Amy and Kevin are both Americans and they choose the wonderful scenarios of Lake Maggiore for their Italian Wedding.

For Italian Lakes Wedding Team our musicians of Koinè String Quartet were present. They created the perfect soundtrack for this lovely event on the lake shores with their enchanting music.

It was just amazing playing in such a wonderful and romantic frame.
The weather seemed to be grey but at the end the sun came out unexpectedly just few minutes before the ceremony. The sun was just as a guest invited by bride and groom and He could not say no!
Silvia – Koinè String Quartet

This wedding was arranged between Stresa and Pallanza with a Belle Epoque style of Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées in Stresa and spectacular Villa Rusconi in Pallanza.

Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées is one of the best and most luxury hotels on Lake Maggiore. It is located on Stresa lakeside facing Borrome Islands. The hotel recalls golden times of Belle Epoque thanks to its frescos and plasters.

Blue lake was the background together with the magic sun of this perfect day!

We would like to tell you about Amy and Kevin’s wedding thanks to precious shots taken Marine Fonteyne, the lovely photographer who gave us the pictures of the event.

Amy’s first impressions after seeing the pictures of the wedding were more than enthusiastic:

Marine,
 these photos are amazing!!! 

My favorite is the one of me and the bridesmaids on the boat.
I also really like the one of me boarding the boat. The black and white makes it look like it happened in a film of Federico Fellini. 
Thank you so much!

- Amy

Marine Fonteyne has a Belgian heritage but was born in Brazil and now live in Milan.

She has a master and degree in marketing and advertising.

Since 2003 works in Italy. With more than 12 years experience she can match her tecnique with great feminine sensitivity to tell your wonderful day in an original and unique way!

Marine has a very feminine style.

She works with a team made up of only women. According to Marine only a woman can really get the importance and the feeling of a wedding day!

Marine Fonteyne is a WPJA member. The Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA) is a professional organization composed of photojournalists and wedding photographers from around the world.

She won in 2008 2 international prizes of important American magazine Bride’s Magazine.

But we let Marine Fonteyne tell us Amy and Kevin’s big day!

This is a perfect example of an American wedding with an Italian flavor!

A refined couple from Chicago, in love with Italy , especially with Lago Maggiore, choose this place to celebrate their union at Villa Rusconi Clerici – Verbania Pallanza.

Every single detail was thought with extremely good taste & finesse.
The day was spectacular and, as the hours passed by, the sky got bluer and the sun shined, perfect conditions for an open air celebration!

The couple & guests were staying at Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées in Stresa and sailed in typical lake boats to the Villa waiting for the arrival of the bride & brides-maids.
The time when the bride boarded the little boat reminded… a Fellini’s movie!

At Pallanza, the grooms were blessed in an open-air ceremony by a protestant pastor as the sun was shining over the lake and a little orchestra was playing classic music … an extremely spiritual scene!
The whole event has been perfectly set up with a extremely good taste, matching the American traditions with the Italian charm!

The dinner has been held in a separated covered part of the garden and the night was closed with the magical atmosphere created by hundreds of candles floating in the lake!
Enjoy!
Marine

Thank you very much Marine for your amazing shots!
…Amy and Kevin, just another great wedding on Lake Maggiore!

Cinzia and Christian, Melissa and Cameron: two distant couple connected by a red themed wedding.

Red is color of love, a warm and passionate color. It is a interesting and charming color. In many cultures it is the representation of beauty. Indian, Mussels and Chines brides usually wear red to celebrate love, passion and romanticism.

Melissa and Cameron for their wedding chose to have red all around.
Just have a look to bridesmaids and flower girls dresses, groom tie and of course on the table centerpieces and bridal bouquet.

They decided to celebrate their big day to Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées. Luxury rooms with red and gold colors matched perfectly with Melissa and Cameron’s theme.

Wedding ceremony was held in one of the most beautiful rooms of the hotel. You could admire tapestries, mosaics, and precious marbles which evoke wonderful Belle Epoque times.

Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées is one of the most exclusive hotel in Stresa on Lake Maggiore. It has a wide park facing Borromeo Gulf and a stunning view on Isola Bella and Pescatori Island.

Melissa and Cameron together with their family and friends decided to have great pictures in the amazing rooms of the hotel. All images are taken by Photo27 from Milano. A great service to underline Melissa and Cameron’s special Red Themed Wedding to Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées.

Thanks to photographer Piero Gatti’s – Studio Foto Smile Baveno – images, we can show you this wonderful idea.
Piero Gatti is an experienced photographer who worked many times at Grand Hotel des Iles de Borromées and in general on Lake Maggiore. Hiring him means having by your side a skilled professional who knows every secret of these places.

Stresa Mayor recently agreed for the possibility of a “twin ceremony” . Legal ceremony to be held to town hall building of 1700 in Stresa main center before and an extra ceremony conducted by Mayor himself, directly to Grand Hotel des Iles de Borromées.

Celebrating a wedding to Grand Hotel des Iles de Borromées means breath Belle Epoque atmosphere among rich tapestries, antique forniture, mosaics, Murano chandeliers and wonderful plants and flowers.

If you would like to have your civil ceremony outside, stunning gardens of the hotel could be the right frame for an unforgettable service among statues, marble fountains and azaleas, magnolias and oleanders.

At the end of ceremony you could each Isola Bella with a motorboat for amazing wedding pictures.
In the meanwhile your guests could have a boat tour too visiting Borromeo archipelagos and taste a lovely aperitif on board.

And then back to the reception at the hotel! It will be arranged in one of the stunning function room. This is really a dream….one of the most famous venue on Lake Maggiore: Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées.

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 civil legal weddings in Stresa, Lake Maggiore, please contact us.

Times changed but atmosphere you can breath there is still the same!
Stresa is one of the most famous touristy Northern Italy destination thanks to its wonderful nature and easy accessibility.
Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées is located right into a stunning secular park with precious marble statues. Its beautiful fountains at the entrance with its elaborated statue is one of the most famous places on Stresa lake sidewalk.

Hotel is just in front of the lake just fews steps from Stresa main center. The view from its rooms is simply spectacular: you can see beautiful Borromeans Islands ad Alps surrounding the lake.

Across the years the hotel has been constantly renewed, just keeping its Belle Epoque style. Common areas are decorated with wonderful plants and flowers, Murano chandeliers, colored mosaics.
At night atmosphere is even more elegant thanks to piano bar playing.

Marble restrooms, antique furniture, rich tapestries and Murano chandeliers create a rich and conformable atmosphere. Every stage of the hotel has a own gallery inspired by a certain period of italian art.

Function rooms are able to host up to 350 people. Fine and elegant restaurant can offer a gourmand cuisine with many traditional courses too. Very skilled staff, chef and modern equipments are able to guarantee a wonderful and qualified service.

Chef composed wedding menu suggestions for every kind of taste and need. As far as the organization of the event is concerned, hotel is able to provide suggestions on menus, photographers, florist and solve all little concerns related to the planning of the event.

Hotel has also two swimming pools, tennis court, indoor swimming pool, a bright gym, steam bath, hammam and wellness center that can assist bride and ladies during the preparation for the wedding with professional hair style and make up.

The ones who read Hemingway know that one of his most famous novel – Farwell to Arms – has been set on Lake Maggiore. Many other artists and intellectuals loved this place and have been inspired by deep waters surrounded by Alps and stunning vegetation. We can remember Flaubert, Wagner, Goethe, Oscar Wilde, G.B. Shaw and many others.

Nowadays remembering this wonderful period, these lovely places on the coast are still a perfect destinations for glamour weddings. We would like to suggest you an elegant and charming event in one of these historical hotels on the lake.
Let’s go discovering them thanks to wonderful images taken by Claudio Fogli and Piero Gatti photographers. They both know very well the area and they have a long experience for weddings on best venues of the area.

Our trip discovering historical hotels on Lake Maggiore begins from Stresa. The most famous destination is Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées for sure. It faces lake shore right into a wide secular park. From its rooms you will enjoy a wonderful view on Borromean Islands and Alps. The hotel garden host a famous and wonderful marble fountain one of the most known places in Stresa.

Regina Palace Hotel is very famous too. It was opened in 1908 and recently renewed. Regina Palace is a leading liberty style hotel that was able to keep the same appeal and atmosphere of fin de siècle. A wonderful garden surrounds the hotel, the ideal set for stunning wedding pictures.

Grand Hotel Bristol is the only neoclassical building on Stresa Lake sidewalk. Hotel Bristol is very elegant and fine. It has all luxury and leading hotel features: boiserie, rich tapestries, crystal and marble chandeliers and even glass domes and wonderful carpets. Outdoor swimming pool is right into a rich park overlooking Isola Bella.

Lido Palace Hotel, opened in 1857, is located in Baveno – between Stresa and Verbania. Hotel has an amazing past, a magic view over Borromeo Islands and a tasteful cuisine. It combines modern structures comforts to traditional and romantic style that has delighted visitors for more than a century. Queen Victoria stayed here during her visit in 1879 and Winston Churchill choose it to spend his honeymoon.

Going North we would like to suggest a wonderful Hotel. It is one of the few with direct access to the lake. It is located in Pallanza just in front of little Island of San Giovanni. Grand Hotel Majestic is just few steps from Pallanza center walking distance or boat distance from town hall where you could set your lovely civil ceremony.

You will enjoy a lovely aperitif in the garden of the hotel or on one of the terraces and a gourmand dinner to follow in beautiful Toscanini Room that can host up to 150 people. This room takes its name from famous Maestro that spent some time here and also took the occasion to direct a little orchestra. A very elegant destination!

Here we finish the first part of our trip discovering historical hotels on Lake Maggiore. We will be back telling you about some others finding our other wonderful places on this lake.

After more than 300 years, Grand Tour tradition – the long and legendary travel across Europe that young British aristocrats used to do – continues. We hope that you fell in love with the poetry hidden behind these wonderful hotels on Lake Maggiore. They are not just hotels but they have many stories to tell and live.
These are exclusive and fine destinations for the ones who want to know real Italian elegance!

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 wedding venues and hotels on Lake Maggiore, please contact us.

All images © Italian Lakes Wedding and:
Photo 1, Palazzo Borromeo: Piero Gatti – Foto Smile, Baveno
Photo 2, Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées
Photo 3, Grand Hotel Des Iles Borromeès: Piero Gatti – Foto Smile, Baveno
Photo 4, Hotel Regina Palace: Claudio Fogli – Foto Pony, Pallanza
Photo 5, Grand Hotel Bristol: Claudio Fogli – Foto Pony, Pallanza
Photo 6, Lido Palace Hotel: Claudio Fogli – Foto Pony, Pallanza
Photo 7, Grand Hotel Majestic: Claudio Fogli – Foto Pony, Pallanza
Photo 8, Grand Hotel Majestic: Claudio Fogli – Foto Pony, Pallanza

All Italian Lakes Wedding Team is very proud of it. The hotel is one of the most exclusive and famous on Lake Maggiore. It was built during 1800 in Belle Epoque style. Most famous people stayed in it. Grand Hotel Des Iles Borromées is the ideal destination for a wonderful and unforgettable wedding on the lakes.

We are publishing shortly a more detailed post on this wonderful leading hotel and Valentina will also tell you about best historical hotels on Lake Maggiore, Piedmont side. Stay tuned!