Darren’s words are fixed in my mind “One hour by plane, few minutes on the motor-way and you reach Paradise on Earth!”
How could I describe better a place like this?

Leanne and Darren come from Ireland and the choose Lake Maggiore for their destination wedding. We explored several venues but as soon as they reached Hotel Dino they simply fell in love with the venue and pleasant atmosphere you breath inside.

They really wanted a symbolic blessing in the grounds of the hotel. Their day was blessed with a wonderful sun and mild temperature and their dreams came true.
The blessing was set in the smaller and more private garden of the hotel.

Ceremony was beautifully accompanied by the music of Koinè String Quartet. They created the perfect atmosphere for this romantic event. A wonderful soundtrack that everybody will remember for a long time!

Scenographic arrival of the bride on a natural aisle to reach a wonderful arch of flowers created by La Piccola Selva that matched perfectly Leanne’s theme based on white, purple and lilac.

Have a look to the romantic setting La Piccola Selva and us created for Leanne and Darren’s wedding.
A romantic arch, petals on the aisle and a wonderful view on the lake and Pescatori Island!
And let’s not forget about Leanne and bridesmaid’s bouquets and buttonholes.

Right after the ceremony an amazing aperitif was served directly in the garden.
Hotel Dino and the amazing staff presented a delicious and scenic aperitif in the garden.
All guests enjoyed sun, prosecco drinks and lovely canape and lovely music in the garden while Leanne and Darren took some time to take great wedding pictures.

An early dinner was served in the lovely room of the restaurant.
For the centerpieces Monika and Paola by La Piccola Selva created lovely round shaped compositions in tall glass vases with the same flowers Leanne had on her bouquet. An elegant choice that matched perfectly the style of Hotel Dino.

If you would like to have a look to all the images of the table arrangements follow this link.

The wide reception room faces the lake.
A wonderful dinner overlooking the lake, who could ask for anything more?
The dinner ended with a stunning wedding cake all decorated with Ferrero Rocher, Darren’s favorites! What a surprise with sparklers and Dean Martin’s That’s Amore music in the back ground!

And after then let the real party go on… live music and open bar with a great band and a dj set with crazy dances until 2am.
A great group a great fun on Lake Maggiore… Romanticism and fun the perfect mix for a perfect couple!

Congratulations Darren and Leanne!
A special thank to INDEPENDENT PICTURES photographers for their great shots and for their professionalism!

To see more details, don’t miss Darren and Leanne wedding day’s PHOTO GALLERY on our web site.

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 Maggiore please CONTACT US.

Moreover if you are planning to move the party somewhere else after the reception to end the day in a more casual and relaxed way we could suggest some options.

If you are looking for some more Italian wines and beers for your after dinner party and a nice venue to mingle ad talk a little more with your friends there are a couple of wine bar and pubs just in Orta itself. One is just in the mainsquare, the wine bar is very small but it has the widest terrace in Orta…the whole square!
In a very relaxed way you could enjoy a glass of wine in the empty main square of the village.

The other wine bar/pub is in Orta main street a cosy intimate venue with a rear terrace. Lights of candles and rustic brick walls wit many bottles of wine and wine bar furniture will let you appreciate the real and quaint atmosphere of Orta by night.

But if you want sweat and dance until late at night there is only one place we can suggest!
There is a beer factory just outside Orta village, no more than 5 minutes drive from it.
The beer factory is housed in an ancient factory now converted in a lovely beer factory with big (cisterne), bar and a wide space to dance all night!
Beer lovers could taste here artisanal beers and many other drinks. The venue has also a wide space outside with nice gazebos and alfresco area.
But most of all the venue has a very big space inside with wooden chairs and table that can be arranged according your tastes. Beer factory and pub owners are friendly guys who will be happy to welcome and let you taste the beers they produce.

Thanks to a live band or a DJ you can keep on partying and dance until late at night.
As we mentioned in previous post Lisa and Emmett did it!
They kept on enjoying their wedding until 4am!
Have a look to their post-wedding party to the beer factory! Isn’t it a great fun?

Whit a short transfer, bus or minivan shuttle few minutes you can reach this very special place to end your wonderful day with a great dancing and beer party!

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.

For your wedding ceremony, aperitif or dinner Ezio Lucchini is the perfect choice for an elegant and classy entertainment.

Ezio Lucchini is a polintrumentic musician from Lake Orta with many years of experience. He played in several jazz, swing and easy listening bands.
Ezio Lucchini is a real professional, he is very famous across Lakes District and he arranged many guitar workshops on classical and electric guitar teaching.
Thanks to his long experience Ezio Lucchini and his guitar are able to play any kind of music from classical to rock!

To let you know and enjoy Ezio Lucchini’s sound Italian Lakes Wedding is happy to give you the opportunity to listen in exclusive demos for all songs on La Mia Isola – My Island guitarist’s new cd.

Title track is the first song: La Mia Isola – My Island. The song has been composed by Ezio Lucchini himself. It is a funky instrumental song inspirited by George Benson with sophisticated electric guitar solos. You could surely understand how good is the musician. My Island he is talking about is St. Julius Island. Ezio wanted to dedicate a special song to his beloved island so in the background you can hear lake waters sound.
Following you will listen to Air on a G String a guitair version of famous Johann Sebastian Bach music. A classical music that could be perfect for a charming wedding ceremony full of phatos.
You will listen to Beatles’ Michelle, a Brazilian Music Medley, Harry Lime Theme from famous movie The Third Man and Torna a Surriento a traditional Naples song.

To listen Ezio Lucchini’s magic guitar click on mini-iPod button …you will find out that Ezio Lucchini’s songs suit all tastes and seasons.

For more information, availability, rates or booking please fill the enquiry form.

Elena and Giorgio tied the knot on a lovely warm April day, just perfect for a photographic tour of the lake thanks to the motorboat their chosen location for the reception, the Hotel Ristorante L’Approdo, made available to them.

Although it is just a few days since the event, I am delighted to be able to show you a preview of their photographs, thank to the rapid work of Raffaello Mazzoleni of Studio ArteFoto Omegna.
In fact the rapid delivery he ensures is photographer Raffaello Mazzoleni’s winning card as he will hand over the DVD of a wedding in a maximum of three days and at a very competitive price too, especially considering that he is one of a small number of Italian professional photographers who belong to the WPJA, the prestigious American association which makes a worldwide selection among the finest photographers operating in journalism and weddings.

I was the flower designer who organised the decorations for the civil wedding ceremony, for the bride and for the table centres at the Hotel Ristorante L’Approdo. Elena wanted red and white as her colours and chose the rose as her principal flower.
I was telling you about the decoration of the legendary Ferrari, although it was in fact quite a minimal decoration so as not to distract attention from the bride and the famous red car, the superb Ferrari California, the latest new model out and the car chosen to take the bride to the ceremony. Talk about arriving in style!

The Ferrari is without doubt the ultimate symbol of truly Italian style and aplomb, a true winner enjoying victory after victory at the hands of top drivers, among whom Michael Schumacher, Phil Hill, Niki Lauda and Gilles Villeneuve.
After arrival at Orta San Giulio on board the Ferrari, admired by the curious tourists crowding the the medieval village, Elena and Giorgio strolled around the romantic cobbled little streets of Orta, an ideal place for timeless wedding pictures.

And then … the feast! Elena and Giorgio chose the widely acclaimed cuisine and stunning location of the Hotel Approdo at Pettenasco.
The photo shows the cutting of the cake which had no less than four tiers and was prepared by the skilful pastry chefs at the Hotel Ristorante L’Approdo.

The reception was accompanied by music from the duo SG sound: Giovanna accompanies Stefano’s voice with her versatile keyboard. They are a superb duo who are able to play a fine selection of music for all tastes and occasions, from piano bar to the latest hits, both Italian and international. With Giovanna and Stefano your guests are guaranteed the top in entertainment!

Best wishes go to Elena and Giorgio from the Hotel L’Approdo, the photographer Raffaello Mazzoleni, the duo SG sound and the florists La Piccola Selva. As well as our thanks for having been chosen for their Most Important Day on Lake Orta!

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.

Hot Club Trio plays traditional 30s European music defined Hot Club Music. Combo includes a violin, a solo guitar and a rhythmic guitar. Three very good professionals and skillful musicians who are able to entertain your guests with a wide repertoire that goes from Bossa Nova, Standard Jazz, Evergreen American and Italian classics. All is totally unplugged without bases or special effects.

The secret of Hot Club Trio success is a perfect combination between jazz sounds of violin and latin sound of solo guitar: a perfect match that is able to create a romantic and sophisticated atmosphere for your wedding. A timeless music that all guests of all age will love, appreciate and most of all….dance!

Few days ago Hot Club Trio published a new cd: Swing Trio. For us it is a real pleasure giving you the opportunity to listen 6 tunes from this cd. Just an exclusive occasion!

Click on iPhone button here to listen. You will love Hot Club Trio music!

For further enquires, bookings or simply check the availability, please complete our enquiry form.

My first wedding of Summer Season 2009 was Amy and Tom’s: 3rd July 2009. Amy arrived some days before to settle in Orta and define some last details.

She spent some lovely days before the event, with her parents and family in a lovely villa on the lake that I often suggest to my couples. It is just in front of Ortello Gulf.

And finally the wedding day came!
Amy and her father took a nice walk from the lovely house on the shores to reach village church. Tom, flower girls, purple dressed bridesmaids and all guests were all waiting for her there. Lilac was the theme of whole wedding.

Amy choose this wonderful color for her main theme and Monika Andenmatten from La Piccola Selva created wonderful arrangements to accomplish her desires. She based her work on a color palette going from white to purple-lilac. Monika created wonderful church arrangements for the balusters and external columns of the church itself.

At the end of the ceremony… just a lovely kiss of bride and groom! Photographer Andrea Dapueto took a wonderful shot of it. Andrea Dapueto was the perfect reporter for such a wonderful event.

Amy and Tom walked to Orta Main Square to congratulate with relatives and friends.

After many kisses and hugs, Amy and Tom decided to take some time for themselves on a motorboat to reach St. Julius Island.

St. Julius Island is the perfect setting for unforgettable wedding pictures. Have a look to this wonderful “stolen” shot taken by Andrea Dapueto Photographer!

A very special mention to bride’s dress. Amy choose a simple dress for sure but it was very detailed indeed! It had on laces and bright crystals matching tiara in her hair. Tom had on a wonderful Italian suite, what else? Perfect Italian style.

We can not forget about bridal bouquet! Simply amazing!
Monika created for Amy a romantic teardrop bouquet based on bride’s colors. It matched perfectly bridesmaids’ dresses, groom’s tie and many other details. Monika used mainly Roses, Lisyanthus Eustoma in many shades from white to purple-lilac. Final touch were falling Bear Grass and ivy greenery that gave a romantic and vintage touch to the bouquet. All was studied in perfect harmony with bridal dress and style of the event.

Right after their boat trip, bride and groom reached their guests to Hotel San Rocco for a nice aperitif on the terrace accompanied by classical music and followed by a gourmand dinner prepared by skillful chef and his staff.

Monika Andenmatten created lovely centerpieces for dinner reception. They were simple but elegant with floating candles and flowers such as rose blossoms, Hyrdangea petals and Steel Grass on a base of little stones similar to little diamonds.

Thanks to wonderful a summer night, party continued on the terrace with music, dances and lot of fun under a wonderful sky of Lake Orta.

A fairly tale scenery for a very sweet couple!

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 Lake Orta – please contact us.

I would like to thank the Koiné String Quartet for the wonderful music at our wedding ceremony. Booking the musicians and picking out the music was all very simple on the web site and the musicians were happy to try and accommodate some of our music selections that were not on the extensive list of music offered on the site.
On the day everything worked out perfectly and the music really added to the whole ceremony particularly while the guests were arriving and mingling afterwards. Thanks again!

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.
Click here to find official rental fee that Villa del Balbianello property gave us for 2012

Lenno it’s an important center located on the west side shore of Lario area.
It is situated between the promontory of Lavedo and Porlezza and counts a bit less than 1800 residents.
Here begins the coast called Tremezzina that ends at the Maiolica.
Lenno has roman origins proved by the numerous graveyards and ancient furnishings discovered during archeological excavations.
Starting from Lenno, very suggestive the romantic although intense walk that runs up Tremezzo Mount(1700 m.). High recommended the excursion by pleasure boat that offers a splendid view of the Villas from the lake passing through the promontory where lies Villa Balbianello in all its splendor till reaching Comacina Island.

Villa del Balbianello it’s a legacy of Guido Monzino to the FAI which preserves the most important Italian monumental Villas and gardens.
The Villa was Built for Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini at the end of the XVIII century and stands on the tip of a steep promontory overlooking Lake Como, almost opposite Bellagio.

Guido Monzino, its last owner was an explorer, so that nowadays the Villa looks exactly how he desired.
In particular, the place is plenty of marvelous collection art and handcraft pieces of worldwide: China, Africa and pre-Colombian art, precious English and French furniture of the 1700s and a small museum that bring our memory faraway to his adventurous expeditions.

Both blessing vows and reception can take place in the gardens and loggia facing the lake.
The bride can romantically reach by water taxi her groom and guests waiting for her at the Villa.
While the guests are already there waiting for the bride after have had a fascinating boat transfer sipping a glass of champagne accompanied by a soft musical background.

Once at the Villa, you will be welcomed by the banqueting’ s skilful staff who’ll be serving finger food and cocktails on trays. The garden could be set with chairs and small tables or even chaise-longues allowing your guests to mingle and enjoy the local delicatessen and be pampered by the absolutely unique and precious scenery!

You would have the opportunity to set a really special reception dinner in the “loggia” where you could enjoy the best panoramic corner of the Villa. If you add a delicious menu cooked by master chefs, soft candle lit atmosphere and the magical touch of a lovely musical selection… you have all the ingredients for a memorable Italian style wedding.

This venue is one of the most beautiful and unspoiled Villas of the area and the possibility to have a wedding reception here is really rare and unique.
The splendid gardens on the promontory are the perfect place to take the pictures of the most important day in your life.
Villa del Balbianello has something special that captures your heart and will never leave it.

All Images © Roberto Rapetti. Roberto Rapetti is a young but very experienced photographer, absolutely not the traditional wedding one! His career in advertising campaigns and fashion world will give your wedding pictures a unique and different style, feeling like a movie star… More info on www.silverstarsphoto.it

Alessandra Fabi is the Italian Lakes Wedding’s coordinator for lake Como area.
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.

For more information about Weddings at Villa del Balbianello Lake Como please contact us.

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.

Dear bride- and groom-to-be,
I would like to invite you to take a look and listen to my video as sometimes words are not enough.
Voice and charisma are a sensual vibrations, primordial experience and not really transmittable by words, not even by the most analytic text.
The video shows me while performing in various locations and occasions, from club, theatre, church, civil ceremony, convention, corporate dinner to private party and weddings.
I hope the love, intensity, passion and fun which lie beneath will transmit.

Take a glance, have an earful and get an idea if my style corresponds with your wedding plans or… simply enjoy the music.