Italian Lakes Wedding Blog - Destination Weddings Italy

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.

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 »

On September 4, 2004 Isola Madre on the Borromeans Islands has been the perfect scenario for the wedding of the decade: John Elkann, Fiat heir, married Donna Lavinia Borromeo of Princes of Angera at the Cappella Bianca on the Isola Madre.
John Elkann is the chiselled 28-year-old grandson of the late Gianni Agnelli. Following the death of his uncle Umberto, Elkann was promoted to the vice-chairmanship of Fiat, becoming the head of Italy’s grandest family in the process.
Princess Lavinia Borromeo is the last descendant of the Borromeo family: this noble family was the owner of the islands for centuries. Borromeo family is one of the premier Italian families that became rich through trade and banking.
Lavinia Borromeo and John Elkann made up a beautiful couple: she was 26, he was 28. They had a beautiful wedding: the ceremony and wedding took place at the Cappella Bianca, at Isola Madre in Lake Maggiore, which is property of the bride’s family. Father Biagio Pizzi and Don Giuseppe Volpati presided over the ceremony. The church was adorned with white and yellow flowers. From the seven hundred guests invited to the reception, only the relatives and close friends of the couple were able to enter the small church.
The bride wore a Valentino’s gown and she complemented it with a splendid lace veil that is running in the Borromeo family for many years. Valentino was also in charge of the dresses worn by the bridesmaids, Beatrice and Matilde (sisters of the bride), as well as by Isabella Borromeo, who acted as witness. Continue Reading »

For our wedding in Stresa and Isola dei Pescatori - Lake Maggiore - we had special ideas of the art of photos. The photos should be taken very natural, many close-ups and moment-shoots from us but also from all our guests.
By good references we found Estella & Diego. Young, very nice and friendly and all the time professional they accompanied us the whole day – up from the early morning by dressing up until the wedding-dance at night. As they work as a Duo they take photos with two aspects. Both are working with a lot of passion, special feelings to catch the rights moments and a lot of gorgeous details. Their manner of work is very discreet, like chameleons. We and none of our guests had never the situation of being disturbed in close moments and it was fun having them around us.
The result of their work was breathtaking – and we are very, very happy and thankful to had them as our photographers. After 2 months we are looking the photos quiet often and keep these beautiful memories of our important day in our hearts – and images!

View more pictures about Barbara and Daniel wedding in Lake Maggiore.

Of the recent new hotels in the region of the Italian lakes, the Hotel Cortese in Armeno represents a uniquely successful example of the skillful blending of tradition and modernity. A perfect synthesis which, when expressed through the charm of this authentic architectural jewel at the heart of an incomparable location, provides the ideal setting in which to celebrate your wedding in refined style.

The use of local stone, precious woods and wrought-iron (typical crafts of the area) create a unique and charming atmosphere in which time seems to stop, allowing us to recover the pleasures of life at a slower pace – and thus to savour that most special of happy days.

Immersed in the tranquil scenic surroundings of Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore, only minutes away from the village of Orta San Giulio, the town of Stresa and the spectacular panorama of Mount Mottarone, the Hotel Cortese enjoys the magical atmosphere of a little historic village: the use of local stone, precious woods and wrought-iron (typical crafts of the area) create a unique and charming atmosphere in which time seems to stop, allowing us to recover the pleasures of life at a slower pace – and thus to savour that most special of happy days. Continue Reading »

Elegant, charming, ancient, Stresa is the pearl of Lake Maggiore, one of the most wanted destinations wedding in Piemonte. It has been a favorite destination with the British, even Queen Victoria stayed on the shores of Lake Maggiore.

Stresa is located on Lake Maggiore in northeastern Piedmont which borders Lombardy and Switzerland. It is a renowned tourist resort in a picturesque setting facing the equally famous Borromeo Islands.

In order to see Stresa well, it’s important to explore the many alley ways and small cobblestone lanes that make up the town. Not a shopper by nature, Stresa was an invitation to buy! Lovely little pottery shops are found around every corner, and the shopkeepers are more than happy to ship your items home. Also, shops with jewelry, tempting Italian foodstuffs, and cute little bars and trattoria are everywhere.

The lakeside promenades are lined with magnolias, camellias and verbena and many other flowers and Mediterranean trees.
Embarcadero is probably the most crowded place in town. From here you can take the boats for an excursion on the Lake visiting Borromean Islands and their lush gardens and palaces owned by Borromeo Family.

In the 1850s Stresa was one of the most sought-after vacation spots in all of Italy. The rich and famous from all over the world spent their leisure time enjoying the beauty, serenity and romance of Stresa. Consequently dozens of fabulously expensive and ornate Villas were constructed overlooking the lake. Today those same Villas of the world’s richest people are available for your wedding and for your wedding reception. 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 »