From the very first email I appreciate how sweet and kind Donna was.
Mark and her had in mind a wonderful idea…. getting married outside on a rock overlooking a wonderful undiscovered spot of Italy.
Suggestion that came to my mind immediately was: Madonna del Sasso view!

So we decided to arrange all around this.
Donna and Mark arrived in Italy reaching Venice as first destination.
Then they traveled across Lake District, Lake Garda, Lake Como and they finally reached lovely Lake Orta the location they chose for their wedding.

On the day of the wedding the a warm sun of May blessed the day and all was ready for the intimate ceremony on Madonna del Sasso rock.

Mark left the hotel before Donna to reach the breathtaking rock of Madonna del Sasso while Donna was still getting ready and have some pictures with her wonderful bouquet created by Monika and Paola from La Piccola Selva.
Wonderful roses, peonies and a touch of blue… scented lavender!

Donna was one of the sweetest bride I ever had but she is a very sporty and firm woman! She is a sport racing driver!
She loves cars and bikes and she wanted a wonderful Italian car to take her to her wedding ceremony. Something vintage… Italian …a wonderful 50s Lancia Appia.

After a pleasant drive through the nature Donna reached Madonna del Sasso Rock. She was wordless….the view was stunning and Mark was waiting for her in the peace of this enchanting place.

Our professional celebrant Giuseppe was waiting for her with Mark just on the edge of the rock to perform a moving and intense ceremony overlooking a magnificent view.
This was exactly what Donna and Mark dreamt for their wedding: a wedding in the nature overlooking a unique and natural show.

After the moving and very intimate ceremony Donna and Mark took some pictures in the little garden in front of the Church of Madonna del Sasso and inside the church. The parish priest came also to congratulate and this was one of the sweetest moment of the day… he offered some sugared almonds to the couple just to wish good luck!

After the ceremony Donna and Mark came back to Orta village for some pictures and some more to St Julius Island.
Being in love with nature they decided to reach it with a rowing boat…..so romantic!

A little walk in the tiny roads of the Island and then back to Orta for a magic dinner to the restaurant of Hotel San Rocco.

Donna and Mark spent some more days in Orta and drove back to Milan to come back to US….they will definitely come back in Italy soon to enjoy some more of our wonderful country!
I hope to meet soon again!

Thanks very much to Enrico Mocci and his team for his pictures of the day!

And most of all congratulations to Donna and Mark, come back to Italy soon guys!

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 any information about wedding on Lake Orta please CONTACT US.

The bride and groom choose a symbolic blessing outdoor just on the edge of the rock of Madonna del Sasso with a stunning and romantic view on all Lake Orta and St. Julius Island.
A lovely, moving and sweet ceremony conducted by our celebrant Giuseppe.

Have a look to the vintage car Donna and Mark used to reach Madonna del Sasso. It is a vintage Lancia Appia of the 60s.
A charming touch was also the bridal bouquet with pink peonies, white roses and a delicate touch of blue (something blue just as the tradition!) of lavander and hydrangeas.

A special thank to Enrico Mocci photographer who released the pictures for Donna and Mark’s wedding in a very short time! We will come back soon talking again about this romantic American couple who choose the amazing panormas of Lake Orta for their intimate Italian wedding!

Roberta and Omar’s was a great wedding. Their guests will remember it for a long time!
Bride and Groom were really friendly, organization was perfect and they had an incredibly warm day. Temperature reached 32 degrees, so unusual to be beginning of April!

Roberta and Omar got married this morning. Sky was blue and the view from Madonna del Sasso church was simply spectacular! As we mentioned in other posts Madonna del Sasso church is a gem and it is well known to be on a rock overlooking the entire lake and its valley!

Roberta chose white as her theme color.
She opted for big Lilium Longiflorum (Easter Lily) in the church and a sweet ivory roses bouquet.

Vendela ivory roses for the centerpieces in glass cubes with some little lilac stones. These matched perfectly the atmosphere of Villa Ortea the reception venue Roberta and Omar chose for their party!

We will come back telling about Roberta and Omar’s wedding as soon as we will receive official shots of the event.
Our congratulations for lot of happiness to Roberta and Omar!

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.

Our readers will surely remember that last year we opened the season with Elisa and Tobia’s Just Married post in Madonna del Sasso church on Lake Orta.

Such an incredible coincidence!
Today’s Just Married opens with another wedding at Madonna del Sasso church: Cristina and Renzo’s one!
After wonderful season we had last year we hope that this lovely coincidence could be good luck for our bride and grooms and professionals working with us on our lakes.

Cristina and Renzo got married this late morning.
We can tell you about this thanks to Piero Gatti photographer from Studio Foto Smile in Baveno. He gave us the pictures of this wonderful event!
We’ve already spoken about Piero Gatti. He works in Stresa and on Lake Maggiore but today he reached Orta with great results as you can see!!

Cristina and Renzo come from Milan and they simply love Lake Orta.
This is the reason they decided to get married in one of the most stunning churches of this lake: Madonna del Sasso church.

Madonna del Sasso is not just a wonderful church with stunning pieces of arts inside but it also has a breathtaking view on all Lake Orta.

Cristina choose for her bouquet her favorite flowers: white tulip!
As she wanted we created for her a round shaped bouquet which matched her dress. Many tulips with little mixed leaves of Pittosporum and little flowers of Selaginella.

Congratulations to Cristina and Renzo and best wishes for a lot of happiness from all our team!

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.

It was special also for wedding images: Helen and Daehun chose Luca Rajna – Ajn Luca Rajna Progetti Fotografici – as their photographer. We met him in occasion of Loretta and Scott’s wedding on Lake Maggiore last year. Luca Rajna is a creative and innovative photographer.

For this occasion all images has been edited with a special technique called Polaroid Transfer.
Polaroid is the legendary camera of the 70s which was able to develop pictures immediately.
Polaroid transfer technique is simply pressing a just-shot photo with a Polaroid on watercolor paper. The result is really artistic an vintage with some irregolar shaped edges. Luca Rajna created the same effect for great shots of Helen and Daheun’s wedding. Have a look to PHOTO GALLERY with 70 polaroid transfers photo in it.

Helen was born in Illinois she is optimist and loves nature. She is vegetarian and loves colors and scent of flowers. After her degree to Columbia University in Manhattan she moved to South Corea where met Daehun her groom.
Helen loves South Corea and people there. After the wedding she came back over there where she teach English to elementary school to Siheung City.

Helen wanted to get married and have a lovely honeymoon across Europe. She never been over here.
It was not easy choose the right destination… then browsing on the internet Helen found out Italian Lakes Wedding and decided immediately for Madonna del Sasso church.

This lovely church was built on a rock right above Lake Orta. Madonna del Sasso church is one of the most wanted churches on the lakes and one of the most scenographic in Italy.
The inside of the church is grand, rich of works of art of 1500 and 1600.

Helen and Daehun’s wedding was intimate and simple.
Together with the couple there were only Helen’s parents, two bridesmaids (Maria Isabel and Stephanie) and Katie bride’s best friend.

There was another guest: Nellie the cute doggy girl who is the guide of Helen’s mother Wilma who is sightless.
For this reason Helen chose for the church arrangements lavander and freesias so her mother could smell the perfume of the nature!

Deep love for nature also for the bridal dress choice. it was really eco friendly.

Helen describes it like this:

My dress is made by Lindee Daniel, who is in California. It is made from two types of organic peace silk. This means, the silk worms are allowed to naturally complete their life cycle rather than being boiled alive so as to preserve the cocoons. The silk is woven by a women’s cooperative in India. Her label used to be called Puridee, but now she is changing it to her name, Lindee Daniel. The design I got is called the “Rebecca,” named after Rebecca from the Bible. It is her most popular design. She made it to measure for me and mailed it to me in Korea. 

I wanted an organic dress, so it made shopping for one easier. I didn’t have to look at millions and millions. I fell in love with this dress as soon as I found it, which was only the second day I started searching online for dresses.

Cuff Helen wore was really original. It was created by Estonian artist Krista Silvia Raak.
Wearable art for the romantic soul – this is how Krista Silvia Raak describes her works.

I am inspired from different vintage materials and of course – colors! I love all colors and feel excited about to create different color harmonies. I get lots of ideas from historical costumes- ball gowns and accessories of past centuries-Baroque, Victorian Era and Art Nouveau rich decorated dresses and elaborate embroideries. Sometimes I watch movies over and over to see beautiful vintage dresses exposed there : I love embroidered flowers- roses, orchids and all kind of fantasy flora. Old mansion interiors, antique costume jewelry and vintage millinery techniques are an endless source of inspiration.

Helen adds:

The cuff is by Krista Raak in Estonia. Her cuffs are unique designs, hand embroidered and beaded from vintage materials. She also made the earrings worn by my friend Katie in the flowered dress. The hair comb is from Million Design Company in the UK.

Ceremony in Madonna del Sasso church was really cosy accompanied by touching Psalm 104 of the Holy Bible read by Maria Isabel.
There was a light Smentana’s Moldau music as background played by a string duo. Smentana’s Moldau was written by Bohemian composer Bedrich Smetana, ad brought to fame by Italian tenor Giuseppe Cenci with Fuggi fuggi da questo cielo as title.

The violins also played the Bach Double [violin concerto], first movement. It brought back a lot of memories for me and my mom of Suzuki Institutes at Steven’s Point, WI.

At the end of the ceremony Helen and Daehun went out of the church with Mendlesshon Wedding March as background. Their guest threw petals and lavender. Mother of the bride Wilma was more then happy!

Nellie the little dog wanted to join the party too. Isn’t it cute this picture her paw together with bride and bridesmaids?

Madonna del Sasso church yard is a special place to have wonderful pictures and Helen and Daehun did not want to miss the occasion!

Bridal bouquet was really lovely. It reflected the spirit of Helen and Daehun’s wedding.
It was created by Paola one of the floral designer of La Piccola Selva with Red Passion roses and amazing Dominique callas in a bordeaux-purple shade.

Helen and Daehun reception has been arranged on St. Julius Island and cruising from Orta to the Island Daehun was the captain of the ferry too!

We told you about many times about St. Julius Island, it is a magic and ideal for more wedding pictures.
St Julius restaurant hosted bride and groom with their guests with a vegetarian and perfect eco-friendly menu.

When lights went down the group got back to Orta village.
On Summer nights Orta is really lively and appealing. Helen and Daehun took another chance to remember forever their special eco-friendly wedding on Lake Orta.

Italian Lakes Wedding Team follow the event with Valentina Lombardi and Stefania Zen as coordinators. Stefania Zen is our planner on Lake Bracciano and Rome but she often follows some weddings over Northen Lakes. So for once she forgot about Sistine Chapel and Odescalchi Castle to get into romantic atmospheres of Lake Orta… but always with a great success!
Great Teamwork and great job Stefania!

Italian Lakes Wedding Team is made up of several professional wedding planners and floral designers with a long experience on Italian Lakes locations.
The Team knows the territory in every single detail and will be able to follow you on every important choice you will take.
Our coordinators are based locally in the areas we serve so whether you decide for a wedding in Rome or Bracciano, a wedding in Como or Stresa, or a Wedding on lake Garda or Lake Orta, we will grant the same level of service.
Our Team will be able to provide you every kind of supplier, florist, photographers, musicians, designers celebrants, witnesses and help as far as your documents are concerned, and anything you may think of.
Italian Lakes Wedding Team will literally pamper you!

For any information about wedding on Lake Orta please CONTACT US.

We will start here with Elisa and Tobias that just few hours ago got married in Madonna del Sasso Church on Lake Orta.

We will come back to you telling all details about Elisa and Tobias but for now just enjoy this first preview on their wedding.

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 in Madonna del Sasso church, Lake Orta please contact us.

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. During 1800 a granite cave was opened beneath the church. This activity kept on going for more than a century until it was closed. People feared that the extraction of granite material would had lead to church collapsing. In order to remember those times there is “miners museum” in Boleto village that tells vistors hard work of Lake Orta miners who were well known as masters in stone-crafts.

Madonna del Sasso Sanctuary is a baroque church with a single nave. It has been recently restored. Inside the church you will see the great Lorenzo Peracino paintings (1771), some wooden furniture, marble balusters and precious Fermo Stella di Caravaggio altar dated 1541.
Madonna del Sasso chuch is an extraordinary monument kept as it was in ancient times. You can see in the image below some wedding floral arrangement by Monika Andenmatten from La Piccola Selva.

Madonna del Sasso sanctuary is a lovely wedding destination for religious ceremonies. It is very easy to reach from Orta village even after a civil service to Villa Bossi.

The beauty of the place, sky and lake, mountains and plain with breathtaking view make Madonna del Sasso church the perfect destination for stunning wedding pictures, too!

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 weddings on Madonna del Sasso Church – please contact us.

All images © Italian Lakes Wedding and:
photo 1: Mauro De Luca – Italian Lakes Wedding
photo 2: Raffaello Mazzoleni – Studio Artefoto Omegna
photo 3: Enrico Mocci photographer – ArteFotoArona
photo 4: Mauro De Luca – Italian Lakes Wedding
photo 5: Mauro De Luca – Italian Lakes Wedding
photo 6: Raffaello Mazzoleni – Studio Artefoto Omegna
photo 7: Mauro De Luca – Italian Lakes Wedding
photo 8: Maurizio Paracchini – Foto Studio 2000

In my function as soprano singer I happened to sing at numerous wedding ceremonies in England, Germany, Portugal, Hungary and naturally in Italy.
For me it is difficult to say which place I liked the most. Every church and each ceremony has its own fascination and is unique. But amongst all, the one that has impressed me most has been the Sacro Monte Church in Orta. View more images here.
Certainly not for its rich and sophisticated decorations but quite the contrary: built in the 15th century in honor of San Francesco d’Assisi this church is held deliberately poor, constructed with “poor” materials following the Saint’s indications to accentuate the virtues of poverty and humility. Within the following centuries the church has been enriched with valuable frescos and other art pieces which make it so suggestive today.
But, what always has fascinated me most at that church is the fantastic landscape it is embedded in: the “sagrato” is a remarkable balcony that faces the lake showing a panorama without comparison. The view extended above the old terracotta roofs of the old village Orta San Giulio and the blue of the lake in which the picturesque San Giulio Island is rising in the distance with its famous Basilica.
At the opposite shore, on the top of an immense white granite rock sticks out the Sanctuary Madonna del Sasso. In the distance on the horizon you can see the crest of the Monte Rosa always covered with show, even in summer.
Furthermore, the church is located amid the nature reserve of Sacro Monte di Orta, a majestic forest full of centenarian trees. Between the 15th and 16th century 21 chapels have been built here, all of them dedicated to San Franceso’s life and work. Inside these chapels 376 statuettes and about ten frescos can be found ,all well conserved.
If you are searching a beautiful church for your wedding in Italy you should take into serious consideration the church of Sacro Monte in Orta. This place will certainly take by surprise you and all your wedding guests.
But bear in mind that the church of Sacro Monte is a very requested venue, especially by Italian couples.
For that reason an early reservation of some months is advised.
In case you might have chosen the church of Sacro Monte as your wedding location the team of Italian Lakes Wedding will be there for you to assist you in planning and designing every aspect of your wedding.
And, remember, a touching soprano voice like mine can contribute to transform your wedding ceremony into an unforgettable magic event.