Italian Lakes Wedding Blog - Destination Weddings Italy

Last month prestigious soprano singer Karin Brides, has joined the Italian Lakes Music Team. Karin is gifted with a splendid voice and notable international experience in the musical area and furthermore she sings in numerous languages, English, German, French and Italian.
Recently i had the pleasure to meet Karin Brides for a chat about her activity as soprano singer at weddings. Karin is extremely gentle and cordial and deeply loves her work.
You immediately will notice this while reading this interview!

• Hi Karin, welcome to Italian Lakes Wedding Blog. What is it about your wedding music business that you are most proud of?
  Every wedding I worked at I left bride, groom and the guests deeply touched and thankful. Their reactions made me realize that the music and the singing contributed in a major way to keep the energy high, to create a peak time for them.
• How do you work with clients to choose musical selections for weddings?
  I figure out what kind of music taste they have and see if they have already songs or arias in mind.
  When I found out about the style of wedding they choose, if more private, casual or grande and official, whether a religious or civil ceremony. Then I look for songs that fit their style and location and together we create the program.
  I figure out the couple’s expectations and then work out the details or/and make some other proposals to accomplish the sound-scenery. Continue Reading »

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 »

Of the recent new hotels in the region of the Italian lakes, the Hotel Cortese in Armeno represents a uniquely successful example of the skillful blending of tradition and modernity. A perfect synthesis which, when expressed through the charm of this authentic architectural jewel at the heart of an incomparable location, provides the ideal setting in which to celebrate your wedding in refined style.

The use of local stone, precious woods and wrought-iron (typical crafts of the area) create a unique and charming atmosphere in which time seems to stop, allowing us to recover the pleasures of life at a slower pace – and thus to savour that most special of happy days.

Immersed in the tranquil scenic surroundings of Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore, only minutes away from the village of Orta San Giulio, the town of Stresa and the spectacular panorama of Mount Mottarone, the Hotel Cortese enjoys the magical atmosphere of a little historic village: the use of local stone, precious woods and wrought-iron (typical crafts of the area) create a unique and charming atmosphere in which time seems to stop, allowing us to recover the pleasures of life at a slower pace – and thus to savour that most special of happy days. Continue Reading »

We would recommend that you ask a few simple questions before taking the time to visit the venue and let alone book it!

1. Where is the venue located?
   The venue must be situated in a convenient position, not too far away from the church that you have chosen for the ceremony or too far away from the airport where all your guests will be landing. Make sure it’s not up a steep hill, difficult to reach for those who are not so athletic or those who are carrying babies.
   If you are keen on a remote location, make sure it can accommodate all your guests for the night of the wedding (or that there is an alternative option nearby) so that they won’t have to travel far after the party.
2. Are you allowed to play music and dance until late?
   Find out whether there are any restrictions with regards to playing music and dancing. Some Villas have rooms full of antiques and the owners won’t let you dance inside and some others are located in residential areas where music cannot be played after a certain time.
3. Will the venue be at your exclusive disposal?
   If you are looking for privacy and fancy a unique event, do make sure that the Villa offers exclusive hire and that nobody else will be allowed access to the premises during your stay and especially during the event. Continue Reading »

Weddings in Borromean Islands are just unique. Their incredible panorama, fragrant flowers, brilliant blue water and romantic walks make it a perfect location for your wedding in Italy.

The Borromeo Islands are a group of three small islands and two islets in the Italian part of Lake Maggiore, located in the western arm of the lake, between Verbania and Baveno to the north and Stresa to the south. Stresa is Lake’s Maggiore’s main resort since 19th century, with many luxury hotels, villas and easy access to the Borromeo Islands.

In 1817 the famous French writer Stendahl wrote, “What can one say of Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands…except to pity people who do not go mad over them.” Ernest Hemingway agreed, as well as a notable procession of famous others-Napoleon, Mussolini, Charles Dickens and English poets, William Wordsworth and Lord Byron.

These three marshy specks have stirred the imaginations of everyone from Napoleon to Stendhal, Dickens, Flaubert, Toscanini, and even Mussolini.
Isola Bella is undoubtedly the most famous of the Borromean Islands and when you see it today you can hardly imagine it as the tiny fishing village it once was. In 1632, Count Vitaliano Borromeo began its transformation with the construction of the palace and the ornamental gardens.
Isola Madre is the largest of the Borromean Islands and boasts a tranquil and enchanted atmosphere. It’s gardens are a pleasure to explore: filled with azaleas, camellias, rhododendrons, ancient wisteria they are truly beautiful.
In contrast to the other Islands, Isola Pescatori has retained it’s original charm. The Island has remained a quaint, picturesque fishing village with the traditional fishing boats anchored along the shore.

Continue Reading »

The golden rule of wedding planning is to plan an event that you can afford. Always shop around for good prices and great ideas…you can host a fabulous event without necessarily splashing a fortune!

Always start with the season and work that into the day. Fresh seasonal fruit and flowers will always offer the best value for money and superb quality. You may want to choose wedding colours that match the flowers and a wedding menu appropriate for the season. If it’s cold you will want a hearty meal whereas with hot weather you should opt for a lighter and fresher selection.

Really study your location and work with it. Make sure that the style of the wedding fits in perfectly with the venue and that you enhance the beauty of the latter with the right decoration. Look at the colors of the wall coverings, the fabrics and the soft furnishing and complement what is already there.

It doesn’t really matter what style you choose for your event as long as it reflects your personality. Do not re-create a very formal atmosphere if you are more of an easygoing person and vice versa.

The secret to create a WOW effect is consistency…the theme, the colours, the decoration need to be the same throughout the whole event in order to create a link between each moment of the party (the celebration in the church or registry office, the dinner, the dancing, etc).