Italian Lakes Wedding Blog - Destination Weddings Italy

We have lived abroad for many years now and have friends and family spread over various countries. When we decided to get married, we had no doubts: the only way to properly celebrate our big day would be together with all the people we love and hadn’t seen in a long time.
So when it came to choosing the photographer, we knew we wanted to have someone who could mix in with our friends and family and capture the atmosphere of that special day from within - and not simply as an external observer. We wanted the pictures to tell a story – with all its participants.
We found Diego and Estella by searching the web and when we saw their pictures we didn’t need much else to be convinced - they speak for themselves. When the big day came, I immediately knew our choice was the right one: Diego and Estella were everywhere and nowhere at the same time - capturing moments without ever intruding.
Looking at the pictures now is indeed like reading a story. And like in the best movies, every time we discover expressions and details we had actually missed during the wedding itself - and it is as if we lived that very special day once again.

Have a look to Eleonora and David’s photo gallery realized by photographers Estella & Diego.
For more information about weddings at the Villa Rusconi Clerici in Verbania Pallanza please contact us.

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 »

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

From the early days of Sept Italian Lakes Wedding team welcome a new skillful professional: photographer Claudio Fogli of Studio Foto Pony in Pallanza on Lake Maggiore.
For more than 20 years Claudio Fogli has been working in wedding photography. His rich and elegant photographs are the ideal suggestion for couples that wish a fine and precious photo service.
You can have a look Claudio Fogli’s works on Lake Maggiore Wedding Venues Photo Gallery with its wonderful pictures shot in the most beautiful venues on Lake Maggiore: Villa Rusconi Clerici, Villa San Remigio and Hotel Majestic in Pallanza, Villa Volpi in Ghiffa, Hotel Dino and Hotel Lido Palace in Baveno, Villa Muggia and Hotel Bristol in Stresa.

Together with Castello dal Pozzo, Villa San Remigio is today one of the best destination to celebrate a civil wedding on lake Maggiore.

Villa San Remigio is located on the top of Colle della Castagnola, near Verbania Pallanza and overlooks Lake Maggiore. Its garden was studied and realized from a young couple of lovers. It has a romantic and interesting story.
Musician and poet Marquis Silvio della Valle di Casanova and passionate painter Sophie Browne, after their wedding in 1896 decided to realize their dream, transforming into a villa an old grandparents’ chalet. They renewed the park that became their lover refuge.
After more than 100 years Sophie and Silvio’s dream this wonderful villa is now on the disposal of bridegrooms who want to crown their big day.
Just a touch of continuity and good fortune. Continue Reading »

The Sacro Monte della SS. Trinità di Ghiffa is located on Piemonte’s shore of Lake Maggiore very close to Verbania Pallanza. It is reachable from the lakeshore road that coasts the Lake aside of villas and parks.

Ghiffa is a touristy and wellness village on a small promontory and characterized by an all year warm weather. Ghiffa and its Sacro Monte with quiet Lake Maggiore and charming mountains near Verbania offer a harmonic combination of nature and culture that make those places the perfect frame for your wedding on Lake Maggiore. Continue Reading »

As a wedding coordinator I travel a lot in Piemonte organizing events: Langhe, Monferrato, Olympic valleys near Sestriere, up to Stresa and Pallanza on Lake Maggiore.
Every single place has a special appeal but nowhere is like enchanting Lake Orta to me. Planning a wedding in Orta San Giulio is always a magic emotion…

This was also in for Luisa and Massimiliano’s wedding.
A Saturday in the beginning of this summer. The day begins with a shady sun that soon turns in a wonderful, sunny and warm day. Just like Luisa wished.
Luisa and I have worked together for months, just one close to the other to plan her wedding in every single detail. Continue Reading »

The string quartet is the ideal size of ensemble for most events ranging from a handful of guests up to a few hundred or more. The combination of two violins, viola and cello can create a wide range of textures and moods varying from the most subtle and delicate to a full, rich string sound, which carries equally well in small or large halls, outdoors, or in a marquee.
A string quartet can add the perfect touch to your wedding day, whether entertain the guests for the drinks reception or playing music for the bride walking down the aisle. A string quartet is completely mobile and requires no power supply. This makes it an ideal choice for a civil ceremony or a summer wedding, where guests may move outside for drinks and back inside for dinner. Some of the most well known pieces you might hear a string quartet play at a wedding or private party are “Canon In D” by Johann Pachelbel, “Air On the G String” by Johann Sebastian Bach, and excerpts from “The Four Seasons” by Antonio Vivaldi.
Whether you have chosen to have a Church or Civil wedding ceremony, music is surely the most important factor in creating the perfect classical and romantic atmosphere. Choosing music to suit your wedding day can be a difficult task. The Koiné String Quartet can provide music at any point during your wedding day, whether it be the ceremony itself, the hotel drinks reception in the afternoon, as background music during the wedding meal, or indeed after the meal itself as live music and entertainment.
All professional musicians, the Koiné String Quartet is a young and vibrant ensemble based in Piemonte that has been playing for weddings and corporate functions throughout lake Orta, lake Maggiore, lake Como and lake Garda. since 2003. Continue Reading »

Many couples in Italy like something different than the traditional posed style of photography. They prefer a more natural approach to their wedding photography to show the fun and enjoyment of their wedding day with their families and friends in the Italian Lakes District.
There are many stories and vignettes at a wedding: the bride getting ready, ring bearer being coaxed to walk up the aisle, the bride’s mother watching the father-daughter dance. Moments like these, when photographed without posing, are Wedding Photojournalism or Wedding Reportage Photography.

So what is reportage wedding photography or wedding photojournalism? It is a way of photographing a wedding without setting up any of the photographs. The wedding photojournalist usually arrives well before the bride is dressed and stays until they take last photo of the bride and groom leaving the reception.
The photographer stays in the background and photographs events as they happen without any prompting. The advantage of reportage photography for the couple is they can spend more time with their wedding guests. This style of photography shows the atmosphere of the wedding and is non intrusive. The photographs are taken in a mixture of black & white and colour, telling the story of the day as it unfolds.
The Italian Wedding Photojournalist Raffaello Mazzoleni offer this method of photography for your celebration day in Italy. Continue Reading »

In the last years, especially in Northern Italy, there are many more civil weddings than in past times. In such town as Verbania, Como, Verona, Orta San Giulio and Stresa, civil bendings are more than religious ones.

Among the reasons that determined this new trend there: second weddings, that can be celebrated only at the town hall, the open-mindedness and swiftness of this kind of bending and also the increasing number of Destination Weddings.

Many think that civil weddings are less expensive and less formal than one celebrated in the church. But for sure it is not less important!
It is definitely a very important a sacred celebration equivalent to swear in a court. In fact Italian Law wants two witnesses present to the ceremony to be a guaranty, with their sign, of the absolute legitimacy of the bending that will bond between bride and groom.

In effect, civil ceremony is a celebration that has to be done in perfect agreement with Italian Laws instead of religious ones.
Civil bendings can be celebrated by mayors, or delegates and has to be done in authorized venues such as Town Halls, but also Villas, Castles, Hotels or even Garden, but all those places have to be authorized.

Your civil bending could be enriched by the beauty of many Town Halls, unforgettable villages, sinuous hills and hospitality of the ones who host bridegrooms for the celebration at the Town Hall.
For the couples that wish to celebrate their wedding on Lake Orta or Lake Maggiore, civil bending is available in almost every town: Stresa, Orta San Giulio, Verbania, Arona, Oleggio Castello, Baveno, Cannero Riviera, Laveno, Luino, Angera and Mergozzo. For a real fairy tale wedding the most wanted venues are Villa Bossi, Castello Dal Pozzo and Villa San Remigio.

Continue Reading »