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!

Italian Lakes Wedding team is proud to present Janet and Ian’s wedding at Villa d’Este, one of the most exclusive and known Italian wedding venues.
Villa d’Este is located in Cernobbio on Lake Como. It is a fascinating place where history, nature and architecture create an unforgettable frame.
Villa d’Este is set into 10 hectares of private park and it is for sure Lake Como’s jewel. Among woods and meadows facing the lake Como, in 1442 Bishop Gerando Landriani founded here a nun’s convent. After mid 1500 Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio transformed it in a luxury residence for holidays and after a long period of decadence in 1815 Princess Carolina of Brunswick future King George IV of England established here.
In 1868 Maria Feodorowa Empress of Russia adquired it and in 1868 it was changed in a fancy hotel that become one of the most known worldwide.

Many of Villa d’Este guests are famous artists and important people.
Alfred Hitchcock shot here his first movie “The Pleasure Garden” and then, Kind Edward VII, King Vittorio Emanuele, Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini and Ranieri family from Monaco were among its guests.
Among Hollywood actors we could remember: Greta Garbo, Gregory Peck, Clark Gable, Cary Cooper, Eddie Murphy, Liza Minelli, Sylvester Stallone and Bing Crosby.
And some famous singers too: Madonna, Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, James Taylor, Rod Stewart and Elton John.

Italian Lakes Wedding team is proud to present Janet and Ian’s wedding at Villa d’Este, one of the most exclusive and known Italian wedding venues.

Did you know that being chic means getting married or spend your honeymoon in Villa d’Este?
Famous couples spent some time here: Dukes of Windson, Elizabeth Taylor and Nick Hilton, Rita Hayworth and Orson Wells, Clark Gable and Carol Lombard, William Randolph and Marion Davies, Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra, Aristotele Onassis and Maria Callas, Tyron Power and Linda Christina and many others up today.

For this reason Italian Lakes Wedding team is very proud of Janet and Ian’s wedding.
Wedding Planner Valentina Lombardi from SposiamoVi – Torino coordinated the event. She carefully planned all the details from guests arrival from Britain, choosing right musicians (a string quartet during the ceremony and a harpist during the reception) and making sure that party went smoothly with final fireworks on the lake.
Flower decorations was carefully handled by Monica Andenmatten, La Piccola Selva’s floral designer. A pure mediterranean floral arrangement just like bride wanted.
Lemons, Sunflowers, candles, scented rose petals in a perfect frame of shape and colors beautifully integrated with the atmosphere of the villa and wedding mood.

The most evocative moment was the ceremony skillfully performed by Diane Wheeler.
On one side there were Lake Como crystal waters on the other the wonderful architectural frame of Italian Style Gardens of Villa d’Este mad of mosaic, statues, fountains, Buxus bush perfectly shaped.
How wonderful!

A dreamy wedding in a unique place in Italy: Villa d’Este. Italian Lakes Wedding Team best wishes to newly wed Janet and Ian.

Lake Orta has always been one of the best destination for bridegrooms coming from all over the world. But not only!

Often is the trait d’union between different culture, very far from each other.
This is the case of Cristina and Derek. She comes from Genova and he is from Scotland.
A long love story and then the decision to getting married. Considering the wonderful places they both come from it is not easy making a decision. Portofino, Five Lands, Porto Venere or even some legendary castle in green Scottish country side.
What a difficult choice! And here it comes Lake Orta. They immediately fell in love with it. The perfect destination for their wedding.

Considering the distance it was not easy organizing all the event: ceremony, reception, flowers, music, invitation, guests coordination coming from Scotland and Ligura.
They decided to hire a wedding planner specialized in Lake Orta area. Their natural choice went on Valentina Lombardi from SposiamoVi – Torino. Valentina is a wedding planner with long experience on Lake Orta and she works with skillful professionals on the territory.

The photographer is Raffaello Mazzoleni who is the author of beautiful photojournalistic pictures that you can see in the SCOTTISH WEDDING PHOTO GALLERY for Cristina and Derek.

Floral arrangements are from La Piccola Selva thanks to the fantasy and creativity of floral designer Monika Andenmatten. La Piccola Selva has been leader for more than 20 years in floral arrangements and bridal bouquet creation for churches and best venues on Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore.
Cristina and Derek for their reception venue decided for Hotel San Rocco in Orta San Giulio.

After almost an year of planning here is the wedding day. It is a hot day of the end of August. Everything is planned in every single detail. Theme for wedding is a good combination between Italian culture and Scottish one.
Scotland is everywhere, beginning with pipe sound that is the perfect background of the party, and then color of flowers and most of all Derek and his brother’s family kilt.
This is the traditional Scottish suit for ceremonies; it is a heavy wool skirt in tartan fabric with a unique design of fabric coming from Scotland Highlands with the sporran a little leather bag used for carrying money and whiskey!

Civil ceremony is held at Villa Bossi, town hall of Orta San Giulio.
Bride arrival with rowing boat is very charming with solemn pipe sound in background.
Pipe and its player is the main actor of the delightful little walk that newly weds and their guests had up to Orta Main Square. It will follow Cristina and Derek also during their trip on motorboat on the lake.
Cristina and Derek will also dance on pipe sound for their first touching dance a Gay Gordon.

Just as in any traditional wedding theme planning, you need to look at each aspect of your bridal plans and decide how and what cultural traditions could be included. From colors to bridal attire to accent decorations, there’s much to choose from.

Hotel San Rocco served a gourmand lunch with perfect service.
Every table is enriched with a whiskey bottle, one for each region of Scotland, from Northen Highlands up to Islay Island.

The day after for bride and groom and their guests was still party time!
Every one was invited on a boat trip to watch the fireworks in Omegna at the World Championship of Fireworks.
The finest part of the shoe is the famous “fire falls”, a real lightful fall that cross the lake from side to side of Omegna bay.
A real sparkling closing just like Cristina and Derek’s wedding!

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.

Right after the photographs in stunning main square of Orta, Luisa is getting closer to the great moment.
There is an oar boat waiting for her leaving from for Orta pier to lead her to Villa Bossi.
Over there, there is Massimiliano, the handsome groom, waiting for her with all relatives and friends. As soon as she is arrived she walks through the aisle of the villa with lots of wonderful roses and charming sound of a harp in the background.

Right in front of the the town hall porch the civil ceremony takes place. Skillful photographer Ivana Porta from Torino is taking all the reportage of the service with her good experience, shooting every single detail of the event, from the ring exchange to the flower arrangements made up by Peonies and Baby’s breath.

At the end of the ceremony, right after the traditional rice and petals throwing, Luisa and Massimiliano take a beautiful white motorboat that from Villa Bossi will take them to St Julius Island on of the most outstanding places of Lake Orta take some everlasting pictures thanks to Ivana Porta.

After the romantic shooting they go straightaway to Hotel Giardinetto where all the guests are waiting for them for their aperitif and reception.
Hotel Giardinetto is one of the nice facilities on the Lakeshore of Pettenasco, just few km from Orta San Giulio. The best spot of the Hotel is the wide terrace on lake from which bride and groom will cut their wedding cake with wonderful panorama. High standard cuisine was served with wide choosing of red and white local wines.

A great atmosphere of joy, music and dances with colorful handmade favor by SposiamoVi and bouquet throwing!
This is a party that bridegroom and guest will remember for long time!

View more pictures about Luisa and Massimiliano’s wedding in Lake Orta.

I recently met Valentina Lombardi of SposiamoVi Group and had a wonderful chat about the wedding events industry in the Italian Lakes area, and learned a bit about Wedding Planning.

Having a Wedding Planner can do wonders for your wedding! For the busy couple that doesn’t have the time, or needs to travel a lot, a wedding coordinator can provide a sense of security and ease.

Wedding planners are professionals at making your special day memorable and stress free. They know the ins and the outs of planning a wedding!

Check out Valentina’s interview: Valentina is truly wonderful, and she gives us a lot of insight into her wonderful job!

• Valentina, what made you decide to become a wedding planner and how did you become one?
  I decided to be a wedding planner a lot of time ago.
  I’ve worked as event planner in a US software company for years.
  My creativity wasn’t satisfied so I decided to make my dreams come true, I met my Genova colleagues Cinzia and Alice and everything started…

 

 

• What do you like about your job?
  I love helping couples to build their own event following their style and passions.
  Working together with them to build the perfect day!
• How would you describe your working style?
  I try to interpreter couple tastes in order to suggest them the best solutions for them.
  I really do not want to force them into a decision…I’d rather prefer to be a consultant for them.
• What’s your idea of an excellent/lovely marriage proposal?
  Getting married on Lake Orta…. the perfect venue for a perfect day. Cozy, romantic and charming as Italy can be!
• Favorite thing to do outside event planning?
  I really do love Disney and 50s musical movies, swing music, shopping, discovery channel, traveling or relaxing with my family and I used to sing in a band….

• When you travel, what is one thing you can’t live without?
  Almost everything….I have always heavy luggage!
  Mostly, a Camilleri’s book, the I-pod and cosmetics.
• What is your idea of a unique romantic destination?
  Lake Orta for sure and a charming Winter Wedding on the top of Alps.
• SposiamoVi has been around for a few years, care to fill us in on a few of the trying obstacles you faced in the beginning stages?
  Most of all the diffidence of some Italian companies to understand this new job.
  But I think that now is pretty much better!
• Reasons why prospective clients should choose SposiamoVi first and foremost?
  SposiamoVi provide to clients high standards level professionals, stress relief and a professional competence that help you to organize your best day at the top.
• Lake Orta has been ranked as being one of the best Wedding & Honeymoon destinations in the Italian Lakes area, numerous times I believe…what would you attribute to Lake Orta’s success?
  It is just as people coming from abroad imagine Italy. Romantic, charming, cozy, antique, poetic and….so Italian!
• Any tips or advice to a soon to be bride?
  Just be herself and choose what she prefer without being influenced to other people but just deciding with her partner what they will love best!
• More grooms appear to be getting involved in the planning process. What do you think of this trend?
  It really seems that men are more involved in wedding planning. This is a good news! Maybe it is because they need to be involved or because they pay more attention to style and trends now….or just because they love building this big event with their brides. Anyway it is a very good news!
• What is your most memorable wedding event / bridal couple that you will never forget?
  I think I will never forget any of my bridegrooms. In their differences they will stay all in my memories. Planning such an event creates a sort of special relationship between bridegrooms and me and I’m pleased to have built those.
  So I really do not want to say I will remember best him or her….I will just keep in my mind every single event….At least I will try to!
• Is being a wedding planner very stressful?
  Yes it is! But it is also a real satisfaction!! I think is one of the few jobs where clients say “thank you”…and they really mean it!
• Is there a primary difference in planning for an Italian couple as opposed to say a US or UK/Ireland couple?
  Yes there is. Foreign couples are used to hire a consultant for every kind of service…while in Italy people don’t really understand the meaning of this job. We are a step beyond other countries. Commonly Italian people hire a wedding planner if they don’t have time to plan the event…while people coming from abroad, side of time saving, hire professionals to have good advice and they really trust the professionalism.
• Finally, what do you enjoy most about working with a bride and groom to plan their wedding?
  I love building together the event. I like studying together the best solution for make bridegrooms dreams come true and seeing in their eyes their excitement about that, looking forward for the date to come!

Thanks Valentina and good luck with all of your future projects!