Italian Lakes Wedding Planner

Flowers and balloons? Why not?
If flowers are a very important element in a wedding balloons could add a touch of fun to the event going out from the schemes.

First of all I would love to introduce you the main actor of wedding I will tell you about: Desiree and Sander a very nice couple coming from Holland.

For their Italian wedding Desiree and Sander chose Villa Bossi and magic atmospheres of Lake Orta.
Enrico Mocci from Artefoto Arona was their photographer. He took a fresh and dynamic reportage. Just have a look to Desiree and Sander’s PHOTOGALLERY to experience Enrico Mocci’s unique skills.

As for Mariana and Matteo, wedding took place in three different places. First Villa Crespi where bride and groom got ready and came back.

For their first night as married they choose Suite Regina Vittoria. Just a dreamy rooms embellished with red fabrics, furniture dated back to 1700 and a fine marble bathroom with Jacuzzi bath.

After a short walk Desiree and her friends reached Orta Main square. From here bride and father got on the traditional rowing boat to reach Villa Bossi where Orta town hall is located. Here a lovely civil ceremony took place. Continue Reading »

Today I have the pleasure to introduce you a lovely Italian couple: Marialisa and Matteo.
Their wedding was a real mid summer wedding arranged between Mountains and Lakes.
First the ceremony on Church of Madonna del Boden and then down to Stresa on Lake Maggiore shores.

Church of Madonna del Boden is located on the road leading to small village of Ornavasso (close to Verbania – Piemonte). It climbs on top of one of the most spectacular Alps mountain: Monte Massone. From Mt. Massone peak the view is gorgeous. You can see Mt. Rosa, Mt. Weissmiess, Mt. Adamello and Mt. Bernina. On South view runs over River Po Plain and on 5 lakes such as Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore. Just amazing!

Church of Madonna del Boden has been built on 500 mt of altitude right inside chestnuts woods. A fresh oasis that Marialisa and Matteo simply loved during the hot August day of their wedding. Continue Reading »

I really can say that the wedding planner job is never boring.
One of the things I really adore the most is discovering the best locations where organizing our beloved special and unique events.
Lake Garda is very vast and plenty of Hotels and reception venues, but this Lake is always interesting and ‘in ferment’.

One of the most famous area is Gardone Riviera where tourists come from all over the world to visit Il Vittoriale (ancient complex of houses, museums, gardens and theaters built from Gabriele D’Annunzio, who lived there, together with the architect Maroni) and the fascinating surroundings.
Gardone Riviera is located on the west side of Garda Lake and close to the well-known Salo’ Town. This small lovely village is one of the few where both civil and religious ceremonies can be celebrated.
In fact, the general rule of Lake Garda Churches is that non – resident couples aren’t allowed to get married here.
So this place has a huge privilege. Its Church is romantic and lake view and its Town Hall located in the center is also charming and classy: can hosts up to 70 guests.

In case your desire is having a personalized and symbolic ceremony, I’m happy to tell you that this can be celebrated directly in the wonderful gardens of the fabulous location I’m going to introduce you today: Grand Hotel Fasano.

This luxurious hotel is immersed in a romantic scenery of water and hills.
Originally, this building was one of the hunting lodges of the Austrian imperial family: the “faisanderie”.
The hotel beauty and lake view is astonishing and completed by a 12.000 sq. meters private park all around. A perfect set for an extremely chic wedding. Continue Reading »

Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori: they are Borromeo Islands.
Three precious jewels rich in charm and history now among the most know touristy destination of Italian Lakes.
Someone said that gossip of possible wedding between George Clooney and Italian showgirl Elisabetta Canalis here increased the appeal of these places making them “exclusive”.
We do not have to forget about another fairy tale wedding that took place on Borromeo Islands: John Elkann – ceo of Fiat – and princess Donna Lavinia Borromeo.

If Isola Madre and Isola Bella are known for their great palaces and gardens and could be the perfect frame for your wedding pictures, Pescatori Island could be the best location for a perfect reception on the lake shores. This thanks to its wonderful position and rich gastronomic tradition.

Pescatori Island is the only one that is not part of Borromeo Family properties.
It is a liggle village with no more than 50 inhabitants. Fishing was the main occupation in the past some members of local families are still fishers.
You can see this heritage all over here starting from the little port where you will see many fishing boats.

It is such a peaceful place so you will meet many cats and frogs especially in July. Little nice frogs jump all over the narrow roads of the islands.
In this idyllic place there is a quite corner: a little garden with a terrace on the lake. You will read a big white sign with the name Belvedere on it.

Hotel Ristorante Belvedere is located on North East part of Pescatori Island far from busy port.
It has been managed from the same family for 4 generations. In 1921 restaurant hosted Charles De Gaulle who had lunch there during his honeymoon.

Today Belvedere Restaurant can host up to 200 guests inside the charming rooms and on its two gardens on the lake. Your reception to Hotel Ristorante Belvedere can be arranged on the open air by the lake shores, in the wide garden under the porch of booming flowers or inside the charming and bright veranda. You could also choose the lovely dining room once called La Grotta (the cave) because walls were all in stones.
The venue has been just refurbished but still preserves the charm of the ancient appeal. From all corners, including the dining room you could see Isola Madre and its great botanic park.

Belvedere Restaurant mainly serves fish dishes hand made prepared combining precious ingredients of Lake Maggiore and close valleys. Cheese lovers will taste Toma of Ossola valley and natural Gorgonzola. While wine lovers could choose among great Piemonte wines such as Barolo, Dolcetto, Barbaresco or pick great local wines of Novara valley. Continue Reading »

Lake Garda is the largest Italian lake, so large as to seem a sea. One of the advertising slogan says, The Lake Garda, more than a sea. The Garda in fact, more than the other lakes of northern Italy, has a “marine”connotation and a vocation. Where for marine is intended the atmosphere created by the presence of beautiful equipped beaches, the endless opportunities to play sports, the good food and the many facilities for young people. In particular, good food can count on excellent local produce: delicious olive oil, fresh-water fish, citrus fruits, vegetables and wine.

At the northern end of this “small sea”, where the Garda ends and just beyond to the Brenta Dolomites, lies the picturesque town of Riva del Garda. Its mild Mediterranean climate, its beautiful sunny beaches and its beautiful old town of Riva del Garda have made an internationally known tourist destination since the late nineteenth century. From the harbour, which overlooks the square and the tower Apponale, develops the medieval part of town with its narrow cobbled streets lined with boutiques and cafes, Venetian palaces, arcades and octagonal Baroque church.
Not far away is the Scaligera Fortress, a castle on the lake surrounded by a canal with a drawbridge.

Due to its beauty and charm, Riva del Garda is the perfect destination for your wedding on Lake Garda, appreciated by many couples who want a more sophisticated and cosmopolitan atmosphere.

In this beautiful town we found for you a pleasant hotel near the lake, within the ancient city walls: the Hotel Ancora is a family run company, with a magnificent restaurant where you can enjoy home made pasta, variety of cuisine ranging from fish to meat, the traditional Italian pizza baked in wood-fire oven, all accompanied by excellent wines to be tasted in the restaurant,on the beautiful terrace or in the garden. Continue Reading »

Dear readers,
we are happily proud to announce a new web site born from the experience of Italian Lakes Wedding Team, this is a real spin off and it is called Italian Country Wedding!
Italian Countryside seemed to us another lovely idea side of the lakes for the ones who are are looking for a different, romantic, relaxing and pleasant kind of wedding.

On Italian Country Wedding web site you will discover a multitude of choices for unique ceremony and reception, an intimate elopement, sites, small town hospitality, and a variety of activities for you and your guests in the Italian countryside
Surfing on Italian Country Wedding you will undiscovered and unspoiled places to create the perfect setting for a special and real country wedding: gardens, vineyards, country villas, traditional Italian restaurants, agriturismos or farm houses, or even in a wonderful castle!

Italian Country Wedding is specialized in weddings across Piedmont region and Langhe and Monferrato country side areas….just have a look at it we are sure you will be amazed by the charm of countryside!

It’s hard not falling in love with Malcesine Castle and above all, anytime I go there I’m again and again surprised by its beauty and the breathtaking views and landscapes.

September it’s a lovely month for a wedding on Lake Garda: the weather is mild and sunny, and all the guests can really enjoy the outdoor sceneries.

Our lovely bride Hayley and his father decided to reach the Castle by a funny blue Ape Car, sipping a glass of champagne.

The white dress shined under the sun and the groom Chris couldn’t wait to see her arriving!

After a short walk she finally came in the Castle and crossed the terrace at her father arm, accompanied by the Wedding March notes.

The ceremony, personalized with readings, poetries and music was really touching and unique. Continue Reading »

After the wedding to Villa San Martino we come back to Lombardy side of Lake Maggiore. This time we are going South. Here you will find sweet hills going smoothly towards the lake. This are is very well known from nature and water sports lovers. There are also artistic and cultural places to visit such as historic residence of Villa della Porta Bozzolo with its grand Italian gardens or Rocca di Angera, great Borromeo family castle or even Santa Caterina del Sasso, a monastery on rocks peak.

Right in this green area you will find a lovely venue for your wedding on the lake: Hotel Conca Azzurra in Ranco close to Varese.
A wonderful view, a wonderful garden with many flowers and delicious cuisine will welcome you.
These are the main features of Hotel Conca Azzurra, a pretty venue for your wedding if you are thinking of getting married on Lake Maggiore.

Let’ s see together all the pearls of the hotel.
The great view on the lake: from here you could see the center of the Lake and great chain of Mt. Zeda. You could enjoy this perfect panorama in every month of the year from Restaurant La Veranda. During summer season it opens completely becoming a open air terrace for romantic dinners under the stars.

La Veranda restaurant offer a high level cuisine with local and traditional dishes of the Lake Maggiore and surrounding countryside. It has a very good service and wide cellar with selected wines for every request.

You could sip your aperitif or arrange an informal buffet reception in the wide garden with lovely view on the lake. You will be surrounded by palms and flowers and you will taste delicious lake fish and Piedmont wines. Continue Reading »

It’s the most voluptuous place in the world that I’ve ever seen. The surrounding nature enchants with thousands of hidden seductions which give the sensation of being immersed in the rarest sensuality and refinement.
This is how Gustave Flaubert described this part of the Piedmont coast where the Lake Maggiore opens up into the Borromean Gulf, a green bay between the centers of Stresa and Pallanza, the two most brilliant gems of the Verbano.

The Grand Hotel Majestic is located in Pallanza, which faces the Island of St. Giovanni, the thirty-year summer residence of Arturo Toscanini. It is a fascinatingly beautiful Belle Epoque hotel distinguished by its incomparable architectural dignity, grand frescoed rooms and extensive lakeside English garden. Its construction became the impetus for the city’s booming tourism in 1870.

The optimal motivating attraction for nobles and the elite to choose to construct their luxurious villas in this region was primarily the agreeable situation amongst the exceptional panoramic peacefulness of the cape complete with surrounding mountains and mild climate.

From many of the hotel’s 99 rooms and 4 suites the dreamlike view of the lake’s serenity, surrounded by the mountains and the captivating beauty of the Borromean Island’s architectural and botanic artistry, can be marveled at. On the Isola Madre and the Isola Bella, just a few minutes away from the hotel by boat, the Borromeo Dynasty buit two luxurious domiciles in the 600’s surrounded by some of the most beautiful gardens of the Lake Maggiore. Of all the gardens in the world, these gardens are surpassed in the beauty only by the magnificent botanical gardens of Villa Taranto housing 20.000 plants species, 1.000 of which had never been cultivated in Italy before. The garden is within walking distance from the Grand Hotel.

Enchanted by the aquamarine panorama of the lake, as seen from the terrace of Majestic, Eleonora Duse had her tailor fashion a dress “…in the same color as the lake”. Among an array of illustrious artists who have been accommodated in the ambience of the Grand Hotel are Grazia Deledda and the composer Claude Debussy. To name a few, the boats of the Stuarts, the Queen of Romania, the monarchs of Italy, the noble families of Germany, Indian Princes and Maharaja were docked here…In short, the personalities symbolizing “bon vivre” of the 800’s have enjoyed the splendor of the hotel.

After some decades of decline, the Grand Hotel Majestic underwent a long restoration period and was returned the dignity of its past. Its rejuvenation brings the true value of its classical style to life and gives the impression of being immersed in an atmosphere of times gone by, all the while offering its guests adequate services with attention focused on today’s comforts. Continue Reading »

It has been now some time that we told you about Grand Hotel Majestic on our Lake Maggiore Grand Hotels post. We are glad to announce that Grand Hotel Majestic decided to join Italian Lakes Wedding web site.
Grand Hotel Majestic is one of the most beautiful hotels on Lake Maggiore. A lot of important people spent their vacations in its wonderful belle epoque styled rooms, such as Italian Royal Family, writer Grazia Deledda, music writer Claude Debussy, Imperial German Family, and many Arabian prices and maharajahs.

Grand Hotel Majestic is located in Verbania Pallanza just in front of Borromeo Gulf and Isolino San Giovanni. The hotel is one of the few hotels on the shores of Lake Maggiore.
It is very close to Pallanza town center, lovely church of San Leonardo and wonderful Villa San Remigio that can be rented for amazing civil ceremonies with stunning view on the lake.

We will come back soon telling some more about Grand Hotel Majestic.
All Italian Lakes Wedding Team would like to welcome management and staff of Grand Hotel Majestic and thank you for join our group.