Italian Lakes Wedding Planner

Dear readers,
we are happily proud to announce a new web site born from the experience of Italian Lakes Wedding Team, this is a real spin off and it is called Italian Country Wedding!
Italian Countryside seemed to us another lovely idea side of the lakes for the ones who are are looking for a different, romantic, relaxing and pleasant kind of wedding.

On Italian Country Wedding web site you will discover a multitude of choices for unique ceremony and reception, an intimate elopement, sites, small town hospitality, and a variety of activities for you and your guests in the Italian countryside
Surfing on Italian Country Wedding you will undiscovered and unspoiled places to create the perfect setting for a special and real country wedding: gardens, vineyards, country villas, traditional Italian restaurants, agriturismos or farm houses, or even in a wonderful castle!

Italian Country Wedding is specialized in weddings across Piedmont region and Langhe and Monferrato country side areas….just have a look at it we are sure you will be amazed by the charm of countryside!

It’s the most voluptuous place in the world that I’ve ever seen. The surrounding nature enchants with thousands of hidden seductions which give the sensation of being immersed in the rarest sensuality and refinement.
This is how Gustave Flaubert described this part of the Piedmont coast where the Lake Maggiore opens up into the Borromean Gulf, a green bay between the centers of Stresa and Pallanza, the two most brilliant gems of the Verbano.

The Grand Hotel Majestic is located in Pallanza, which faces the Island of St. Giovanni, the thirty-year summer residence of Arturo Toscanini. It is a fascinatingly beautiful Belle Epoque hotel distinguished by its incomparable architectural dignity, grand frescoed rooms and extensive lakeside English garden. Its construction became the impetus for the city’s booming tourism in 1870.

The optimal motivating attraction for nobles and the elite to choose to construct their luxurious villas in this region was primarily the agreeable situation amongst the exceptional panoramic peacefulness of the cape complete with surrounding mountains and mild climate.

From many of the hotel’s 99 rooms and 4 suites the dreamlike view of the lake’s serenity, surrounded by the mountains and the captivating beauty of the Borromean Island’s architectural and botanic artistry, can be marveled at. On the Isola Madre and the Isola Bella, just a few minutes away from the hotel by boat, the Borromeo Dynasty buit two luxurious domiciles in the 600’s surrounded by some of the most beautiful gardens of the Lake Maggiore. Of all the gardens in the world, these gardens are surpassed in the beauty only by the magnificent botanical gardens of Villa Taranto housing 20.000 plants species, 1.000 of which had never been cultivated in Italy before. The garden is within walking distance from the Grand Hotel.

Enchanted by the aquamarine panorama of the lake, as seen from the terrace of Majestic, Eleonora Duse had her tailor fashion a dress “…in the same color as the lake”. Among an array of illustrious artists who have been accommodated in the ambience of the Grand Hotel are Grazia Deledda and the composer Claude Debussy. To name a few, the boats of the Stuarts, the Queen of Romania, the monarchs of Italy, the noble families of Germany, Indian Princes and Maharaja were docked here…In short, the personalities symbolizing “bon vivre” of the 800’s have enjoyed the splendor of the hotel.

After some decades of decline, the Grand Hotel Majestic underwent a long restoration period and was returned the dignity of its past. Its rejuvenation brings the true value of its classical style to life and gives the impression of being immersed in an atmosphere of times gone by, all the while offering its guests adequate services with attention focused on today’s comforts. Continue Reading »

If you are dreaming of a special place for a symbolic ceremony on the lakeshore, St. Julius Island on Lake Orta could be the right place you are looking for.

St. Julius Island is a tiny place right in the center of the intimate lake. Some nuns live here, right in the pretty convent close to the abbey dedicated to St. Julius who was the first to land on the island. On the island there are also some villas which used to be owned by the church. Now they are all holidays home of rich families coming from all over the world. There is also a tiny little restaurant here, the only one on the island.

It is easy to understand why St. Julius Island is a place where silence and meditation play the main role. You can just breath a mystic atmosphere here. It is the amazing scenery Mark and Rachel choose for their wedding. The two guys are a lovely couple coming from Dallas TX, who planned their wedding with Italian Lakes Wedding Team.

We already mentioned Mark Followill in another post. He is the official speaker of Mavs TV, Dallas Mavericks TV channel, one of the most famous NBA basket ball team of USA. Mark and Rachel choose Lake Orta and St. Julius Island after visiting our web site and reading our posts. A very good result for our Team which main task is promoting lakes territory, one of the most romantic for a wedding in Italy.

After taking in consideration many photographers of the area, Mark and Rachel opted for Raffaello Mazzoleni. They were impressed by his skills, perfect shots and quickness in delivery. Images you can see here give you a perfect idea! You can have a look to his sites to know more about his work: www.artefoto-omegna.it and www.italianweddingphotojournalist.com.

Rachel picked up for her bridal bouquet one of Monika’s creations. Monika is the famous floral designer of La Piccola Selva. She created for beautiful Rachel a Hand-Tied Lilium Longiflorum bouquet.

After a short trip on private motorboat, ceremony has been celebrated on the lakeshore just by the small pier. An idyllic scenery: the abbey and villas on one side and lake and Orta village on the other.
A little farer there was Buccione Tower. Medieval tower that has been over viewing on Lake Orta for more than 1000 years. Continue Reading »

The time of traditional weddings, those with long sitting hours and hours seems to arrive to its end. This is also because nowadays the wedding is not only about the couple, but becomes more and more an event, where the bride and groom wants to create a real entertaining day for all the guests.

Obviously, this depends on also about the area and locations you would like to have for your wedding, but in general we can say that the italian lakes are just perfect to a more dynamic wedding, as the lakes offer so much different opportunities, even mixed together. Who told you, that you have to chose your venue and that’s it? It is so difficult to choose amongst all those beautiful sceneries, villas with breathtaking terraces, tiny little bays with a fairytale romantic feeling, splendid castles with a rich history….Now you don’t have to choose just one of the locations, why not to mix them together? In this way you can enjoy the full the different availabilities of the lake, and also allow your guests to live different experiences without making the wedding day too heavy.

Your dream is to have your ceremony open-air in the garden? Take one of the many proposals, and rent the venue only for the ceremony . Or you can take the venue for the ceremony, then leave for some programs and come back later on, to enjoy at the same place the dinner….without staying there the whole day.

So why not to take a lovely boat trip all around the lake? In this way you can admire the most beautiful spots of the different corners, while your guests are having fun with some champagne in hand , or creating bubbles like kids. Continue Reading »

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 Maggiore is one of the most famous touristy destination in Northern Italy. It hosts rich and scenographic villas. On Piemonte’s side of the Lake, starting from lake shore up to the hills before Mt Mottarone you will have the occasion to admire wonderful parks and amazing villas with their porches, balconies, terraces, galleries, staircases, towers and belvederes. Some of those are now open and transformed in luxury venues for weddings, meetings, congresses, fashion and company events… It is not by chance! Continue Reading »

Lenno it’s an important center located on the west side shore of Lario area.
It is situated between the promontory of Lavedo and Porlezza and counts a bit less than 1800 residents.
Here begins the coast called Tremezzina that ends at the Maiolica.
Lenno has roman origins proved by the numerous graveyards and ancient furnishings discovered during archeological excavations.
Starting from Lenno, very suggestive the romantic although intense walk that runs up Tremezzo Mount(1700 m.). High recommended the excursion by pleasure boat that offers a splendid view of the Villas from the lake passing through the promontory where lies Villa Balbianello in all its splendor till reaching Comacina Island.

Villa del Balbianello it’s a legacy of Guido Monzino to the FAI which preserves the most important Italian monumental Villas and gardens.
The Villa was Built for Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini at the end of the XVIII century and stands on the tip of a steep promontory overlooking Lake Como, almost opposite Bellagio.

Guido Monzino, its last owner was an explorer, so that nowadays the Villa looks exactly how he desired.
In particular, the place is plenty of marvelous collection art and handcraft pieces of worldwide: China, Africa and pre-Colombian art, precious English and French furniture of the 1700s and a small museum that bring our memory faraway to his adventurous expeditions.

Both blessing vows and reception can take place in the gardens and loggia facing the lake.
The bride can romantically reach by water taxi her groom and guests waiting for her at the Villa.
While the guests are already there waiting for the bride after have had a fascinating boat transfer sipping a glass of champagne accompanied by a soft musical background.

Once at the Villa, you will be welcomed by the banqueting’ s skilful staff who’ll be serving finger food and cocktails on trays. The garden could be set with chairs and small tables or even chaise-longues allowing your guests to mingle and enjoy the local delicatessen and be pampered by the absolutely unique and precious scenery! Continue Reading »

Bellagio lies directly on Como Lake and is crossed by a main street called via Garibaldi, which is criss-crossed by suggestive lanes which run up and down the hillside to the lake.
The most famous is called Salita Serbelloni. Here, a plaque marks the long stay of the musician Franz Liszt.
This romantic landscape it’s the perfect frame for your dreaming wedding day.
Bellagio, famous for the magnificent villas is one of the most refined location for your special event. It’s not easy to find so magical venues preserved as they were still in their maximum splendor period. And this area it’s particularly rich of villas rentable for weddings and unique occasions. The typical italian gardens of the Villas will impress your guests and the pictures of your wedding day will be simply astonishing.
After the unforgettable ceremony moment, while your guests start to refresh themselves with a delightful aperitif on a terrace, you could have the pleasure to discover fascinating corners of this ancient small town going for a brief and romantic walk, in order to relax a bit after the eternal promise. Continue Reading »

From the first days of 2009 the Italian Lakes Wedding team has 2 new wedding planners: Virag Lochinger and Alessandra Fabi.
Today I have the great pleasure to introduce you Alessandra, who will be our wedding planner for Lake Como: she has always dreamed of planning weddings for profession…and finally she did it!
Lake Como, which is certainly one of the most exclusive destinations for a wedding in Italy, offers to the bride and groom a stunning scenery: all along its coasts, surrounded by a luxuriant nature, you can find pictoresque villages facing the water and beatiful villas with parks and gardens. Here you will find enchanting town halls’ “Palazzi” and cozy churches hanging on the lake in the enchanting towns of Como, Bellagio, Cernobbio and Varenna.
It will be a great pleasure for Alessandra to help you plan your wonderful wedding on Lake Como: If your idea of wedding is refined, sophisticated and with a special attention to details, she’s your perfect wedding planner! She makes each client feel unique and she treats each wedding as if it were her own.
With her help, glamour and bon ton will be the main features of your special day while Lake Como will be the enchanting setting.
And if you need help in choosing your bridal gown, your honeymoon destination or the most chic wedding favours, just ask her and you’ll be surprised by her fervid imagination!

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 »