jenny and Oliver

This was planned to recall Italian style and the wonderful scents she loved in her childhood. Just a little great idea that gave me the occasion to work on a floral arrangement based on purple and ivory with fresh and perfumed Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary, sage, mint and lavender. They could be a perfect green base to create the bouquet on but also centerpieces and ceremony decorations. Aromatic herbs offer an evocative range of colors from green to silverish of sage and lavender up to deep green of peppermint. Last but not least little lilac-blue lavender blooms could be the trait-d’union between purple and ivory flowers of the compositions.

This was my proposal for Jennifer and Oliver’s’ wedding floral arrangement. Jennifer feed back came back very quick. She was really excited for that: she loved all details of my proposal, she was literally looking forward to see and smell the flowers on her wedding day.

We started a planning that lasted few months and leaded to final result that you can see in this post.
Everybody and especially bride and groom loved the floral arrangements. Jennifer and Oliver after their honeymoon sent also a lovely email to thank us for all. You can read a piece of that here.

But I also want to tell you something more about Jennifer and Oliver’s wedding!
They arranged all in Pallanza on Lake Maggiore. Ceremony was held in Villa San Remigio while reception was arranged to Grand Hotel Majestic where almost all guests spend their Italian days.

Wedding coordinator was Valentina Lombardi who is part of Italian Lakes Wedding Team. Photographs were taken from Photo27 from Milan that I thank you for giving us the beautiful images you can see here.

The civil ceremony has been celebrated in wonderful Music Room (Sala della Musica) of Villa San Remigio. String quartet classical music created a wonderful romantic atmosphere.

Big Jennifer and Oliver’s day begun with a cloudy day but after few hours sun decided to come back again turing into a wonderful summer end day!

Villa San Remigio wide park and its secular tress, fountains and statues are the perfect settings for wonderful wedding pictures. Have a look to the natural style and great impact of the picture here below, simple but wonderful!

At the end of the ceremony Jennifer hanged on her bouquet a funny “Just Married” sign with two hearts, what a funny idea! Continue Reading »

I’ve already told you some months ago about the wonderful hotels on Lake Maggiore. These are ideal venues for an elegant wedding on these magic shores.
Chris and Suzanne choose Grand Hotel Majestic for they big day.

They came here with relatives and friends from United Kingdom to celebrate a wonderful event that was studied in every single detail.

Suzanne choose a theme inspired on lilac and café au lait enriched by many little crystals.

Suzanne designed personally Bridesmaids and flower girl dresses just thinking about these details.

Flower arrangement Suzanne wanted was very detailed.
All arrangements were created by Manuela one of the floral designer who work in close collaboration with La Piccola Selva. Basing on the theme Suzanne wanted, Manuela created a rich vintage arrangement.
She used Freesias blooms and Aqua Girl roses for lilac, and Cofee Break rose for cafe au lait shades. Purple was made with wide Trachelium and classic Vendela roses and Stephanotis made the white accent.
Little fabric Stephanotis were on all wedding stationery Suzanne and Chris had on their tables: invitations, names card, table chart and trivia boxes.

Crystals were on the tables to match Kartell chairs rented for the occasion and crystal vases supporting flowers decorations.

Some other little crystal were inside the Stephanotis flowers in centerpieces and bridal bouquet, just a little compact and rounded jewel.

Suzanne matched crystals on her dress too. There were crystals on the veil, on the dress and the wonderful vintage pin she had on her waist. Bridal dress was italian by Spose di Gio. Continue Reading »

We are back with the second part of the special session of posts on couples that on Summer 2009 chose Orta and Villa Bossi for their wedding in Italy.

Even if these couples chose similar options they personalized their wedding making it unique and very different from each other.

Laura and Kieran chose for their wedding cranberry red as theme color. They added a touch of this shade of red in every detail starting from bridesmaid dress. She was nice Laura’s sister.

Cranberry Red was the color that Manuela the flower designer used to create bridal bouquet. It was made of wonderful Lily Stargazer.

At the end of the ceremony newly weds and their guests had a pretty walk along the pretty roads of Orta village up to the main square to take wonderful wedding pictures. Continue Reading »

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Last week I mentioned about Ivonn and Giorgio’s wedding to Castello di Miasino on Lake Orta.
Today I would like to tell you more on this, thanks to Federico Fasano photographer’s images.
He kindly gave his images to let us enjoy the wedding atmosphere.
This lets you appreciate good and quick post production phase and the great skill to catch details such as my floral arrangements.
Federico Fasano’s photos I show you today show some nice details of the work I did for Ivonn and Giorgio. First image is a wonderful detail of bridegroom’s table with some rose petals that created a big heart.

Again rose petals with many heart shaped confettis. Guest threw them as good luck wish to bride and groom after the ceremony. Confettis and petals were preserved in lovely cones realized with music sheets with a wax rose on.

Third photo on the left is one of my favorites. You can see groom’s button hole I created with Avalanche white rose on a leaf and a tulle ribbon. Forth picture on the right shows a view of Castle’s rooms with two arrangements I realized. They are laid on the iron columns that are at the base of the big staircase that leads to big window with mosaic glasses.

Last pictures is a wonderful detail of one of the centerpieces. For their realization I used big vases with little pink stones, Bear Grass and Avalanche white roses.

In order to see entire Ivonn and Giorgio’s photo set to Castello di Miasino please visit photographer Federico Fasano’s PHOTO GALLERY. These are just some first details! Continue Reading »

What is the perfect flower for a Winter Wedding?
According our opinion there is no doubt! Helleborus Niger: the Christmas Rose!
It is romantic, elegant, old fashioned. It is the ideal choice for a perfect winter wedding bouquet. It is made up of five petals around a golden corolla.
Helleborus is an ancient flower for its medical characteristics, there are many legends about this. One of those tells that those flowers come out the first time from the snow by a Bethlehem young girl’s tears that could give any present to Christ Child.
Christmas Rose is sometimes called the Snow or Winter Rose. It was very used in 1800 in Great Britain and then forgotten. It was re-discovered in the last few years becoming a symbol of stile elegance but also simplicity and naturalness.
Helleborus’ flowers boom right in Winter between December and February and the last for long time on its plant. Most know color is white but there are also beautiful hybrid rose, purple and violet. They are just perfect for a bridal bouquet or bridesmaids ones. Those flowers could be also used for refined and little centerpieces. Continue Reading »