Italian Lakes Wedding Planner

Garda Lake, the most Mediterranean of the Alpine Italian lakes, shows itself in its wonderful surrounding of natural luminosity and colors: a very requested unique spot in all seasons by the couples that are looking for nature and historical charm for their destination wedding. The shores of the lake, studded with villages and small towns, add the charm of a built up landscape to the beauty of its rich natural environment, and the spell of imposing buildings and noble villas. With its splendid blue water, breathtaking nature, the historical villas and its lovely churches, at Lake Garda you have all what is needed to create a great “WOW” effect at your love celebration.

The largest from the 5 islands of the lake, is Garda Island, situated on the Brescian side of Lake Garda, a short distance from San Felice del Benaco and it has been the expression of mysticism for centuries (St.Francis of Assisi founded a small community). The island was inhabited since Roman times and this is proven by the findings of old memorial stones and votive temples.
The water to the south of the island is shallow and forms the Emerald’s bay, which is where St Biagio’s islet (also called the rabbit’s islet) emerges. Next to it is the “altar’s”rock, so called because old memories say that once a year they used to celebrate Mass there, which fishermen were attending on board their boats from all over the lake.

Today the island owes its fascination to the extraordinary Venetian neo-Gothic style villa, designed by the architect Luigi Rovelli at the beginning of the 20th century; an imposing harmonious building, rich in surprising architectonic details. Seems like a romantic castle in the fairy tales….. The extremely complex building has its own stylistic unity and a rare stateliness. The façades are decorated by acutely arched windows and in the south-west corner stands a tower crowned with crenellation in stone with flowered neo-gothic style decorations. Doing your wedding here, you can really feel like a Princess who found the love with her Prince ….

Below, the terraces and Italian gardens slope down to the lake. All around the vegetation is luxuriant and intact, rich in local, exotic plants, rare essences and unique flowers. A harmonious wood of pines and cypresses, acacias and lemon trees, magnolias and agaves. The Island of Garda is magic and mystery… Continue Reading »

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!

Isola Bella is the most famous of the Borromeo Islands and when you see it today you can hardly imagine it as the tiny fishing village it once was. In 1670 Count Vitaliano Borromeo started the building of a monumental baroque palace, and began landscaping the majestic scenery of the gardens for which the Island became so famous. The original name of the island was Isola San Vittore, but was son changed to the more suitable Isola Isabella, after Carlo’s wife and over the years it was shortened to Isola Bella. Local legend relates that the ladies of Borromeo’s household asked the Count to build on the island so that they would not have to listen to prisoners screaming in the dungeons of his mainland castle.

Today the island is famous above all for the magnificent Palazzo Borromeo and its gardens. A visit to the palace is a journey through the splendors of the past. The stately Borromeo residence contains priceless masterpieces: tapestries, furniture, and paintings by great masters. The Palace itself is full of ornate rooms which remind you of a past full of grand receptions and sumptuous feasts. Continue Reading »

Italian Lakes Wedding team is proud to present Janet and Ian’s wedding at Villa d’Este, one of the most exclusive and known Italian wedding venues.
Villa d’Este is located in Cernobbio on Lake Como. It is a fascinating place where history, nature and architecture create an unforgettable frame.
Villa d’Este is set into 10 hectares of private park and it is for sure Lake Como’s jewel. Among woods and meadows facing the lake Como, in 1442 Bishop Gerando Landriani founded here a nun’s convent. After mid 1500 Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio transformed it in a luxury residence for holidays and after a long period of decadence in 1815 Princess Carolina of Brunswick future King George IV of England established here.
In 1868 Maria Feodorowa Empress of Russia adquired it and in 1868 it was changed in a fancy hotel that become one of the most known worldwide.

Many of Villa d’Este guests are famous artists and important people.
Alfred Hitchcock shot here his first movie “The Pleasure Garden” and then, Kind Edward VII, King Vittorio Emanuele, Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini and Ranieri family from Monaco were among its guests.
Among Hollywood actors we could remember: Greta Garbo, Gregory Peck, Clark Gable, Cary Cooper, Eddie Murphy, Liza Minelli, Sylvester Stallone and Bing Crosby.
And some famous singers too: Madonna, Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, James Taylor, Rod Stewart and Elton John.

Italian Lakes Wedding team is proud to present Janet and Ian’s wedding at Villa d’Este, one of the most exclusive and known Italian wedding venues.

Did you know that being chic means getting married or spend your honeymoon in Villa d’Este?
Famous couples spent some time here: Dukes of Windson, Elizabeth Taylor and Nick Hilton, Rita Hayworth and Orson Wells, Clark Gable and Carol Lombard, William Randolph and Marion Davies, Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra, Aristotele Onassis and Maria Callas, Tyron Power and Linda Christina and many others up today. Continue Reading »

Thinking about getting married on the Italian Lakes area? You love flowers? You want a bright wedding theme? You like the sun? “Chiste o paese do sole,” says a popular old Neapolitan song, Italy is the land of the sun! So why don’t you use sunflowers for your main wedding theme? Since the flower itself reaches up to the sun, it symbolizes warmth, happiness, adoration and longevity, a sunflower wedding theme is perfect! What more can you wish for your marriage? If you want to have a bright-yellow sunflower wedding, be aware that the best time to get real sunflowers is July to October.

Probably the most sunny cheerful flowers you can find for your wedding. Sunflowers are big, bold, cheerful and brash and have summer written all over them. Bright, vivid colour and long, strong stems make the Sunflower a fantastic focal flower for summer and autumn events, wedding bouquets, table centrepieces and floral arrangements.
If you want to see my floral works with Sunflowers, please take the time to browse my portfolio at La Piccola Selva’s Wedding Flowers Gallery. The florist La Piccola Selva has been creating innovative and exclusive designs for over 20 years, supplying flowers to the leading hotels and wedding venues on Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore. Continue Reading »

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.
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Whatever the season of your wedding, you’ll want to make sure that the flowers you choose are in season.

I know sometimes brides struggle over which flowers to choose for their bouquets and centerpieces. If you don’t have a favorite flower, your best bet is use the flowers that are growing in that particular season. Two reasons why: they are plentiful and they may be less costly than a flower that is not normally grown during the Spring. Lucky for you, Spring has some of the most gorgeous flowers of the year. The old-fashioned Peony it is one of these.

If you are planning on getting married in the Italian Lakes area – lake Orta, lake Maggiore, lake Como and lake Garda – peonies offer a showy and fragrant option for a bridal bouquet for a late May or June wedding.
Peonies grow best in areas with cold winters and summers that are not too hot.
In the right climate, peony plants produce an abundance of flowers, which may eight or nine inches across. Colors range from white to cream to yellow, and from the palest of pinks to reds to the deepest maroons. Some varieties have deep accent colors in the brown and maroon range at the base of the petals.
The fragrance of peonies is reminiscent of an intense rose scent. Continue Reading »

Calla lilies, with their crisp white flowers and brilliant green stems, are among the most symbolic flowers you can choose for a wedding. The calla lily is the epitome of elegance. All fresh flowers are beautiful, but few offer the elegance and versatility of the calla. They stand for charm, magnificence, grace, beauty and bounty. They are elegant and symbolize passion. A sophisticated atmosphere at a wedding ceremony is a sign of calla lilies. Maybe you’ve thought of designing your own wedding bouquets, centerpieces or church arrangements. In that case, the calla can provide all the style, color and beauty you’ve ever dreamed of. One simply has to glance at a white calla to think of weddings. It occupies a strangely rich space that’s both classic and totally modern.

With their long and meaningful history, calla lilies are a popular choice for a spring or Easter wedding, although they are perfect any time of year. These graceful flowers are reminders of our past generations when grace and beauty were the rule. Associated with elegance and charm, a calla lily would be the perfect flower if you wanted to create a sophisticated atmosphere for your wedding in the Italian Lakes. Continue Reading »

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. Continue Reading »

Roses the flower of love, it has been a proven fact that roses are the unique way to say “I love you” without having to say the words. There’s no getting around it, the rose says romance like no other flower. If course roses are the most popular types of wedding flower that are used in weddings.

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Lake Garda has always charmed its visitors. From north to south enchanting sites and striking locations come one after the other: colors, locations, nature and much more make this lake a much sought after and unique place. Its magic blends with the soul forever.

The lake is famous for the first and only docg wine in the Veneto Bardolino as well as for its delicious food/cuisine. Lake Garda charmes with its splendid colors, ranging from the calm deep blue to “that” lake storm dark green. This place is one of the most romantic places in the world, forits proximity to Verona, the famous home of Romeo and Juliet. That’s why many couples from all over Europe/the world come to its shores to pleadge/promise each other eternal love.
Being able to describe this magic place is impossible, but the truth is that once you visit it it ends up becoming part of you.

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Spring is the season for weddings. If you are having a spring wedding on the Italian Lakes, there is simply no better way to express your love for your future spouse than by carrying a bouquet of tulips. A bouquet of tulips signifies unending love and care. The is one of the world’s most easily recognized and loved flowers. It’s hard to imagine a better flower for a spring wedding in Italy: some varieties of tulips have become available year round, but the peak season with the widest selection is right now.

Used since ancient times to symbolize undying love, affection and enchantment, these colorful blossoms may add a fresh touch of elegance and class to your ceremony and reception.
The meanings of tulips coupled with the immediately identifiable shape of their colorful blooms make them a comfortable flower choice. They are not too elegant, too romantic, too big, too small, or too bright; the tulip is always just right.

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