Italian Lakes Wedding Planner

A wedding on the Lake Orta can be romantic, like Rachel and Mark’s wedding, celebrated at sunset, on the lake shore…
Or it can be intimate like Silvia and Giorgio’s wedding for 3 celebrated in the garden at Villa Bossi…
But a wedding on the Lake Orta can also be fun and festive…. Just like the one celebrated by Mariana and Matteo, the fantastic couple I will tell you about today.

Matteo and Mariana are an Italian-Armenian couple who live and work in London. Matteo is originally from Torino and he is just like every good boy coming from Piemonte, he is in love with his own homeland. Over time, Mariana was infected with this love as well, and thus their decision to choose one of the most charming places in Piedmont for their wedding: the Lake Orta.

Fun and joy are two words which perfectly describe Mariana and Matteo’s wedding. You will certainly see that in the photos accompanying this post: pictures that tell of their friend’s feast and fun, the first pranks of marriage, the couple’s happiness after the ceremony… emotions and feelings captured by Maren Ollmann’s lens from the Photography Studio Ollmann/Ottaviano in Torino. In the PHOTO GALLERY you will find 27 exceptional shots filled with the passion and magic which bring together the most wonderful emotions of Mariana and Matteo’s Big Day.

Mariana and Matteo’s wedding on the Lake Orta took place in 3 venues: Hotel Villa Crespi, where the bride and groom and their relatives stayed, the Church, Sacro Monte di Orta, where the religious ceremony took place, and finally Villa Ortea, where the wedding reception continued till the early lights of dawn.

For their stay in Orta and their first wedding night, Mariana e Matteo chose the Executive Suite in Hotel Villa Crespi. It was a fantastic room overlooking the lake with XVIII century furniture, a refined marble bathroom with a hydromassage and a magnificent four poster bed.
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As Wedding Planner I usually coordinate weddings on whole Piedmont. This is a wide region on North West of Italy that borders with France and Switzerland. It is rich of history and traditions, you will surely find here a wonderful natural setting. The ideal spot for destination weddings. On North area there are Italian Lakes such as Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore. There are then Alps and Olympic Valleys we talked about in occasion of Aleksandra and Chris’ wedding and their fabulous Winter Wedding. And last but not least there is a special country area among Monferrato, Langhe and Roero regions. This area is just perfect for country destination weddings thanks to its natural colors of every season, tiny villages and antique appeal.

Langhe hills were the exceptional scenario for the wedding I would like to talk you about: a real Country Wedding. All begun in 2007 when Patricia and Richard, from Philadelphia PA USA, decided to come over Italy to celebrate their wedding.

Both of them are of Italian heritage, Richard’s grandparents origins are from a little village of Piedmont on vineyards hills. Starting from this point Patricia and Richard re-created the same atmosphere for their special day. The planning process lasted over 1 year.
On September 24th 2008 Patricia and Richard got married, such a wonderful event!

Langhe and Roero are two close areas South of Torino city and North of Italian Riviera. This wonderful district is right between mountains and seaside. its hills are the perfect place to grow vines to product the best Italian wines such as Barolo, Nebbiolo, Barbaresco and Dolcetto.
This are is also well known for truffles and delicious food. It is right between Bra and Alba, the most famous towns of the area, that Slow Food Association was born. Its task is protecting and preserving food and wine excellences of the area. Thanks to Slow Food, Pollenzo site was restored. It was an ancient Roman settlement, then Finance Agency during 1700 for King Albert of Savoy and now home of first Enogastronomic science University, a wonderful 4 stars hotel and Bank of Wine, where best and precious Italian wins are preserved.

Patricia and Richard choose this special place to celebrate their wedding together with their family and friends that came from all over US. Ceremony was held in the lovely garden of the hotel in the heart of Langhe where there are also Romans ruins of more than 2000 years ago. Aperitif then was served under the hotel wooden porch and dinner in the brick ceiling room with lovely round ivory tables.

Every single detail, including floral arrangements and bridal bouquet enriched with scented spices was linked to country style idea. Continue Reading »

Today we have the pleasure to present you a new interesting photographer who entered in the Italian Lakes Wedding Team just 2 weeks ago: Simone Mottura and his Photographic Studio Blanco Y Negro, in Torino, Piemonte. The photographer is member of different important Italian and international photographic associations, such as the prestigious WPJA, Wedding Photojournalist Association.
To give you an idea about his work, please take a look to the PHOTO GALLERY of Blanco Y Negro published by Italian Lakes Wedding.

The Italian taste for photographic art and the continuous research of details are the facts that make different the studio Blanco Y Negro. Thanks to a particular sensibility to the reportage, the photographic style of Blanco Y Negro is something more than the classical wedding photography: is also fashion and style, is emotion captured improvised at the moment, and that of classic pose without time.

Through an extreme care of details, all the characteristics of the subjects, the scenery and lightning are emphasized. The images takes form in a unique and unmistakable style.

The wedding vision of Blanco Y Negro is composed of different parts: classic where the essential pictures tell you the story of a ceremony, using the traditional poses and framing, and reportage for all the other moments, steeling images and constructing the spontaneity through the natural flow of the events and through the curious and funny sceneries. Sensations, seconds, details to build an elegant and refined square.

A warm welcome to Simone Mottura and his Photographic Studio Blanco Y Negro from the whole team of Italian Lakes Wedding, with all the best wishes to their great job.

Arriving from Malpensa airport the first important ancient palace we meet is Villa Giannone, the so-called Abbazia di Santo Spirito. It is located few minutes’ drive from Malpensa airport in the small village of Comignago, in Piemonte.

Abbazia di Santo Spirito was built in 1282 by monks, it was a convent and it maintained its ancient appeal during centuries: internal courtyard has a high tower bell of the close little church in which you can celebrate your religious ceremony. The villa right is in a wonderful Italian style garden with flowers, roses arches embellished by secular trees: the perfect scenario for a country wedding, just few minutes from Lake Maggiore!

Driving across Arona and going up on Piemonte’s side of Lake Maggiore you will reach Stresa, the most important touristy destination of the entire lake. For the ones who want to experience the luxury of ancients villas, Villa Muggia in Stresa is the right address!

First owner was George Von Siemens, after him was the turn of Muggia family and actual owner is important Toso family from Torino. Beautiful rooms inside the villa match perfectly with the wonderful park: scented flowers, magnolias, cone pines, and bronze statues made by Domenico Colanzi, not to forget the stunning fountain!

Rooms and suites furniture is real antique. Some pieces were owned by Napoleon and there are wonderful and precious carpets, pictures, curtains and Murano glass chandeliers. You will also find Venetian mirrors, silvers and crystals and even a 1700 cart! Villa Muggia can be the perfect venue for a wedding inside the charming rooms or even in the wonderful park under a precious marquee with stunning view on the Lake. Continue Reading »

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.
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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 »

Lake Orta is not only one of the most romantic destination for a wedding in Italy but one of the most wanted sets for movie directors.
Near Orta San Giulio there is a little village where you will find “Via del Cinema” (cinema street), a sort of extraordinary open air art gallery dedicated to movies shot on lakeshores and in Piemonte in general. There are 45 artworks painted on house walls by artist came from all over the world.

In the next weeks Cinema and big stars will be on stage on Lake Orta. Famous actress Monica Bellucci will come to the Lake. She will be the star of Italian movie L’Uomo che Ama, directed by Maria Sole Tognazzi shot between Torino and Lake Orta.

Monica Bellucci is one of the divas of international jet set. Her carrier begun during the 90s whit her cameo in Bram Stocker’s Dracula directed by Francis Ford Coppola. She became more and more famous thanks to her roles in Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolution, The Brother Grimm and Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. Welcome to Lake Orta, Monica!