Italian Lakes Wedding Planner

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. Continue Reading »

We have the real pleasure to announce that CENTRO DANNEMANN in Brissago officially joined companies that supports Italian Lakes Wedding.
The CENTRO DANNEMANN Brissago is one of the most exclusive and elegant wedding venue in Ticino, Italian Switzerland. All Italian Lakes Wedding Team is very proud of it.

Our long-time followers can notice that the CENTRO DANNEMANN is the very first wedding location outside Italy, which has a relevant position in our website.

Why this choice? Basically because most of the Lake Maggiore is located in Italy, but the very northern part is situated in the most southern canton of Switzerland – named Ticino: this is the reason why we love to consider Lake Maggiore as a big and single territory without any border, an extraordinary region made of stunning scenarios, lovely villages, rich in romance and perfect for a dreamy wedding.

Exactly here in Brissago the CENTRO DANNEMANN is situated, a unique wedding venue located directly at Lake Maggiore in a still producing cigar manufactory, which connects a traditional art typical of this place to the nowadays modernity. Continue Reading »

Veneto region surely has great features to offer! Not far from beautiful Lake Garda you will see amazing plains and hills surrounded by the Dolomites and rivers which cross cities such as Verona, Vicenza, Padua to finally reach magical Venice.

Along Brenta River, not far from Venice, ancient noble Venetian families built outstanding abodes to spend their holidays, that could reflect their wealth and power.

Ideal extension of Venice onto the mainland, the ancient course of river Brenta lived from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century a golden age that made the area a favorite place of vacation of the rich Venetian nobles.

Along the river there are many villas designed by masters of Italian art. Along the centuries these places has been visited by artists, popes, kings, men of culture, envied for their beauty, perceived as country houses in which to celebrate the rite of procession on water, of sumptuous dinners, of parties lasted until dawn.
In Riviera del Brenta you can appreciate today blooming gardens of noble villas, water reflections intercepted by the statues, the gardens lapped by the current.

One of these wonderful villas was the perfect frame for Max and Valentina’s wedding.
17th century architectural complex called Villa Foscarini-Rossi hosted this special event we would love to tell you about today.

Valentina and Max opted for a religious ceremony in a church not far from the villa.
Parents, relatives and many friends were all waiting for the bride to come!
Church of Sanctuary of Madonna in Borbiago bride and groom chose, was adorned with beautiful white roses to keep theme Valentina wanted: very charming and romantic! Continue Reading »

We come back to you speaking about Isola Bella and this time to tell you about Cristina and Simone’s wedding on this little pearl of Lake Maggiore.

We already told you about Isola Bella and its great Italian gardens. They are the best especially in Spring time with an amazing explosion of colored flowers: camellias, rhododendrons, magnolias, wisterias, azaleas and during the year they never stop blooming.

Cristina and Simone wanted for their wedding pictures this special heaven on earth.
A lovely and warm Spring day of April was the perfect frame for their special event.

Weather on Borromeo Islands and on Lakes area is usually characterized by a period of rain that goes from 3 to 5 weeks in Spring. It vary according the year.
This year March had some rain while April was really good just like Cristina and Simone’s day. Continue Reading »

Abbazia di Santo Spirito – Villa Giannone is a wedding venue different from all the others. It is a real mix of history, art, nature and all this is just few minutes from Lake Maggiore.

This wonderful mansion is located on the hills South Lake Maggiore, only 10 minutes drive from pretty town of Arona in a unique country environment. It is a green and relaxing oasis, the perfect setting for your special day!

One of the main feature of Abbazia di Santo Spirito – Villa Giannone is that it is the only venue in Piemonte and Lombardy region that has a private chapel inside the venue itself. The romantic chapel can host your legal religious ceremony but the ceremony can be held also outdoors in the lovely garden.
Your reception can be hosted in the garden too or inside the ancient armory with arches that can seat up to 180 guests.

And let’s not forget how close the Abbazia is to Milano Malpensa airport!

Once you go inside the Abbazia you will breath the atmosphere of ancient times. The building was edified in mid 1200 by Humiliated Monks who used to farm and wool weaving.

At that time the tower was built and this is the real symbol of the Abbazia. In 1200 too was also built the pretty little private church where bride and groom can celebrate their evocative and romantic wedding.

During centuries Abbazia had several owners that changed this convent in a luxury court with horses and dogs for hunting.
At the end of 1700 Abbazia was acquired by Giannone family who is still the actual owner. The Abbazia now is a wonderful venue for elegant country weddings.

Abbazia di Santo Spirito – Villa Giannone is surrounded by a wide park with secular trees and blooming areas. The venue faces a lawn where you could celebrate your outdoor religious ceremony in the nature, such an enchanting atmosphere!

At the end of the park there is a rustic portico with stone columns with scented jasmines on. It could be the perfect place for your buffet aperitif. Over here you can also arrange lovely garden furniture or even tables and chars for your outdoor wedding meal. Continue Reading »

Balbianello Villa – Official Rental Fees 2011

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.
Click here to find official rental fee that Villa del Balbianello property gave us for 2011

Nadia and Michel: the Big Day has arrived!
First of all let us introduce you our bride and groom: Nadia and Michel both come from Germany. The groom has Italian heritage. His relatives came from Puglia Region in Southern Italy which is famous for its splendid sea.
Nadia and Michel always loved Lake Como. They visited it many times and they chose it as their wedding destination.
In order make their love dream come true they chosed a special romantic and exclusive venue. Choosing Villa del Balbianello has been more than natural, considering also how famous it is!

At their arrival Nadia and Micheal had a beautiful sunny day and they enjoyed a relaxing boat trip on Lake Como.
The day of their wedding started with a cloudy and rainy sky. Luckily, clouds left the space to the sun, creating a landscape even more evocative and unreal.
Micheal and guests’ arrival by motorboat to Villa del Balbianello, stood out in all its splendor, with the 2 gracious bell towers of the ancient Saint John Convent which stretched skywards in a myriad of clouds and shades.

Isn’t it stunning? Just look to images of the Villa seen from the Lake! The authors are again Estella & Diego of Photo27 who followed the 3 days event: boat trip on the Lake the first day, wedding to Villa del Balbianello and last but not least a beach party in Lenno on the third day, right after the wedding.

And here arrives Nadia, on board of a luxurious white motorboat. The clouds went away in the meanwhile, leaving the space to a clear sunny day…
It almost seemed that the planners arranged the sun coming too!

During the weddings, access to Villa del Balbianello, is exclusively allowed from the Lake. You are welcome by the motto “Fay ce que voudras” (do what you want) which the Cardinal Durini wanted to be engraved on the small pier. Continue Reading »

Today we are pleased to introduce you one of the most important news of the early 2010, a fantastic period residence which is going to enrich the offerings of location for wedding on Lake Orta: Villa Decio.

Villa Decio is in Lortallo, an ancient village situated between Miasino and Ameno, near the Monastery of Monte Mesma.

Lortallo is a little hidden gem of Lake Orta, outside the traditional tourist routes: Lortallo was once a place of some importance, that it had a representative in the General Council of the Riviera di San Giulio and staying separate city until the early nineteenth century.

Here, more than any other place, time seems to stand still: in a walk in the quiet cobbled streets you can meets the Tower of Baldizzone (XIII century) and a group of medieval houses in the shadow of a massive block of villas arranged bunk and facing a precipice on Lake Orta.

In this exclusive environment Villa Decio is, a nineteenth century residence adorned with 3 terraced gardens, fully exposed towards the lake.

Inside the Villa Decio there are 3 rooms furnished with antiques, with a total capacity of 90 people. If you prefer to arrange your wedding party in the garden, the terrace at the top level is equipped with a fixed wrought iron framework which can accommodate up to 120 people.

The second level, embellished with an Italian garden, is particularly suitable for a cocktail buffet. Continue Reading »

Dear readers,
we are happily proud to announce a new web site born from the experience of Italian Lakes Wedding Team, this is a real spin off and it is called Italian Country Wedding!
Italian Countryside seemed to us another lovely idea side of the lakes for the ones who are are looking for a different, romantic, relaxing and pleasant kind of wedding.

On Italian Country Wedding web site you will discover a multitude of choices for unique ceremony and reception, an intimate elopement, sites, small town hospitality, and a variety of activities for you and your guests in the Italian countryside
Surfing on Italian Country Wedding you will undiscovered and unspoiled places to create the perfect setting for a special and real country wedding: gardens, vineyards, country villas, traditional Italian restaurants, agriturismos or farm houses, or even in a wonderful castle!

Italian Country Wedding is specialized in weddings across Piedmont region and Langhe and Monferrato country side areas….just have a look at it we are sure you will be amazed by the charm of countryside!

It’s the most voluptuous place in the world that I’ve ever seen. The surrounding nature enchants with thousands of hidden seductions which give the sensation of being immersed in the rarest sensuality and refinement.
This is how Gustave Flaubert described this part of the Piedmont coast where the Lake Maggiore opens up into the Borromean Gulf, a green bay between the centers of Stresa and Pallanza, the two most brilliant gems of the Verbano.

The Grand Hotel Majestic is located in Pallanza, which faces the Island of St. Giovanni, the thirty-year summer residence of Arturo Toscanini. It is a fascinatingly beautiful Belle Epoque hotel distinguished by its incomparable architectural dignity, grand frescoed rooms and extensive lakeside English garden. Its construction became the impetus for the city’s booming tourism in 1870.

The optimal motivating attraction for nobles and the elite to choose to construct their luxurious villas in this region was primarily the agreeable situation amongst the exceptional panoramic peacefulness of the cape complete with surrounding mountains and mild climate.

From many of the hotel’s 99 rooms and 4 suites the dreamlike view of the lake’s serenity, surrounded by the mountains and the captivating beauty of the Borromean Island’s architectural and botanic artistry, can be marveled at. On the Isola Madre and the Isola Bella, just a few minutes away from the hotel by boat, the Borromeo Dynasty buit two luxurious domiciles in the 600’s surrounded by some of the most beautiful gardens of the Lake Maggiore. Of all the gardens in the world, these gardens are surpassed in the beauty only by the magnificent botanical gardens of Villa Taranto housing 20.000 plants species, 1.000 of which had never been cultivated in Italy before. The garden is within walking distance from the Grand Hotel.

Enchanted by the aquamarine panorama of the lake, as seen from the terrace of Majestic, Eleonora Duse had her tailor fashion a dress “…in the same color as the lake”. Among an array of illustrious artists who have been accommodated in the ambience of the Grand Hotel are Grazia Deledda and the composer Claude Debussy. To name a few, the boats of the Stuarts, the Queen of Romania, the monarchs of Italy, the noble families of Germany, Indian Princes and Maharaja were docked here…In short, the personalities symbolizing “bon vivre” of the 800’s have enjoyed the splendor of the hotel.

After some decades of decline, the Grand Hotel Majestic underwent a long restoration period and was returned the dignity of its past. Its rejuvenation brings the true value of its classical style to life and gives the impression of being immersed in an atmosphere of times gone by, all the while offering its guests adequate services with attention focused on today’s comforts. Continue Reading »

Bellagio lies directly on Como Lake and is crossed by a main street called via Garibaldi, which is criss-crossed by suggestive lanes which run up and down the hillside to the lake.
The most famous is called Salita Serbelloni. Here, a plaque marks the long stay of the musician Franz Liszt.
This romantic landscape it’s the perfect frame for your dreaming wedding day.
Bellagio, famous for the magnificent villas is one of the most refined location for your special event. It’s not easy to find so magical venues preserved as they were still in their maximum splendor period. And this area it’s particularly rich of villas rentable for weddings and unique occasions. The typical italian gardens of the Villas will impress your guests and the pictures of your wedding day will be simply astonishing.
After the unforgettable ceremony moment, while your guests start to refresh themselves with a delightful aperitif on a terrace, you could have the pleasure to discover fascinating corners of this ancient small town going for a brief and romantic walk, in order to relax a bit after the eternal promise. 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!

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 »