Italian Lakes Wedding Planner

I must admit that the above title does not fully do justice to the location of which I’m going to talk you about today: a wedding at the Villa L’Antica Colonia is not only a “wedding with lake view”, but it’s definitely a lot more. Villa L’Antica Colonia is a perfect mix of history, nature, relaxation and romance, all emphasized by a breathtaking view of the Lake Orta. If you are looking for an intimate and exclusive, but at the same time spectacular location for your wedding, then Villa L’Antica Colonia can be the right location for you!

Villa L’Antica Colonia is located in Crabbia, a small village on the hills of the Lake Orta, a few minutes from Pettenasco. The structure is surrounded by a large green area and is an excellent starting point for interesting trips into nature and culture.
But the strongest point of the Villa L’Antica Colonia is the magnificent panorama that sweeps over much of the lake and the surrounding green mountains, reaching up to Orta and the Island of San Giulio, a real spectacular scenary!

Try to imagine your wedding party on the large terrace of the villa with fantastic view on the lake: an unforgettable event for you and your guests!

Built in the eighteenth century, the villa was for long time a church property. The large ground around the building, that in the beginning extended until the lake, was planted with vineyards and fruit trees and cultivated by the women of the village that were working for the clergyman. At the beginning of ’900 the villa was sold to a textile industry, which changed the property into a summer residence for the children of its employees, using part of the house for the breeding of the silk-worm in the winter season. It was later purchased by its actual owners, the family Manini-Maulini, who started the renovation of the property turning it into the beautiful villa we know today.

Villa L’Antica Colonia offers a unique and exclusive setting for your wedding: its prestigious balconies and arcades, between rustic and old, will give your wedding a scenario of the ancient times and a real magical atmosphere. Continue Reading »

We’ve told you many times about wonderful medieval Orta village and how cosy and intimate it is.
Now let’s imagine a more intimate, cozier and more romantic place just mystic and legendary:
here you are San Giulio Island.

St. Julius reached this land for first around 1600 sailing on his mantel. He arrived here and found it haunted by dragoons and snakes.
He sent them all away and built a little church that after become the nowadays cathedral.
This is what the legend tells….

After that a castle, Bishop Palance and villas for priests.
About half of 1800 a convent was built and it cancelled the last symbol of a powerful past let the island becoming more religious.
Today a small group of nuns live in the convent. They are Benedectines and they are totally dedicated to manual works and spiritual hospitality.

St. Julius Island is a silent an mystic place rich in history and traditions.
If you take a look to the island from the hills high tower bell, gardens and ancient roads look like a fairly tale castle born from ancient ruins of a castle.

On this very Italian corner of paradise we would like to suggest a unique opportunity to arrange your wedding reception: a little cosy restaurant with terrace on the lake inside one of the most ancient villas of the island.

We love to imagine a romantic civil ceremony to Villa Bossi or a lovely religious ceremony in one of Orta churches (Maria Assunta or Sacro Monte) with a pleasant trip on the boat to follow.

You and your guests will have the opportunity to completely know and savor the beauty of the lake.
Cruise from Orta to St. Julius Island is a show you can not miss.
From the waters could admire ancient villas on the shores and their aristocratic and alter appeal.

After this lovely trip you will arrive directly on the pier of a little restaurant just on San Giulio Island or you could get there from the little road that goes across the Island.

Ristorante San Giulio (St. Julius Restaurant) is located inside Villa Tallone date back to 1700.
It is well know to host a rich summer concert season in which you could listen to great concerts in such a wonderful frame. Continue Reading »

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. Continue Reading »

It is a medieval charming jewel.
Santa Maria Assunta Church is surely one of the most beautiful churches in the Italian Lakes District. It was photographed by Vogue and even from some important bridal magazines, too.

From its main entrance the view is stunning, it embraces old Orta San Giulio village, precious San Giulio Island and Alps crown. If you will decide to get married here, all your guests will be just delighted.

Orta little village is the pearl of the lake. Its narrow car traffic free roads lead to main square to admire Orta in all its charm.
From main square start a little climbing road that lead to Santa Maria Assunta Church.
Coasting this ancient road there are wonderful medieval and 1700 buildings with frescoes and stuccoes. It seems a fairy tale that could be the perfect and unforgettable frame for you and your guests. 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 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.

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