Once the location was decided, it could start the teamwork of the Russian and Italian wedding planners. Misha, the head of the Russian wedding planner team, was the creative author of the event, ensuring to respect the Russian traditions very important both for the spouses and the guests. While the Italian team was responsible for the scene, the decorations and the realization of the creative ideas together with our trusted, professional suppliers. After a lot of working hours during the day and night, videoconferences through skype with the spouses, and finally the BIG day has arrived. Actually, it was not just the day itself, but a complete weekend with 3 days program, full of surprises for the guests…

After an exciting and funny treasure hunting in Venice, the wedding party arrived in Desenzano the night before. Followed by a hectic morning with the preparations, the guests arrived In the villa, where a refreshing rich aperitif welcomed them in the loan area, with delicious fingerfood and lot of champagne to admire the scene on comfortable sofas and pillows. Little white fans were offered to the women, to be able to support better the hot temperature. Soft jazz music gave background to the peaceful moment. Then the special wedding guest ( a tradition in Russia) called the guests to join him in front of the stage, decorated with the romantic white huppah and lively red flowers in huge white glass vases.

After the entrance of the Groom and the Bridesmaids, finally Olesya has appeared on the water, in a little fishing boat. A man in a sailor’s striped vest was rowing the boat, then slowed down in front of the guests to allow to everybody the celebrate the Bride’s arrival. Then the boat went to the pier, where Mothers of the groom and the bride met Olesya, holding candles in their hands.

After the romantic ceremony under the huppah, the guests took place at the tables, decorated with a fabulous flower cup in the middle and apples signaling the places of each guests. And this is the point when the wedding started to be very different from the italian weddings: in the breaks between the different plates of the dinner, various entertaining activities ensured that the guests are having fun. They had “fake” waiters turning up as singers with traditional italian songs, a little “group work” to build sketches with objects taken from different nations’ wedding traditions, a creative corner where every guests could create his/her own personalized venetian mask, a caricaturist to make funny drawing of the participants. But the main spectacle was the first dance of the newly wed spouses, who danced a romantic classical ballet piece (as both of them are found of classical ballet, and the Bride practicing also actively this beautiful art).

Obviously, fireworks couldn’t be missing to complete this very special evening, together with a romantic slideshow projection of the photos of Olesya & Fedor in Venice, few days before the wedding. Music and dance closed the event, while the surprise limousine (organized by the groom) didn’t come to take the spouses to their hotel to their first night as husband and wife….

And it still did not finish: the day after a relaxing boat trip was offered to the guests to exploit better lake Garda before leaving our beautiful lakeshores.

We take the opportunity to say a big thank you for the Russian wedding planner team, and all our suppliers for this amazing weekend, and we wish again all the best and forever love to Olesya & Fedor!

Virag Lochinger is the Italian Lakes Wedding’s coordinator for lake Garda and lake Como area.
Having numerous years of experience in marketing and event management, she is a very accurate and trustful person to organize your very special wedding in the beautiful lakeshores of Garda.

For more information about weddings on lake Garda, please contact us.

All Images © Mauro Pozzer.
Mauro Pozzer was born in Vicenza and he’s a Lake Como lover.
He’s a wedding photographer with a long experience in ceremonial photography.
His unique style captures the events and its unique details emphasizing with his shots emotions and expressions of each special event.
For a gallery of wedding reportages please visit his website www.mauropozzer.com.

So in this surrounding we find the Villa Margherita. Its special view on the lake, its beauty and its calmness with its huge garden and a refreshening swimming pool do create the special atmosphere of Villa Margherita.

The villa is situated in the hills above Oggebbio, near Verbania, just some k´s from Ascona and Locarno and only 90 k´s from the international airport Milan Malpensa.

Villa Margherita is a location dated back to the 19th century, freshly restored, an ideal location for any kind of reception. The interior is well thought, modern and charming with particular attention to all details, so this makes your moments so fascinating.

The location is ready to organize civil as well symbolic weddings.
If you look for a religious wedding, Villa Margherita has not far from it the church S. Agata at Novaglio, which appears in gothic style. One of the most scenographic churches around Lake Maggiore. In the middle of a camp with blooming hills and fig-trees and chestnut-trees. So this is the ideal church for a stylish country wedding.

Once ending with the ceremony you may organize the reception in the gardens of the villa, in between of roses and jasminium surrounded by stone walls which are covered with Ficus Repens.

The parc of Villa Margherita is laid out in terraces, the highest terrace near the house itself is the one with the most panoramic view. The lower terraces have lots of deck chairs to relax and enjoy the deep green and finely curated lawn – it almost seems to be a carpet. Here you find as well the pool.

After the aperitivo in villa you can organize a refreshing boat trip, so you pass at all the sight-seeing points from Cannero Riviera, the little ruins of the Castles of Cannero. They look like as coming out of the water, once they belonged to pirates of the lake. More north driving into Switzerland you may admire the wonderful islands of Brissago with their famous botanic gardens that contains even exotic trees, colours and perfumes.

Coming back to Villa Margherita the dinner will be served in the pavillon with lake view. You find a wooden pavement with lots of lemon and mandarin trees and again stone walls. The pavillon has capacity until 60 guests and holds the air fresh when hot weather is around.

For spouses and their guests Villa Margherita may offer 18 charming rooms, welcoming and planned with every detail. To see much more have a look on this short video.

Villa Margherita is a perfect venue for an elegant wedding, in harmony with nature, so you may enjoy all natural beauty offered by the Lake Maggiore. Come and see for yourself, you will remain impressed !

Britta Hartmann-De Marchi is german and therefore the specialist for German, Austrian and Swiss couples coming to the lake Region for getting married.

She herself got married 10 years ago and choose an Italian husband. Enjoying to live here in Bella Italia and coming from 14-years-experience in international advertising and marketing, she liked to change her job into becoming organizer of weddings for german-(and english-) speaking people coming to Italy for their marriage.

Britta does like the Lake Como, as this is the most hidden lake and not yet too touristy. Lots of nice villas and hotels are very charming. Tiny and cute townhalls offer their services for civil weddings. The same values she sees in the small lake Orta. Not to forget Lago Maggiore and Lake Garda.

Coming from Germany and knowing what to expect in Italy, she is the perfect organizer between bride and groom and the Italian service partners. Correctness, flexibility and a easy hand to plan all details around a wedding make her work very appreciated. “The most emotional part is, when I become almost the best friend of the bride during all the planning time you share with each other. So we both do enjoy the wedding day in its best form and this is important for my work”.

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.
When at the end of the of the eighteenth Century he took care of the renewal of the Villa to transforming it in the ‘place of the delights’.
From the little pier, a steep stair leads to the gardens and then to the Villa, which is located a little higher.

What a fantastic scenery! Not by chance this Villa was chosen in the past as cinematographic set for famous movies such as 007 Casino Royale and Star Wars II – Attack of the Clones.

Have a look at the video taken from Star Wars, with the romantic scene of the first kiss between Padme and Anakin filmed Villa del Balbianello Terrace.

Going back to Nadia and Michel wedding…we need remark how much bride and groom wanted to give an original touch, choosing as event dress code total white.
Majority of guests wore white both women and men.

Nadia was given away by his brother Matthew, waiting for her at the beautiful Loggia of the Villa, to lead her the Map Room, where a religious blessing took place.

Villa del Balbianello gardens have a sober and refined elegance. Indoor spaces are richly furnished with French and English furniture, oriental rugs, tapestries and big chandeliers. The Map Room has a complete collection of maps together with more than 4000 books telling experiences of travels made all around the world.
After the ceremony all guests went to the cocktail arranged on the big Loggia.
They all enjoyed a spectacular view on the Lake Como, just think about sipping a drink in such a special location!

Dinner was served in the elegant Pavillion of the villa on the Lake.

At night, atmosphere at Villa del Balbianello became even more romantic and evocative!

Reception party ended with a grand fireworks show, with a unique final: an enormous sparkling heart. What a show!

A wedding such as Nadia and Michel’s one needs a long preparation and a detailed care on any details.

Newlyweds lived their planning in total relax thanks to their wedding planners’ team who assisted and supported them in each decision. The result was a magic and perfect event, a real stress-free wedding at Villa del Balbianello!

For any information about wedding to Villa del Balbianello, contact us or leave a post in the proper field below.
In alternative you can write at the following address: info@villabalbianello.com.

March is such a perfect day for a romantic wedding in Orta San Giulio. Village is not crowded by tourists yet and enchanted intimacy make it a different world.
Do not forget that March could also have wonderful sunny days!

At first sight it could seem curious but Giuseppe and Daniela live close to Como. But they actually chose Lake Orta.
We would like to let them speak about that:

We chose Lake Orta even if we live close to Como. This because it quiet, romantic and more intimate. Walking in the narrow roads of Orta Village seems to live again ancient times experiencing unique atmospheres. They are just perfect for a wedding. We were more than happy of our choice.

From Como to Orta for a romantic wedding: a simple choice.

The civil ceremony has been held to Villa Bossi and its Orta town hall 1700 building. Such an intimate ceremony with close family and friends. They celebrated in in the garden on open air but in this occasion the garden seemed so quiet and romantic like it and Orta village was all for Daniela and Giuseppe!

Villa Bossi with its entrance from the lake it is simply scenographic. Ceremony in the garden is surely different from a room in a town hall. In fact since the civil ceremony is shorter than the religious one we wanted it to be special and unique.
Thanks to Ms Roberta our celebrant to Town Hall this was possible.

As far as Villa Bossi is concerned I’ve created ivory roses and white gerberas arrangements, They were like a bunches and fixed on the columns. I’ve also added some gerberas on the buxus that enrich the villa aisle. It was simple but very elegant matching Daniela and Giuseppe style.

We wanted our guests enjoy a motorboat tour and we took some time to have some pictures in the pretty village of Orta. When guests came back we jumped on the motorboat too and we reached St. Julius Island the location we chose for our wedding reception.

Right into the quietness of St.Julius Island, just on the shores, St. Julius Restaurant bears great scenarios and a warm atmosphere.
St. Julius Restaurant suggests regonal Piemonte dishes.
You can taste them on the terrace or inside the wonderful rooms of 1700 with frescoes just amazing!

We chose St. Julius Island because we decided for the lake as main theme and so we wanted to reach it only by lake! After seeing a lot of venues we thought it was the most intimate and the managers of the restaurant are very kind and friendly.

A wonderful day with a bright sun and an intimate and romantic atmosphere even more than usual!

We would like to send Daniela and Giuseppe our best wishes and a warm thank you for choosing Lake Orta.

All images: © Studio FOTO BIANCHI – via Cavour 7 22069 Rovellasca (Como)

Monika Andenmatten is La Piccola Selva’s floral designer.
Based in lake Orta, has worked with brides for over 20 years to create floral arrangements for weddings in the Italian Lakes district.
His wedding arrangements are creative, elegant and sophisticated. Monika will be able to help you choose how best to incorporate floral design into your wedding celebrations. From the initial consultation to the wedding day, she will make your wedding flowers truly an expression of your dreams.
For any information about wedding on Lake Orta please contact us.

In occasion of Kristi and Ben wedding, a nice and friendly couple, we’re here again talking about Villa del Balbianello. Ben comes from UK, Kristi is Australian: both are two young successful people in the high finance.

Kristi and Ben were looking for the best for their wedding: and so the decision of choosing Italy, Lake Como and above all Villa del Balbianello
For their video service they chose Myitalianwedding, specialists on Lake Como weddings.

Myitalianwedding always offers an accurate and top level service, working constantly with the best Italian and International wedding planning agencies.
For more information please visit www.myitalianwedding.net.

Bellagio, the beautiful small Town located in front of Lenno promontory, was chosen as ‘departure point’. Bride and groom, together with relatives and friends slept at the prestigious Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni. They to left it with a private boat, crossing the lake toward the small pier of Cadenabbia Ascension Church.

Anglican Church of Cadenabbia is an authentic architecture jewel studied by young Italian architect Giuseppe Brentalo. Church has been completed and consecrate in 1891, it was built over the ruins of an antique chapel located inside the Hotel Bellevue park.

The wedding ceremony was very touching, thanks also to ladies voices choir who accompanied hymns and thanks to music of string quartet as background.
Flowers decoration was very refined,too. It was planned all on white tones, in a profusion of roses, Lisianthus and daisies.

To note the stunning Gypsophila chains which adorned the Church benches and the white roses petals all over the floor, from the main entrance to the major altar.

At the end of the ceremony, after the usual kisses and congratulations, Kristi and Ben got on a motorboat from Church pier which was waiting for them. They were followed by a ferry with all the relatives and friends on board. Destination: Villa del Balbianello.

Villa del Balbianello dock is something really unique and evocative. It is characterized by elaborated wrought iron gates and it is dominated by 4 columns on which are located enormous amphorae. From here a little parh conducts to the Villa which dominates the area from a hill, surrounded by a panoramic terraced garden.

But real masterpiece of Villa del Balbianello is the elegant three arcades Loggia, thickly covered by a majestic Ficus Repens. The Loggia allows a double landscape: Tremezzina on one side (central lake) and on the other side basin toward Comacina Island.

Gorgeous Italian Style gardens are the real breathtaking part of the villa. They gradually go down to the Lake and they are all very detailed where numerous plane trees, pruned in a chandelier shape, stand out: what a fabulous scenery for the newlyweds and their guests!

After a rich aperitif served under the Loggia an elegant dinner followed. It was arranged in the elegant Pavillion on the lake.
To be noticed the fantastic centerpieces created in high ‘Martini’ glasses: an authentic floral cascade with long white Phalaenopsis orchids stems, together with Lisianthus and green Molucella.

The party continued between dances, speeches and toast until the final apotheosis of the fireworks on the lake.
A fantastic end of a real unforgettable wedding at Villa del Balbianello!

All images and video © Myitalianwedding. All rights reserved. Use without permission is illegal.

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.

The lowest level of the garden is instead available for guests to set up a small living room from which to view the fantastic scenery in complete relax.

The highlight of Villa Decio is in fact its exceptional panoramic position, much higher than other locations nearby, such as the Miasino Castle or Villa Pestalozza. A breathtaking view that sweeps across Lake Orta, the island of San Giulio, Pella, Madonna del Sasso and the perennially snow-capped summit of Mount Rosa.

While the beauty of a painting shines thanks to the right place, Villa Decio could not enjoy a better context to assert its own characteristics: authenticity, exclusivity and breathtaking scenery.

For more information, availability and quote requests, please contact Villa Decio filling out the form below:

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Photos 1 and 2: Mauro De Luca – Italian Lakes Wedding © all rights reserved.

What happens when you fall in love with the romantic atmosphere of Lake Orta and breathtaking panoramas of Lake Maggiore? You choose both! Just like Cassy and Gary did.

Cassy and Gary opted to have their civil ceremony to Villa Bossi on Lake Orta and their reception to Villa Rusconi on Lake Maggiore. The two most beautiful lakes of Piemonte region together for a wonderful event!

Cassy ang Gary came from United Kingdom with their relatives and friends and decided to have their accommodation in Orta San Giulio.

Before the ceremony all guests met Gary in Orta main square for wonderful pictures with
St. Julius island in the background and some drinks. Then all of them walked to closer town hall.

As soon as main square was empty Cassy arrived by foot with her dad and 4 pretty and blond green-dressed bridesmaids.

Acid green was Cassy and Gary’s theme color together with white. A very trendy and elegant color scheme. Cassy wanted them for all little details of her wedding: bridesmaids’ dresses, best man and ushers’ ties, and of course flower arrangements made by Monika, La Piccola Selva floral designer.
Monika paid her lovely attention preparing Cassy’s bouquet relized with Super Green roses, white Phalaenopsis orchids, green hydrangeas and Pittosporum greenery.

From Orta main square Cassy, her father and bridesmaids get on board of rowing boats to reach the town hall where relatives and friends and most of all Gary in his elegant light grey tight suit, were all waiting for them.

After civil ceremony, they had lovely wedding group pictures and a romantic trip to St. Julius Island for some other unforgettable photos. A coach was waiting for guests and a private care was waiting for Cassy and Gary to move all the party on Lake Maggiore, Villa Rusconi Clerici was their destination.

The weather was wonderful and gave the occasion to the group to have a rich aperitif in the garden of the villa just on the shores. A delicious dinner to follow in the wide pavilion arranged with white tables and chairs and most of all a unique floral arrangement.

It perfectly respected Cassy’s ideas: a floating rose inside a tall glass vase with a round-shaped composition on top in which Monika put the same kind of flowers she used for the bridal bouquet. She simply added some green Hypericum berries and white gerberas, and a little touch of falling ivy on one side. Cassy chose for her wedding stationery an acid green theme with little crystals catching sun rays.

Atmosphere was magical thanks to an amazing sunset on the lake. After the dinner, dances,open bar and sweet buffet in the cellar of the villa with a “grand final”: a huge wedding cake with cream, white chocolate and lovely Monika’s flowers.

An unforgettable night followed by a great summer vacation that newly wed with their relatives and friends spent just on Lake Orta. What a Summer!

For more information about weddings on Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore please contact the Italian Lakes Wedding Team.

Note from the authors:
This post was meant to be published with lot of the delay because of loss of professionalism of official photographer of the event who come from UK: Edward Cheater from Hotshots Photography.
After 9 months from Cassy and Gary’s wedding, in spite of many promises we did not receive official photos of the event. For this reason we decided to publish this post using SposiamoVi pictures (which are lovely too). If you are looking for a photographer for your wedding we would suggest to choose him or her not only by his/her skills but also by his professionalism and seriousness. Isn’t it Mr. Cheater?

Mark is professional plane pilot and for this reason he wanted arrive to his wedding with the mean he loves: an airplane of course!

All guests and Judith too, were amazed and surprised! Mark glided with his seaplane on the lake just in front of Villa Rusconi gardens where all was read for the ceremony. Such a great entrance!

Scott was excited too looking at Mark arrival! Scott was the special guest of the wedding, the most wanted and pampered! Scott had a wonderful flowers collar with white and lilac freesias. He was simply proud of that!
It was a great satisfaction for this wonderful Broholmer dog…it doesn’t happen every day to be the special guest to a wedding!

As usual Villa Rusconi garden on the shores was a stunning scenario for wedding photographs.

The rooms inside the villa with grand staircase, antique furniture and frescoes were lovely spots too. Thanks to owner’s special permission Judith had the pleasure to have some pictures taken in this fairy tale frame. Doesn’t she look like a princess?

Symbolic ceremony was held in the wide garden facing the lake.

Party went on until late at night with music, dances and lot of fun.

Our deepest congratulations to Judith and Mark from all Italian Lakes Wedding Team and… congratulations to Scott too for his wonderful flowered collar!

For more information about weddings in Villa Rusconi Clerici – lake Maggiore – please contact the Italian Lakes Wedding Team.

Matteo and Mariana are an Italian-Armenian couple who live and work in London. Matteo is originally from Torino and he is just like every good boy coming from Piemonte, he is in love with his own homeland. Over time, Mariana was infected with this love as well, and thus their decision to choose one of the most charming places in Piedmont for their wedding: the Lake Orta.

Fun and joy are two words which perfectly describe Mariana and Matteo’s wedding. You will certainly see that in the photos accompanying this post: pictures that tell of their friend’s feast and fun, the first pranks of marriage, the couple’s happiness after the ceremony… emotions and feelings captured by Maren Ollmann’s lens from the Photography Studio Ollmann/Ottaviano in Torino. In the PHOTO GALLERY you will find 27 exceptional shots filled with the passion and magic which bring together the most wonderful emotions of Mariana and Matteo’s Big Day.

Mariana and Matteo’s wedding on the Lake Orta took place in 3 venues: Hotel Villa Crespi, where the bride and groom and their relatives stayed, the Church, Sacro Monte di Orta, where the religious ceremony took place, and finally Villa Ortea, where the wedding reception continued till the early lights of dawn.

For their stay in Orta and their first wedding night, Mariana e Matteo chose the Executive Suite in Hotel Villa Crespi. It was a fantastic room overlooking the lake with XVIII century furniture, a refined marble bathroom with a hydromassage and a magnificent four poster bed.

The religious ceremony, a mixed catholic-orthodox service, was celebrated in the beautiful church of Sacro Monte in Orta. As the flower designer I was in charge of the floral arrangements, which I created with the precious assistance of my colleague, Manuela.
The entire design, begun with bride’s bouquet. It was based on large Lilium Longiflorum and various types of greenery, in particular Aspidistra and Bear Grass.

When the religious ceremony ended, bride and groom left the church in a bright red Fiat 500 from the 60s. While driving the legendary Italian car, Mariana and Matteo reached lake shores for the must-have, keepsake photos. Then they kept on driving to Villa Ortea, where their guests were waiting for them.

Villa Ortea is certainly one of the most beautiful settings on Lake Orta. It is surrounded by a wide park it has a fantastic view of the lake. A warm summer evening helped organize the reception in the garden. Special retro-lit tables were decorated with candelabras that Manuela and I had covered with various greenery, white rose buds and large slices of old movie film.

CINEMA, in fact, was for Mariana and Matteo’s wedding theme. Wedding soundtrack was made up by music and actors’ voices by famous films from the past, just like like Gone with the Wind, On the Waterfront, and the Dolce Vita by Federico Fellini.

On the tables, in addition to the candelabras and old movie film, there were glass table mats imprinted with a famous picture of Charlie Chaplin. A magnificent, gigantic table chart displayed photos of the guests as if they were pictures from an old film.

An original and truly amusing idea for one of the most enjoyable weddings I have worked for in 2009.
Mariana e Matteo: Get Married… and have a good time on Lake Orta!

All pictures were taken by Ollmann/Ottaviano Photography Studio in Torino. For further details please visit the site www.photographi.it
For information contact the Studio at the email address marenollmann@virgilio.it
or call +39 349 63 66 903.

Monika Andenmatten is La Piccola Selva’s floral designer.
Based in lake Orta, has worked with brides for over 20 years to create floral arrangements for weddings in the Italian Lakes district.
His wedding arrangements are creative, elegant and sophisticated. Monika will be able to help you choose how best to incorporate floral design into your wedding celebrations. From the initial consultation to the wedding day, she will make your wedding flowers truly an expression of your dreams.

For more information about weddings on Lake Orta please contact us.