Italian Lakes Wedding Planner

We introduced Villa Pestalozza on Lake Orta a couple of days ago.
This is one of the best venues on Lake Orta for sure. It has a wide park and grand rooms with frescoes and paintings. Villa – managed by owner Donna Giulia – has also a lovely and intimate atmosphere and a stunning view over the lake.
These are surely the main features of this venue located just above Orta in Miasino village.

Micaela and Corrado a lovely Italian couple coming from Milan fell in love with Villa Pestalozza at first sight and they chose it for their wedding dated 11 September 2010.

We wold like to tell you about that thanks to Alessandro Ambrosetti’s pictures, official photographer for Micaela and Corrado’s wedding.
For further information please visit www.alessandroambrosetti.it

Our readers will remember that we introduced Alessandro Ambrosetti in occasion of Sandra and Mirko’s wedding to Castello di Miasino.
One of those pictures was appointed for Italian Lakes Wedding shot of the year 2009.

We take the occasion to announce that Italian Lakes Wedding Shot of the Year edition 2010 will be on line soon. You will choose among 34 wonderful pictures of 17 very good photographers!
Just do not miss it!!

Back to Micaela and Corrado’s wedding have a look to this candid image of bride and groom coming out of the church!

For their religious ceremony bride and groom chose wonderful Maria Assunta church, a gem in the little medieval village of Orta San Giulio. Continue Reading »

Today we are pleased to introduce you one of the most important news of the early 2010, a fantastic period residence which is going to enrich the offerings of location for wedding on Lake Orta: Villa Decio.

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. Continue Reading »

Waiting for the beginning of a new season of beautiful weddings on Lake Orta I would like to tell you about some wedding that I followed last year that I did not mention before. This is not because they wasn’t interesting, on the contrary they were absolutely great and unique!
Simply for some reasons I did not have the occasion but I will do it now!
2008 was a busy year for me rich in satisfactions starting from Janet and Ian’s floral arrangements at Villa d’Este on Lake Como. I remember also the arrangements with beautiful peonies and lemons at Villa Muggia in Stresa for Victoria and Danny’s wedding and more Autumn theme I create for Rossella and Giorgio’s wedding: bridal bouquet and centrepieces at Palazzo Penotti Ubertini in Orta.
But let’s go to “the ones I forgot” of 2008.

I’m pleased to tell you about Elena and Peter’s wedding last September. Elena and Peter are an exceptional couple. She is Russian and he is American a wonderful and happy couple. I think that also photographer Enrico Mocci loved work with them since they were so nice, friendly and beautiful! You can see Elena and Peter’s photogallery: you will see stunning pictures!

The entire wedding took place at one single venue: Hotel Villa Crespi in Orta San Giulio.
It was a typical Russian ceremony so the best place should be obviously Villa Crespi!
Valentina some time ago mentioned in one of her articles about the possibility for an ethnic wedding to Mooresque style Villa Crespi, this is the one!

Ceremony was organized in the garden of the villa during a wonderful sunny day.
Traditionally Russian orthodox ceremony is long and rich of signs and details.

The exchange of the rings, that has to be done 3 times meaning the Saint Trinity and the Crown for bridegroom. Again bridegroom will drink three times from the same holy glass and they will go around the ceremony table, the celebrant will lead them for their path for 3 times just like they are having their first steps as bride and groom.
At the end of the ceremony, there celebrant will take off the crown and he will bless them and all guests good wishes.

Elena and Peter’s color scheme was white and orange. I used it for the bouquet, arrangements in the garden and centerpieces. Elena took orange for her hairdo with nice little orange roses. Peter used a little orange rose too but for his buttonhole and he wore a wonderful orange tie. They matched perfectly my arrangements.
Centerpieces were simple and essential because of the beauty of rooms of Villa Crespi, but Elena wanted from me a special attention for her bouquet. I created it with long ivy willows and Dendrobium orchids. A the top of them there were wonderful Orange Dream roses.

Once again to have a look at the bouquet and floral arrangements that I made for this unforgettable wedding just visit Elena and Peter’s PHOTO GALLERY realized by Enrico Mocci from Arona.
Continue Reading »

From Scotland to Ireland in few days!! This is what happens on Lake Orta.
Right after Cristina and Derek Scottish style wedding with pipes and kilts, it’s time for Niamh and Jon’s one! Niamh and Jon are a young irish couple that chose charming Orta San Giulio to get married.
Orta San Giulio is a beloved place for Anglo-Saxons. Every year many couples come here from England, Scotland and Ireland with lots of guests. Thanks to weddings local tourism too has the opportunity to let world knows how beautiful this place is.
For Niamh and Jon’s wedding around 100 people came from Ireland. Every single detail should be followed with care. So, many of Italian Lakes Wedding operators were involved: Koiné String Quartet, photographers Diego and Estella from Photo27.com as photographers, flower arrangements by La Piccola Selva and amazing San Rocco Hotel. All was coordinated by Valentina Lombardi from SposiamoVi wedding planners.

It was a lucky one!
Unfortunately after Cristina and Derek wedding, weather conditions got worst bringing rain and storms. According to weather forecasts we all thought that Niamh and Jon’s wedding would be under pouring rain but it wasn’t! A pale sun just came out…leaving the scene for Niamh and Jon.
From sadness to happyness, everything could be done as planned. Continue Reading »

A sweet background sound of an harp is the best way to create a real stylish and charming wedding.
It is perfect at the ceremony, aperitif and reception. Warm and cozy sound of the harp add a touch of romanticism and unforgettable atmosphere to your wedding.
This is exactly what Silvia Ferrero created at Sara and Marco’s wedding last Sunday at Miasino Castle (Castello di Miasino) on Lake Orta. Silvia Ferrero played some classical music from her repertoire from Albinoni’s Adagio to Bach’s Preludio and Tango by Carlos Salzedo.
In the last few years Silvia Ferrero played at the most exclusive wedding venues on Lakes District: on Lake Como at Villa del Balbianello, Villa d’Este in Cernobbio, Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio and Villa dei Cipressi in Varenna; on Lake Maggiore at Castello Dal Pozzo, Villa Muggia in Stresa, Villa Volpi in Ghiffa and Villa Rusconi in Pallanza; in Lake Orta at Villa Crespi, Villa Bossi and San Rocco Hotel in Orta San Giulio.
Click on YouTube video player above to listen to some examples of Silvia Ferrero’s repertoire among them a track played with soprano Nadia Kuprina. http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=C97477FB0F7E7949

If you are wishing an Italian Wedding with a religious ceremony, the area between Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore is just perfect. This area is very rich in churches and sanctuaries located in panoramic setting such as Sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso, Sanctuary of Madonna della Bocciola, or in medieval village as Maria Assunta church in Orta San Giulio or St.Rocco church in Corconio. There are even some churches in the wild nature such as Madonna di Luzzara church or Oratorio di St. Sebastiano in Lesa, just near Stresa.
Some others are monastery just on the lake as Eremo of St.Caterina del Sasso on Lombardy shore of Lake Maggiore or monk’s convent of Mesma Sacred Mountain.
Among the most magical spots for a religious wedding we cannot forget about Sacred Mountains built between XVI and XVII centuries. These religious buildings have a deep symbolic and cultural meaning and they are simply beautiful. They are perfectly integrated in a natural landscape made of woods, hills and lakes. These places have a high artistic value for their statues and chapels some are also part of UNESCO heritage.
In Italy there are 9 sacred mountains spread all over between Piemonte and Lombardy. Among those, the ones situated on Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore are the most fascinating and strongly recommended from Italian Lakes Wedding for your religious wedding in Italy.
These are Sacro Monte of SS Trinity’of Ghiffa, and Sacred Mountain of Orta San Giulio, two sacred complexes characterized from the perfect fusion between surrounding landscape: wood, architecture, lake view are the elements that make unique this settings just perfect for a wedding on the lakes.

If you are planning your wedding on Italian Lakes, Villa Gippini could represent the ideal venue to plan a wonderful cocktail party on Orta Lakeshore.
It was built during 1700 near Hotel San Rocco that now owns it. Together San Rocco hotel and Villa Gippini are one of the best luxury solution for a wedding party.

Hotel San Rocco is a special and charming place. For more than 150 years it has been a convent. This happened up to the end of 60s when it was converted in the main building of the hotel.
Villa Gippini was added after some years. The baroque building is rich precious handcrafts, stuccoes and frescoes. Its garden is just a romantic corner overlooking the lake with a precious little fountain and pleasant shadowy trees.
Usually photographers love to shoot some pictures to bridegrooms with the unforgettable panorama on St. Julius Island on the back.
Another important fact is that Villa Gippini is located at just few steps from Villa Bossi, Orta San Giulio town hall where civil bendings are held.

The villa is easily reachable by feet from Maria Assunta Church in Orta or Orta Sacro Monte one too where religious bendings are held.

History, nature, idyllic scenario and Orta Lake: stunning features that make Villa Gippini one of the best venues in Lake District.
Consider that the garden could be rented just for a cocktail party or a pleasant aperitif, a wonderful place to celebrate your big day together with relatives and friends. Continue Reading »

A Lake Orta Wedding is the perfect choice for a sophisticated wedding in Italy. Set like an emerald jewel, it is surrounded by gently rolling wooded hills. Lake Orta, once compared by Balzac to grey pearl set among the mountains and extolled by other poets, is the finest interpretation of the term earthly paradise.
Its mystical island, Isola San Giulio, is set in the centre of the lake. 275 metres long and 140 metres wide, this small pocket of surfaced land has a perimeter of only 650 metres. It emerges about 400 metres from the shore and is mostly taken over by seminary begun in 1844 on the remains of the old castle tower. Now its home to an order of Benedictine monks whose spiritualism lends to the air of mysticism in a place which is naturally surrounded by silence.

Rich with historical monuments, villas and memorials, the island of San Giulio allow us to enjoy the spiritual atmosphere that characterizes its history. By walking along the path of silence or entering the prestigious Basilica of San Giulio, which houses valuable works of painting and sculpture such as 12th century ambo, we seem to relive the legend that it embodies. The ambo is sculpted from grey-green serpentine stone from the nearby quarries of Oira, a unique stone in that its oily brilliance changes color on contact with air and turns bronze.

Continue Reading »

Villa Bossi in Orta San Giulio is for sure one of the most evocative venues to set a civil ceremony in Italy.

It was built during the XVI century. The building is made up by a L shape house on three levels. The façade overlooks the lake allowing a wonderful view to Pella, Ronco, Madonna del Sasso Sanctuary and most of all precious mystic St Julius Island.
Villa Bossi was built on a pre-existing medieval building that is still part of its walls perimeter but it was renewed and enlarged during the centuries.
Nowadays the building houses Orta San Giulio town hall. The building is simple and sober but enriched with some lovely architectural elements such as the porch and the loggia.
The rooms inside are furnished with antique stunning furniture that you will surely love.

The garden is just charming and it is always opened to visitors.
Four flowerbeds, a wisteria pergola with some seats and a secular cypress and, most of all, the iron gate that face lake’s waters make it up. The garden blooms with many salmon roses: it is “Orta San Giulio rose” a new quality of rose created just for this wonderful village on the lake.

Villa Bossi is a unique place. You won’t find anything similar all over Italy. It is the favourite destination for bridegrooms coming from abroad. Here you can also celebrate the bending in the open-air garden facing the lake, the panorama will be the perfect frame for the celebration. Many romantic brides decide to arrive to the garden by oar or motorboat, only for them the precious iron gate will be opened.

Just imagine quiet and blue waters of the lake, St. Julius Island and a violin that plays just for you.
A short lane with petals all around will lead you to villa entrance, where, between two columns covered by flowers you will have the perfect blessing for an unforgettable ceremony.

After the ceremony you could also decide to take the boat to have a short visit to St Julius Island where you could take some stunning wedding pictures that will be an indelible memory.

View more pictures about Wedding Ceremony at Villa Bossi, lake Orta.