Italian Lakes Wedding Planner

Around Italian Lake region, it is very difficult finding another location like this one we will describe here: Madonna del Sasso church.

It is a sanctuary is at the top of a huge rock leap of more than 400 m. high on Lake Orta. From the courtyard of the sanctuary looking towards North side, you could see the Alps of Ossola Valley up to Switzerland. On South side you could admire valley towards Milan and Ligurian Apennines, mountains divide Piemonte region and Ligurian sea.
An unforgettable vision on one of the most beautiful Italian belvederes. This is the reason because many call it Orta Balcony.

Planning your marriage on Madonna del Sasso church means give to your wedding a touch of magic to share with your guests that will surely love this enchanting beauty.

The entire area around Madonna del Sasso church includes ancient villages kept as they were such as Artò, Centanara, Piana dei Monti and most of all Boleto, a real medieval hidden jewel.

Madonna del Sasso church evoke a real spry that happened around 1500. It tells about a pretty waitress of a local teverna in Pella village that married a rude soldier named Aycardo. When he came back from a war mission he heard some rumors about his wife betraying him with an English soldier. Aycardo got mad, he put his wife on this shoulders carrying her on the rock and finally throwing her down it. The poor girl grabbed to a bush but when she looked up seeing his husband – who was trying to save her this time – she decided to let herself going down. On this place some people decided to place a wooden cross, then a little chapel and at the end a big sanctuary.

Sanctuary has been built on the edge of a white granite rock. Continue Reading »

Orta San Giulio is a tiny magic village just the pearl of Lake Orta. There are many corners and typical places that make this Piemonte village a touristy destination similar to no one in Europe, just perfect for a destination wedding for couples coming form lots of different countries. Starting from today we thought it could be interesting writing for you some articles that maybe could help to know better this wonderful medieval village that is almost unknown.

Today I would like to tell you about Piazza Motta, Orta Main Square. Lots of people just love sitting here in a lovely bistro admiring the lake and St. Julius island, thanks of its elegant and charming appearance.

As in many other ancient Italian villages on the lakes, Piazza Motta has its three sides made up by ancient buildings where you will find bistro, cafes, hotels, restaurants or little boutiques. The forth side is just on the lake shores. You will enjoy the lake and St. Julius Island through a row of horse-chestnuts trees.

If you are thinking about getting married in Orta San Giulio, consider Piazza Motta a lovely spot for your wedding photographs. It is just few minutes walk from Villa Bossi, the town hall for civil ceremonies or Assunta Church for religious ones. Photographers loves the setting too and most of them have pictures of couples on the square on their portfolios. From the boat pier bride and groom and maybe the bridal party, could take a motorboat and reach St. Julius Island. Thanks to its intimacy and quiet atmosphere it offers a perfect frame for other stunning pictures.

Piazza Motta is the vital center of Orta San Giulio. Can you imagine?
Every Wednesday you could see the local market since 1228! Continue Reading »

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

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 »

From the first days of 2009 the Italian Lakes Wedding team has 2 new wedding planners: Virag Lochinger and Alessandra Fabi.
Today I have the great pleasure to introduce you Alessandra, who will be our wedding planner for Lake Como: she has always dreamed of planning weddings for profession…and finally she did it!
Lake Como, which is certainly one of the most exclusive destinations for a wedding in Italy, offers to the bride and groom a stunning scenery: all along its coasts, surrounded by a luxuriant nature, you can find pictoresque villages facing the water and beatiful villas with parks and gardens. Here you will find enchanting town halls’ “Palazzi” and cozy churches hanging on the lake in the enchanting towns of Como, Bellagio, Cernobbio and Varenna.
It will be a great pleasure for Alessandra to help you plan your wonderful wedding on Lake Como: If your idea of wedding is refined, sophisticated and with a special attention to details, she’s your perfect wedding planner! She makes each client feel unique and she treats each wedding as if it were her own.
With her help, glamour and bon ton will be the main features of your special day while Lake Como will be the enchanting setting.
And if you need help in choosing your bridal gown, your honeymoon destination or the most chic wedding favours, just ask her and you’ll be surprised by her fervid imagination!

Right after Janet and Ian’s wedding at Villa d’Este, Italian Lakes Wedding Team organized another important event: Bianca and Mills’ wedding to Villa dei Cipressi in Varenna – East side of Lake Como.
Have a look to Bianca and Mills’ photo gallery realized by photographer David Christian Lichtag.

Lake Como recently arouses a certain emotion on people coming from the States. In the last few years famous people like Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie or Sarah Larson visited Lake Como and contributed to let world know the beauty of this magic place, consacrating it as one of the most requested destinations for weddings in Italy and Europe.

Bianca and Mills are from Los Angeles, they work in the movie business.
Bianca is blond so pretty and charming, Mills is a movie director that, among the other commitments, worked as co-director and producer of Lethal Weapon 2 and 3. This was an exclusive wedding that Bianca and Mills reserved for a small number of friends and relatives.
For the organization of the even American couple hired Italian Lakes Wedding Team. Valentina Lombardi from SposiamoVi Torino was the wedding planner and floral designer Monika Andenmatten from La Piccola Selva Lake Orta. Continue Reading »

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. 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.
Continue Reading »

Casablanca Lilies, the largest blooms of all Lilies!
A very fragrant flower, Casablanca Lilies are perfect for large wedding flower arrangements. From a decorators point of view Casablanca Lilies are important because they fit modern and traditional situations so well. They are individually unique and mass pleasingly and they are so fragrant. They are long lasting, holding up well when manipulated into wired floral pieces. Brides find them magically expressive of the beauty they are looking for and popularity makes Casablanca Lilies stylish and trendy.
The image on the left shows a flower arrangement with Casablanca Lilium and Roses created by me at Hotel Dino in Baveno, lake Maggiore.
The beauty of fresh Casablanca lilies offers a sweet fragrance and statuesque grace. No flower is more frequently used at weddings than this hybrid. These lilies were originally found in China and Japan. The first known use of lilies at weddings was by the Ming dynasty in China. A breathtaking lily, the Casablanca is known for its dramatic white blossoms and irresistible scent. Among the most famous of Lilies from the Oriental family, it’s as elegant as the name implies. The Casablanca takes its name from the Spanish “casa” (house) and “blanca” (white). These pure white Lilies exhibit three-to-five stunning flowers per stem, for a total of 30 or more flowers per bunch. A plentiful amount well suited for a truly spectacular display, gala event or thoughtful gift.

Warning: put a protective shield under the lily when using them as corsages. The anthers which project from the center of the flower will easily stain fabric. It is safest to remove the anther prior to using them in this manner. Continue Reading »

Elegant, charming, ancient, Stresa is the pearl of Lake Maggiore, one of the most wanted destinations wedding in Piemonte. It has been a favorite destination with the British, even Queen Victoria stayed on the shores of Lake Maggiore.

Stresa is located on Lake Maggiore in northeastern Piedmont which borders Lombardy and Switzerland. It is a renowned tourist resort in a picturesque setting facing the equally famous Borromeo Islands.

In order to see Stresa well, it’s important to explore the many alley ways and small cobblestone lanes that make up the town. Not a shopper by nature, Stresa was an invitation to buy! Lovely little pottery shops are found around every corner, and the shopkeepers are more than happy to ship your items home. Also, shops with jewelry, tempting Italian foodstuffs, and cute little bars and trattoria are everywhere.

The lakeside promenades are lined with magnolias, camellias and verbena and many other flowers and Mediterranean trees.
Embarcadero is probably the most crowded place in town. From here you can take the boats for an excursion on the Lake visiting Borromean Islands and their lush gardens and palaces owned by Borromeo Family.

In the 1850s Stresa was one of the most sought-after vacation spots in all of Italy. The rich and famous from all over the world spent their leisure time enjoying the beauty, serenity and romance of Stresa. Consequently dozens of fabulously expensive and ornate Villas were constructed overlooking the lake. Today those same Villas of the world’s richest people are available for your wedding and for your wedding reception. Continue Reading »