Leigh was surely one of the most precise bride I had this year as far as decoration and flowers are concerned. She wanted to add a touch of charm to a venue that is very pretty by itself: the restaurant on St. Julius Island!

But let’s start from the beginning.
Leigh and Alex a lovely British couple, fell in love with Lake Orta last year in occasion of their visit to find the right venue for their wedding. The started with Lake Maggiore but as soon as they reached Lake Orta thought it was simply perfect.
Leigh loved the little restaurant on St. Julius Island for its intimacy and cosiness so the choice was easy!

They opted for a civil ceremony to Villa Bossi.
Bride arrived with the rowing boat but also the bridesmaids did! Isn’t it a great idea?

A lovely boat tour with their guests to follow and amazing pictures around the little Island to complete the ceremony!
Andrea and Francesco from Independent Pictures were their official photographers and they did a very good job indeed.

Leigh wanted a full laces dress that was really amazing and for sure very Italian style. Alex was also very handsome in his gray suit!

When we started talking about flowers the choice started with peonies but not being seasonal Leigh opted for something even more elegant: Orchids!
Paola and Monika from La Piccola Selva did a very good job indeed!
They used two kind of orchids: Phalaenopsis for the bouquet of the bride and Dendrobium for the decorations to the restaurant and it was a prefect match!

In these pictures you can see the wonderful effect we achieved to St.Julius Restaurant.
Flowers decorations were amazing! Paola and Monika created a long garland running all along the U shaped table.
The garland was made of dendrobium orchids, cream roses and lot of greenery, it wrapped the silver 5-armed-candelabras and some others scattered on the table creating a romantic and charming effect!
All guests were amazed!

The final touch were some lovely rounded lanterns hanged on the draped celing of the terrace, they seemed little moons placed there for Leigh and Alex!
There was some more….the terrace was en lit by some special amber light projector that enhanced the effects of the candles all over the venue.

Lot of dances and fun closed a wonderful day on Lake Orta that I’m sure Leigh and Alex and their guests will remember forever, like us!
Congratulations guys from all of us!

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.

Recently, the structure has been completely renovated: here is the perfect opportunity to introduce you to the novelties and the top of the services offered by the Hotel San Rocco to the married couple, certainly the best you could have for an exclusive and romantic wedding on Italian Lakes.

THE ANCIENT WALLS

The history of Hotel San Rocco starts over 400 years ago. Looking over from the shores of the magical Piedmontese Lake Orta, in the pedestrian village of Orta San Giulio and bounded by the ancient walls of a monastery, this building, that for nearly 150 years was an enclosed convent, in 1960 officially became a hotel. Villa Gippini was added to the original structure afterwards which made Hotel San Rocco the most prestigious reception complex in the Lake Orta area. Now, four stars hotel with 80 rooms.

RESTAURANT

Famous for organizing special events and for moments and pleasures of the table, the Hotel San Rocco has a wonderful panoramic restaurant: an exceptional example of refinement and details care, as well as of the culinary art.
The Restaurant, at the first floor of the Hotel, with its big arched windows, enjoys a charming and romantic view: the Island of San Giulio, set like a jewel between the brilliant lake waters and the neighbouring hills that are mirrored in it, with their green mantles. Its cooking is managed by Paolo Viviani, Executive Chef of Novara, winner of the Olympic of the Rice.

TERRACE

Other great features of the hotel are the garden terrace which leads right to the water’s edge and the panoramic outdoor swimming pool. During the summer, Guests can delight, in the open air, light launches or dreamy dinners under the stars with candle lights.

LOUNGE BAR

The Hotel also offers a refined and cosy lounge bar lake view towards San Giulio Island, that becomes more romantic in the evening, where Guests can spend their time sipping aperitifs or enjoy their favourite drink. Seated in total relaxation in a leather armchair where once was the old boathouse, the guest may choose whether to be bewitched by the island of St.Giulio wreathed in its enchanting mists or be comforted and warmed by the flames flickering in the fireplace.

ROOMS

In the romantic background of Lake Orta, the charm of the past creates a modern and unique hospitality.
At the beginning of 2009 the Hotel has been completely renovated. New look for the guest rooms, fully re-designed: from the floors to the doors and windows, from the lighting to all the natural chic furnishing.
The restored rooms and suites open onto a beautiful panorama of the lake. Some rooms have terraces or balconies for breakfast or simply to enjoy the lake breeze. Detailed attention has been lavished on the modern and elegant suites so as to satisfy every requirement.
Fashion, heating and cooling radiant systems, thermoregulation, electronics, hi-tech lighting and furniture design make the Hotel San Rocco, with its tradition and innovation, a real and tangible example of the true Made in Italy.

VILLA GIPPINI

Villa Gippini, a true jewel of art history, reflects here all its baroque splendour in the clear water of the lake and offers different and elegant rooms and suite, village view or lake view.
Within the Villa, there are numerous early nineteenth century frescoes on the walls and ceilings. The Villa is now fuelled by an innovative hydrogen boiler, designed by the Giacomini Spa’s engineers and is actually the first and only hotel facility to benefit from this new technological system.

WELLNESS ROOF GARDEN

An oasis on the flat roof of the Hotel for exclusive and intimate moments. A total, absolute relaxion in the open air on a charming terrace with a wonderful view that takes shape from the lake to the land; a panorama to contemplate, making caress yourself by pleasant, massaging water jets in our Jacuzzi… Many water caresses to enjoy alone or in couple.

BODY HARMONY CENTRE

An exclusive location for reaching beauty and harmony, in body and spirit. In these centre, you can find yourself again and discover the pleasure of a personalised treatment that regenerates the body and relaxes the mind for men, woman and couple.

If for your wedding you are looking for a discreet, romantic, rich in history and evocative atmosphere, the Lake Orta and the Hotel San Rocco are the perfect combination for a unique and unforgettable event.
For more information or reservations, visit the website www.hotelsanrocco.it or fill out the form above:

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They both had a lovely religious ceremony to Assunta Church in Orta and then a charming reception to San Rocco Hotel.

Soo’s idea of the perfect wedding was a very simple and romantic event. She chose a romantic big wedding dress in white with a happy sunflower decoration for the church and reception.

The only exception was her cascade bridal bouquet designed by Monika Andenmatten from La Piccola Selva. This bouquet is actually in La Piccola Selva web site gallery. Soo had a look at it and fell in love with it so she wanted it for her wedding.

Soo is a Chinese-British violinist living in Australia with Jason. Since her passion for classical music she wanted a ceremony and reception totally accompanied by the sound of a classical string trio.
The reception ended with some more classical and jazz music played to the wonderful long piano in San Rocco hotel. The only exception was Soo and Jason’s first dance: Undisclosed Desire by Muse. But we know Muse’s music has a lot of violins in their backgrounds!

Soo really wanted a classical and romantic dream have a look to her wedding photos – by Independent Pictures.
Aren’t they just a sweet dream?

Lisa and Emmett had the same wedding scheme but a totally different attitude towards the event.
Lisa has a big and happy family with brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. They are all coming from Ireland and they arrived here to spend a wonderful vacation o the Lake.

The ceremony involved all family: bride’s nieces sang a psalm, father of the bride sang a hymn and Lisa and Emmett little daughter sat between them all ceremony long!

After this moving ceremony the joy exploded!
The complete family went to the Island for family pictures….not only the bride and groom but all of them!

Happily reception was held to Hotel San Rocco where Ezio Lucchini entertained the aperitif with a joyful guitar background.
Let’s have a look to Enrico Mocci’s photographs.

But the party did not end there!
After dinner the whole group moved to a local beer factory to drink home made beers, dance and party until 4am!!
We will come back soon talking about this great idea. We are sure you will love it!

Same venues could give birth to very different events. So do not hesitate to choose again what we suggest here. We will help to personalize it and make your destination wedding in Italy really unique!

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.

All images © Italian Lakes Wedding and:
Soo and Jason’s wedding: Independent Pictures, Torino.
Lisa and Emmett’s wedding: Enrico Mocci – ArtefotoArona, lake Orta.

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.

The old wine cellar of the villa is definitely worth a visit: excavated into the rock and kept unchanged for more than 3 centuries, offers a unique exposition of old wines from the most famous wine areas of Piedmont, from the Novara hills to the Monferrato and the Langhe .

If requested, Villa L’Antica Colonia offers also the opportunity to stay in the residence: the building is structured on 4 floors with 5 lovely apartments, all fully equipped and renovated with special care of details in different styles, that can accommodate up to 14 people.

Away from the crowded and noisy tourist centers, the villa offers peace and quietness to its guests: that’s why it is frequently rented by guests from abroad, who are looking for a pleasant holiday of total relax, granted also by the familiar management.

Villa L’Antica Colonia … much more than a “wedding with lake view”! 


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.

Restaurant has a wonderful terrace where we suggest to arrange your wedding dinner.
It is the ideal place for a traditional Italian style dinner with a touch of elegance and atmosphere.
While tasting the best dishes of local cuisine you could enjoy a great view on the lake, Orta village and other villages nearby.
Just imagine a candle lit dinner and scented flowers as frame of the event.
The terrace could host up to 120 guess for a unique reception.

Restaurant has also beautiful rooms inside on the upper floor. They are very precious with their paintings and frescoes. They can host smaller and more intimate receptions even during summer season.
From the windows you will admire unreal beauty of the view.

Just consider that the little restaurant is the only venue available on little San Giulio Island.
You will have the occasion to have at your disposal a real and unique corner of Italy for unforgettable memories.

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.

In order to book your wedding reception or to receive more information on planning your wedding on San Giulio Island please fill in this form.

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.

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.

Church’s facade is colorful and its interior precious and rich with wide 1700 frescoes and golden details.
Architect Nicolao Monti designed the church for the Community of Orta in occasion of liberation from 1485 plague. It wasnt’ elected parish church until 1560. Prior to this date parish churches were cemetery church of St. Quirico and church of San Nicolao in Natural Park of Sacro Monte di Orta.
Nowadays you can appreciate details built in 1700. Original main entrance is made of Oira serpentine and carved with floral and animal details. The church is Latin cross planned and its nave is divided in two aisles and five chapels. On the dome you can see coronation of the Blessed Virgin painted by Luca Rossetti in mid 1700. Under the altar chapel lies the body of the virgin and martyr St. Concordia, brought here from the Catacomb of Callistus in 1686. The main altar is in carved wood.

For more information about wedding at the church of Santa Maria Assunta in Orta San Giulio please contact the Italian Lakes Wedding Staff.

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.
Niamh arrived to Villa Bossi with a romantic rowing boat, walked slowly in the path of the villa accompanied by a sweet violin up to Jon and guests all waiting for her.
A short but moving ceremony with Koiné String Quartet music in the backgrounds.
The sound of violin kept on staying the newly weds and guests for a little walk in narrow roads of Orta up to famous “piazzetta” where Niamh and Jon took their motorboat to reach San Giulio Island for a idilliac and romantic walk on Lake Orta shore.
After that… the wonderful party to Hotel San Rocco with cocktail on lakeshore and a gala dinner prepared by famous chef Paolo Viani.

Right after the ending of the event… a huge storm came…
How lucky was Niamh and Jon’s day!

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.

An ancient legend relates that it was infested with dragons and serpents, so no one dared approach it until Julius, a holy traveler who had fled from Christian persecutions in fourth-century Greece, laid his cloak on the water, walked over it and reached the island without getting wet. Julius vanquished the serpents and chose to stay on the island. In 390 he then went on to build a church. New churches were erected in the ninth century and the eleventh century, which even today are still dedicated to the saint.

The St. Julius Island now seems as if it is bathed in mysticism. A perfect setting for a romantic wedding photographic service. Your Lake Orta Wedding will have the same atmosphere as in the ancient times and you will live and relive it as in a fairytale.