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Fashion Forward Wedding at Villa Balbiano on the Shores of Lake Como

Prepare to be enchanted as we take you on a journey through Lorena and Benjamin’s extraordinary wedding at the mesmerizing Villa Balbiano on the shores of Lake Como. This wedding celebration is brimming with endless inspiration artfully planned and photographed by Janna Brown Design Co. See all the details from this unforgettable affair inside the full gallery.



Lorena and Benjamin’s wedding at Villa Balbiano was a sign to behold as fashion-forward guests arrived in their finest attire to witness the nuptials in a truly grandiose setting. Lorena was radiant in her cinched waist silhouette gown, while her bridesmaids shimmered in custom hand-beaded gowns.



As the guests dined with their loved ones against the backdrop of the iconic villa, the tablescape of dripping candles and a sea of garden roses added to the utter romance of the evening. As the night drew to a close, the newlyweds made a stylish exit in a vintage Porsche, leaving their guests in awe of the fashion-forward affair they had just witnessed.



From the divine wardrobe to the custom cocktails sipped on the shores of Lake Como, every detail was carefully curated to create a truly unforgettable wedding. The event was truly a celebration of love and style, set against the backdrop of one of the most iconic villas in the world.




Photography: Janna Brown Design Co. | Floral Design: Janna Brown Design Co. | Bridal Boutique: Alexia's Bridal | Bridal Gown: Leah Da Gloria | Location: Villa Balbiano | Paper Details: Letterland Studio | Planning: Janna Brown Design Co. | Wedding Roses: David Austin Roses

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Would You Believe Us if We Told You This Was a REAL Wedding?

Get ready to do a double take – because it’s hard to believe this is an actual real wedding. A drop dead gorgeous, statement-sleeve gown, Villa Balbiano, and a firework show to end the night with a bang – I mean, does it get any better? To make it all the more unbelievable,  this Lake Como affair was planned in just two short months! All thanks to the talented team at Happy Moments Collector. Julia Kaptelova Photography was there to capture every last detail, we can’t wait to see our Pinterest feeds filled with magic from today’s full gallery!

From Happy Moments Collector… This wedding was planned in less than 2 months! But we were lucky enough having the couple who were very fast with the decision making and very organized! And we are not mentioning how beautiful and model looking the bride and groom are… When we saw the guests on the wedding day – we literally thought we are having only models around! Young and beautiful! The couple fell in love with villa Balbiano and after the site inspection it was 100% match. Villa itself and amazing gardens overlooking the lake – it can’t leave you without taking the breath away. 

For the flowers and decor overall we had 2 different opinions and references from the bride and groom and we needed to find some solution that would work for both parties. Groom tended to something more classical and timeless in white/blush colours and the bride, on the contrary, wanted something more saturated in terms of colours and trendy but at the same time natural looking and elegant. So we decided to merge mostly light colours with some hints of burgundy, navy and golden elements. So at the end we had really elegant garden wedding. 

Play of high flower arrangements at some tables and lower arrangements with chandelieres hung above added movement and chic to the table setting. Modern garden furniture added trendy look to the aperitif and dinner area. Dinner was accompanied by sets of the cover band playing famous songs together with the touching speeches from the guests and entertainment from the famous talk show host. 

Cutting of the cake was done with the background of the fireworks that added so much romance and festive feeling to the moments that everyone was literally fascinated. And we can’t help mentioning the looks of the bride starting from the morning till the end of the event! The main wedding dress was just out of words! Very stylish and fancy. The second black and white dress that was very elegant and at the same time trendy was fantastic as well. The preparation shoot and the wedding itself were such a blast for all of the team of vendors that we are looking forward to the anniversary of this beautiful couple a lot!

Photography: Julia Kaptelova Photography | Cinematography: Smile Emotion | Event Design: Happy Moments Collector | Event Planning: Happy Moments Collector | Floral Design: Figli Dei Fiori | Wedding Dress: murashkaofficial | Reception Venue: Villa Balbiano | Catering: Sunlake Catering | Entertainment: Mikhail Belyanin | DJ: DJ Alex Fresh | Make-up and Hair: Lidija Malinovskaia | Music and technical equipment: Blunotte Eventi | Rentals: Latini | Second Dress: Rasario

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A Blush Gown, Lake Como Views, and Roses Galore – This Is What Microwedding Dreams Are Made Of.

Today’s inspiration shoot from Honour and Blessing is every romantic bride’s dream microwedding – brought to life! With the idyllic Villa Balbiano as their backdrop, the sweetest couple wed under a baby’s breath adorned floral arbor from Ratti Flora. The bride absolutely stunned in an elegant, blush pink Le Spose Di Gio gown that perfectly complimented her sugar plum, pink and cream bouquet. To see every last detail and breathtaking view, don’t miss out on the full gallery… all taken by Jen Huang!

From the planners… Our couple got engaged in the summer of 2019 in Southern Italy and were planning to have their wedding also in Italy. When we were conceptualizing the idea for this shoot, we designed it with an intimate wedding in mind. From the colours to the actual wedding and reception, we wanted to create a wedding where the designs will complement and flow with the beautiful designs of Villa Balbiano and also have plenty of Italian touches as the groom is Italian. With the classic and opulent decor at Villa Balbiano we wanted the colours to be elegant and timeless. As we looked at the details of Villa Balbiano we fell in love with a beautiful antique chair and it became the inspiration for our theme of “Sugar Plum Romance” for the couple.

Using shades of sugar plum, pink, and gold, we wanted to paint the scene of a picture out of a storybook. Villa Balbiano proved to be the perfect setting for our “Sugar Plum Romance” concept with its idyllic views of the lake against the backdrop of majestic mountains. Creating around this concept, all the vendors came to bring this story to life. Veronica Halim of Truffypi created a breathtaking invitation suite with plenty of texture and depth in the handmade paper and various colour tones. For the ceremony, we wanted to keep the focus on the iconic Villa Balbiano building. We chose white flowers to create a dreamy and airy arch to complement the surroundings and an archway that surrounds their doorway. Rattiflora also created plenty of low floral arrangements in various sugar plum shades that we used during cocktail hour, table, and fireplace. Using the impressive stone table for reception, we soften the look with a delicate silk runner and napkins from Fati D Amor and plenty of candles from The Floral Society.

The Wedding Day:

The day started with Ying getting ready leisurely with hair and makeup done by The Glamourist. With the delicate and romantic vintage Claire de Lune outfits, Jane created a soft look with wavy curls as Ying took different portraits throughout the Villa. In the meantime, William got ready in his Hall Madden tux and everything about the morning was very relaxing, just like a vacation in Italy. For the ceremony, Ying changed into her Le Sposio Gio gown that was dreamy and flowed perfectly with the sugar plum romance as it is in a full and delicate wedding gown with a touch of pink tones. Her hair was also transformed into a low bun to match her gown and to showcase the design of the neckline. The small group of international guests arrived on the property for the intimate ceremony and were seated on the lawn facing the iconic entrance to the villa. 

As Ying walked down the aisle, which was the area on both sides of the fountain area. She only had eyes on the smiling groom as he waited under the baby breath’s arch as she walked towards him. The couple exchanged their vows as guests witnessed their love story and celebrated together with them. Everyone also gathered around in front of the majestic archway to give the couple their blessings by showering them with a confetti toss. After the ceremony Ying changed into her evening gown for cocktail hour with her guests as everyone admired the view of the lake and mountains. 

Under a private canopy of foliage and flowers, the newlyweds entered the reception area with cheers from the guests and shared a lovely meal together. The beautifully textured wedding cake in sugar plum tones by Qualcosa Di Dolce tied everything together, ending the wonderful day on a sweet note full of love. We hope you can relive the enchantment and romance through the magic of Jen Huang’s lens and also the snippet of the video from Julie Aarons.

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Photography: Jen Huang Photography | Cinematography: Julia Semashko | Event Planning: Honour and Blessing Events | Florals: rattiflora | Wedding Dress: Le Spose Di Gio | Cake: Qualcosa di Dolce | Stationery: Veronica Halim Calligraphy | Ceremony Venue: Villa Balbiano | Reception Venue: Villa Balbiano | Jewelry: My Golden Age | Makeup and Hair: The Glamourist | Candles: The Floral Society | Getting ready attire: Clair De Lune | Ribbons and Napkins: Fati Amor

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An Intimate Lake Como Wedding at Hotel Villa Cipressi Thats More Romantic Than the Movies

From the bride’s princess Lena Berisha gown to a sparkling ceremony on Lake Como, to the pergola covered reception – the amount of breathtaking beauty in this wedding is truly endless. Don’t mind us, we’ll just be sitting here for the rest of the day drooling over Julia Kaptelova Photography’s flawless pictures, especially those stunning floral arrangements from Il Florista. Keep on reading for words from the bride telling the story of their special day, including her favorite moment, that happened to be one she never even planned for.

From the Bride Darya… Our little Italian wedding. We were always fond of all things Italian, despite never being there before. My husband and I could not imagine a better place to celebrate the beginning of our life as one. And so, when we found the most charming Hotel Villa Cipressi, we instantly knew it would be the place to remember. With breathtaking views of Lago di Como and the Botanic Garden encompassing the villa, we decided to go with a simple yet classic wedding style that I believe allowed us to experience the true taste of Italian culture.

The sunny outdoor terrace on the shore, with a string quartet and bouquets of roses was the most magical place to say the most important words: I do. After which we wondered to the cool shaded paths of the garden with our talented photographer Julia Kaptelova and her team to capture the euphoria of our special day through her lens.

To those who are in the midst of planning their weddings, the success of your wedding depends on how comfortable you feel around your photographer. My hubby and I were extremely lucky to instantly connect with Julia, whose humble character, work ethic and ability to guide us through the process left the most delightful imprint on our hearts.

On a hot mid-September day, nothing brings more joy than refreshing bubbles of prosecco, a light lake breeze on the elevated terrace with spectacular views and enchanting classical music. In the spur of the moment, Elisabetta from Prelude Musica asked Ryan and I to dance for our guests during the cocktail hour and, I must say, my first thought was “the first dance is planned after dinner” but the atmosphere was so compelling that we could not say no. And so, my favorite memory of our wedding was a dance I never planned for.

We wanted to make sure our guests knew their presence was equally important to us. Therefore, one long table Italian-style for the reception was the perfect solution for a small family-like wedding. A charming pergola, soft sounds of the fountain and warm string of lights created an intimate ambiance which became the main ingredient of an unforgettable Italian wedding.

Photography: Julia Kaptelova Photography | Floral Design: Il fiorista snc | Wedding Dress: Lena Berisha | Brides Shoes: Christian Louboutin | DJ: Luca Capelli  | Wedding Favors: Qualcosa di Dolce | Grooms attire: Giorgio Armani | Catering and cake: Hotel Villa Cipressi | Headpiece: Crown designers | Muah: Lydia Malinovskaya | Quartet : Prelude Musica | Villa Cipressi: Hotel Villa Cipressi

A Lavish Lake Como Wedding That Embraces Color!

Don’t get us wrong – we’ll always have a soft spot for classic blush and green weddings, but there’s truly nothing we love more than when a bride isn’t afraid to be brave with color! With the help of their planner, Rachel Birthistle, and their floral designer, Tulipina, this gorgeous couple embraced the lively hues found in Villa Pizzo’s enchanting gardens, allowing them to inspire a truly one of a kind color palette. Bright pops of pink and sandy yellows danced from their lakeside ceremony to the tented reception, all captured flawlessly by Sotiris Tsakanikas! Don’t miss the full gallery for more Lake Como wedding magic.

From the wedding planner… The bride and groom already had spent many holidays in Como and so had a special connection with the place, there was no real sales effort needed, it was already a done deal, we just had to identify the right venue. That was a love at first sight scenario when they strolled the grounds of Villa Pizzo. This particular villa is in a stunning position on the edge of Cernobbio, next door to the iconic Villa D’este hotel.

The garden of Villa Pizzo is one of the longest gardens lakeside and has paths that meander for some 10kms, containing both and Italian garden and English garden, this aesthetic diversity makes it the perfect venue as it creates natural reveals for the guests. The bride and groom were ideal clients in so many ways, they had a clear vision as to how they wanted their wedding to flow and feel.

The bride loved colour and was very open to our design ideas and guidance. The colour palette Kiana (Tulipina) and I suggested was initially influenced by both the villa and the bride, the villa itself is a mix of wonderful chalky tones of peach, earthy pink and sandy yellows, the garden is full of the most beautiful roses in similar tones, we took these base colours to a slightly fuller level and the bride wanted to have a warm yellow accent as she had a sentimental connection with the colour.

Without wanting to be too directional the bride was clear that she didn’t want too much greenery as she liked the structure and shape that was feasible with compositions that were predominantly made up of flowers, this was Kianas idea of heaven, she created the most beautiful compositions. For the ceremony area the combination of the palette and the definition of the spaces created by the compositions enhanced rather than distracted from the spectacular view.

The cocktail area was held in the Italian garden, we furnished it with a mix of elegant rattan lounges with warm pastel velvet fabrics, flowers were minimal as the space is already intriguing. The main focus in this area was the seating plan which were beautifully designed name tags by Letterink, that hung from a large tree. The weather had been a little unpredictable and the original plan was to be totally al fresco we needed the insurance cover of the tent structure in the courtyard. The dinner tables we kept simple and elegant, crisp chalk white linens with a strong dark peach accents both in the compositions and on the Oscar De la Renta plates, with warm golds and brass elements from the cutlery and the vases and not forgetting the sentimental yellow.

Photography: Sotiris Tsakanikas | Cinematography: Marco Abbatangelo | Event Planning: The Lake Como Wedding Planner | Floral Design: Tulipina - Kiana Underwood | florist : Tea Rose Milano | Reception Venue: Villa Pizzo | Catering: AFM | make up & hair : Cherie Spisso | Escort Cards: LetterInk | Plates: Oscar De La Renta | getting ready venue: Villa D'Este | music & lights: Blunotte Events

When Italian Views Meet Indian Traditions, the Blending of Cultures Create Destination Wedding Magic!

It’s official… traditional Indian wedding elements mixed with a touch of Italian culture and cuisine… that’s amore!  We’ve seriously become mesmerized by the jaw-dropping Lake Como views, stunning traditional Indian attire and the overall decor, dripping in heavenly floral arrangements from Fiore all’Occhiello! Lucky for us, Katie Grant Photography was there to capture every memorable moment of this Lake Como meets Bollywood fairytale, allowing us to live vicariously through the full gallery – see for yourself!

From Katie Grant PhotographyIn making plans for their wedding, Esha and Aakash were quickly drawn to the gorgeous shores of Lake Como and knew it was the perfect setting for their traditional wedding events. Friends and family flew in from all across the globe to help the couple celebrate their union.

The weekend started off with a traditional Mehendi, lunch and lawn games followed by the Sangeet in the evening in which the two families got to celebrate coming together. Esha and her maids were busy with their Mehendi in the morning while Aakash was having his Haldi. The evening turned to all party where a combination of Italian and Indian elements made the event completely unique where guests were treated to Spritzes to start, curry for dinner, and a dance party into the night.

The wedding day itself kept with the pace of the weekend where traditional elements were blended with the gorgeous Italian aspects. Guests arrived via boat to the stunning Villa Pizzo and got to cheer on as Aakash arrived on his boat Baraat. 

The gorgeous ceremony and reception followed with live music, plenty of food, and lots of laughs. A group of friends even surprised the couple during the reception with a choreographed Bollywood dance reenacting their relationship!

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Lake Como Wedding

Photography: Katie Grant Photography | Event Planning: Distinctive Italy Weddings | Florals: Alessandro Piacenza | Catering: AFM | Band: Bdm Weddings 42 Posts 238 Followers 368 Following La Bottega Della Musica | Boat Transport: Tassell | Ceremony and Reception: Villa Pizzo | Gowns: Custom | MUAH: Harold James | Paper: Love Letter Paper | Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Villa Aura Del Lago | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Video: Moon and Back

Forget About A Getaway Car, This Couple Had A Getaway Boat!

It is no secret that Lake Como is one of the most beautiful places to tie the knot, but this bride and groom took it to the next level taking their stunning portraits on a classic wooden getaway boat by Como Classic Boats as they sailed through the lake. Planned in less than three months, Happy Moments Collector brought to life all of the bride’s ideas from a soft color palette to a custom dance floor for guests to dance the night away! Nastia Vesna and Maksim Gladky photographed all of the romance, dancing, and the bride’s second dress. Take a look below and read how together, with the chef, the happy new couple made their own wedding cake!

From Happy Moments CollectorThis intimate wedding on the shores of Lake Como was quite special, not only because it was planned in 2-3 months, but mostly because of the lovely couple showing their tender love between each other and the guests. This day was both filled with romance and energy. Lena and Andrey were brought up in Los Angeles, California but had close family and friends from all over the world. Being Armenians they added some gentle cultural vibes making the day even more memorable and happy.

The bride knew from the very beginning what color theme she liked. It was mostly white, green and blush with just a little hint of light blue that matched exactly the windows of the villa. Blue and blush were also used in the stationery. Being very sophisticated and beautiful by nature, Lena chose an elegant dress that was just perfect on her. The second dress was very stylish and trendy as well made in silk, mid-length and with the wrap over detail. Everything started with the symbolic ceremony and the exchange of the vows that left everyone in tears. The ceremony was followed by a rich Italian aperitif accompanied by the jazz trio.

The couple was very precise with the type of music they wanted and chose beforehand all of the songs to be played for each special moment. For dinner time, we had the grand piano in addition to the live band. The couple wanted to dance. And dance a lot. As Italian villas usually have natural settings of grass and gravel everywhere in the garden, we had decided to make a special dance floor for the guests to feel more comfortable. The first appearance for the couple to their reception started with loud traditional dancing music and none of the guests were able to resist the beat and everyone started dancing. It was the first time that a reception started with a REAL party :)

The wedding cake area was surrounded by lots of candles that added magic to the moment. The couple chose a traditional Italian millefoglie cake with chantilly cream and berries that they prepared in front of the surprised guests, together with the Chef as a symbol of the first thing made together as a married couple. The cake was so tasty that it literally vanished. Dinner was followed by the party inside the villa with the DJ and a saxophone player, mixing famous songs together with some traditional ones.

Photography: Nastia Vesna&Maksim Gladky | Videographer: Marco Abbatangelo | Stationery: Letter B | Catering: Sunlake Catering | Wedding Venue: Villa Regina Teodolinda | Boat: Como Classic Boat | Make-up and Hair: Lidija Malinovskaya | Music: Blunotte Events | Wedding Planner and Concept: Happy Moments Collector

A Breathtaking Lake Como Wedding at Villa Sola Cabiati

A fairytale villa in Lake Como, a romantic post-ceremony boat ride and a stunning Galia Lahav dress… um can you say yes, yes, YES?! Oliver Fly Photography captured this magical day teeming with lush blooms by Figli Dei Fiori and intimate details planned to perfection by Le Mariage Made in Italy. Trust us folks, this is one for the storybooks.

What did you envision your wedding being prior to planning? Why did you choose Lake Como?

From the bride… Prior to planning, my fiancé and I discussed what we both envisioned our wedding to be. I wanted flowers with lots of natural light; George wanted great food and a live band to amp up our guests, and we both expressed that we wanted a body of water, whether it was a sea or a lake, to be in the background as we got married. That helped us narrow down some choices as we were inquiring various venues. We wanted a location that would be easy for our guests to fly into and to enjoy the weekend as they celebrated with us. It was an easy choice for us to finalize our decision and choose Lake Como!

What was your color palette and your style vision?

The flowers in the Villa’s garden and the decorative golden gates inspired me to incorporate blush, ivory, and gold into my color palette. I envisioned a timeless and elegant wedding where I incorporated much of the natural splendor of the Villa and Lake Como. I was going for a classy and sophisticated, using as many local vendors as possible so that our guests who flew literally half way around the world from New York to Korea could have a taste of the local food and ambience. We used a local flower vendor, Figli dei Fiori, and incorporated many of the local flowers from the Como region and added classic touches like metallic candles on the tables and on the stairs to create a warm, glowing effect. Additionally, the main parlor is ornately decorated with Italian frescos, beautiful antiques and furniture, so I felt like I did not have to add much to the décor.

Why did you choose this wedding venue?

We decided to get married at Villa Sola Cabiati in Lake Como, Italy because it was exactly what we were looking for – timeless, elegant, and classy. The Villa is like a walking museum: it was Charles II’s and the Duke of Serbelloni’s summerhouse and even houses Napoleon’s and Josephine’s beds and their personal items including Napoleon’s hat! Through a recent partnership with Grand Hotel Tremezzo, it has been recently open to the public for private events, and we knew it would be perfect for our wedding venue since we would have exclusive use of the property and it would be an incredibly special weekend for our guests as they celebrated our wedding with us. We had a three day wedding celebration: the first night was at Grand Hotel Tremezzo’s T-Beach, right on Lake Como, and the other two days were at the Villa. Since we had the Villa to ourselves for the whole weekend, it was amazing to be immersed in history and also to create our own history in the Villa!

What unique elements or DIY details did you include?

One thing my fiancé and I wanted was to have our guests enjoy their weekend at Lake Como. We decided to go with a live band, which was the best choice we made regarding music. The wedding singer was incredible and she knew exactly when to liven up the mood and was so heartfelt during the emotional times like our first dance. We still get comments from our friends about where we hired such an amazing wedding singer, so thank you Blunotte Events! Additionally, my mother, who is the Creative Director of Nora Noh – our family business, made unique dresses for everyone in the wedding. She designed and made my second dress, all 7 bridesmaid dresses, her dress, my mother-in-law’s dress, and my aunt’s dress. It was so special for me that she gifted me this timeless and precious dress, especially all while designing for her collection. I am forever grateful for this unique gift she gave me for my wedding day!

What was your favorite moment? Your favorite detail?

My favorite part was after the ceremony, where we walked down the aisle as husband and wife and realizing that all our family and friends were in beautiful Lake Como to help celebrate our marriage. We have a candid picture of us hugging at the end of the aisle because we were just so elated that all the time and effort we put into planning our wedding was unfolding beautifully. One of my favorite details is including our dog in our wedding invitations. Since we had a destination wedding, it did not seem feasible to bring our dog all the way to Italy. Momental Designs really captured Lily in our wedding invitation, and I am so glad she was there with us in spirit. George’s brother also lent him cufflinks that looked like our dog, so that was really special and meaningful to us, as well. Tell us about your flowers, your gown, your favors for your guests, your cake, etc…

Since we were having a destination wedding and we love the Italian culture and food, we incorporated as many local vendors as possible. We got a recommendation from Grand Hotel Tremezzo for our caterer, a second-generation family run business. We incorporated many Italian dishes and included many of the wines from our caterer’s own vineyard! We also incorporated local and seasonal flowers like lisianthus and peonies. We had a flower arch and incorporated more greenery on our imperial tables. We also wanted our cake to be filled with Italian wild berries and cream, which is our favorite dessert. The cake was also adorned with the local flowers that we used in my wedding bouquet. My wedding planner, Oana from Le Mariage Made In Italy, helped me source the olive oil favors from Tuscany directly from the olive oil. The flowers from the beautifully curated gardens of the Villa inspired my first dress. I wanted a dress that would make me feel elegant and classy yet showed a fitted bodice. As for my second dress, my mother designed and created my dress to have a more slim-fitting silhouette. I changed my dress before my father-daughter dance since it meant a lot to me to wear my mother’s creation with my dad.

What is one piece of advice that you could give brides-to-be?

Some advice I received and would give to future brides will be to breathe and enjoy your wedding. This is one of the greatest times in your life and there will be times when it does not go as planned (We had many logistical issues leading up to the wedding since there was a huge Dolce & Gabanna event all over Lake Como during the same weekend, which lead to a lot of chaos for us!), but take a breath and remember that in the end, all of your family and loved ones are there to celebrate YOU. You are surrounded by those who have traveled so far to be with you on your special day. So, even if it does not go as planned, take a breath and enjoy your wedding! Also, make sure you eat throughout the day/weekend. I was so nervous and anxious that I physically couldn’t keep my food down a day before my wedding festivities. I had pieces of bread and also had electrolyte chews that help replenish me !

From the planner, Le Mariage Made in Italy… Jean and George’s wedding was created to represent them in every detail. They chose Villa Sola Cabiati, one of the most romantic wedding venues on Lake Como and the mission was not to overdo it. Elegant table setting and organic flower arrangements with hues of pink and peach decorated the magnificent imperial table positioned at the Villa’s doorstep, overlooking the breathtaking lake and timeless garden. The entire planning process with them was a delight and D day felt like a dream – poetic, flawless and unforgettable.

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Photographer: Oliver Fly Photography | Videographer: Studio 80 | Wedding Planning: Le Mariage Made in Italy | Floral Design: Figli Dei Fiori | Cake: Pasticceria Ramperti | Stationery: Momental Designs | Catering: Visini | Venue: Grand Hotel Tremezzo | Bride's Dress 1: Galia Lahav | Bride's Dress 2: Nora Noh | Bride's Rings: David S. Diamonds | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Groom's Band: Cartier | Groom's Tuxedo: Ermeneglildo Zegna | Hair & Make Up: Samantha Pretto | Lighting & Entertainment: Blunotte Events | Photography Assistant: Arnaud Mallez | Riva Boat : Grand Hotel Tremezzo | Villa: Grand Hotel Tremezzo

Como Anniversary Session Three Years Later At Villa D’Este

Do you remember this wedding? A California affair infused with personality, culture and the sweetest Bride and Groom. Fast forward three years and this crazy cute duo is celebrating their wedding anniversary in style with a trip to the shores of Lake Como and the talented Rebecca Yale in tow. I mean, how stunning is this gallery?

From Rebecca Yale PhotographyI had the pleasure of photographing Alex and Bridgette’s engagement session three years ago at the beautiful Italian inspired Sunstone Vineyard in Santa Ynez (which was featured here on SMP) so it was only natural that we headed to Italy to photograph their anniversary session!

We spent the week exploring Como with friends taking an afternoon at the gorgeous Villa D’Este to capture some portraits in honor of their two year anniversary. 

The bride and groom made the occasion a little more special by wearing a darker version of the same dress she wore at her engagement session as well as her wedding shoes, while the groom brought along the same suit he wore at Sunstone.

Photography: Rebecca Yale | Dress: Anthropologie | Shoes: Oscar De La Renta

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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An Elegant French Touch at Villa Balbiano on Lake Como

Dreamy destination wedding shoots are just one of the many things we love about what we see every day  on Style Me Pretty… our imaginations soar to all new heights! The amazing vendors who pull together all the details in the most romantic and do-able ways are our heroes. Today’s romantic wedding inspiration shoot, planned and designed by Sweet Love & Confettis, will take you to the shores of Lake Como, to Villa Balbiano. From there, we’ll let the images from Maddy Christina and film from Stephane M tell the rest of the story!

From Maddy ChristinaThis styled shoot is above all else, a beautiful study in contrasts. We had the honor of being able to organize our shoot at one of the most beautiful locations on Lake Como, the Villa Balbiano. We wanted to create a refined, elegant and soft styled shoot… finding that perfect balance between Italy and the famous “French Touch”.

Our color palette and textural elements contributed to the marriage of the French-Italian experience… brilliant shades of blue-green in the water and surrounding landscape contrasted beautifully with the velvety softness of the linens and stationery. The vibrancy of the fruit and floral design from Emily Alarcan in our tablescape played charmingly against the stone walkways and architectural elegance.  The three-tiered cake from Delicatesse Cake was a masterful combination of modern design and romantic imagination.  Brightly colored wisteria on the property served as the finishing touch for this extraordinary experience.

Our real life newlyweds came from Luxembourg to spend the day with us!

The beautiful stationery suite with hand-lettered calligraphy was designed by Callyane. From the adventures that began the moment our couple launched the Riva Boat trip to reach the famous Villa Balbiano… to the race for the perfect lighting under the harsh yet sometimes powerful Italian sun, it was a day filled with wonderful contrasts from the beginning. The French Touch in Italy from a truly united team!

Enjoy the day in it’s entirety in this short film from Little Black Book cinematographer, Stephane M 

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Photography: Maddy Christina | Cinematography: Stephane M | Wedding Planner: Marine Lebeaux | Wedding Dress: Elisa Ness | Cake: Delicatesse Cake | Stationery: Callyane S. | Ring: Pierre Lorin | Hair + Makeup: Justine Chery Makeup | Suit: father & son's | Venue: Villa Balbiano | Flower Designer: Emily Alarçon | Rentals: Tableset | Ribbons: Le Temps File | Riva Boat: Como Classic Boat

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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We Think the Rain Made This Day Picture Perfect

Emily had been dreaming of an outdoor ceremony overlooking Lake Como accompanied by a celebratory boat ride for the months leading up to her Italian destination wedding, but when the forecast the day of called for rain, she had to make the tough decision to move things under a tent. Luckily, Happy Moments Collector was there to expertly execute plan B, and now the bride reflects, “Looking back, all I remember is that September 9th was the most beautiful and magical day of our lives.” And we have to be honest – with the mist over the mountains, the dreamy draping of the tent, and the lovely images by Thcablookfotolab, everything looked picture perfect in our book.

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From planner Anastasia Aslanyan, founder of Happy Moments Collector…. This wedding was on the 9th of September, and usually we are still having summer on Lake Como, but last year it was something extraordinary – quite chilly, and the forecast was showing heavy rain all day long with wind. Of course, we had a plan B, but we were all a bit worried. And what can I say? All the guests and the couple were telling us that it was even more cozy, memorable, and special because of the rain. Not all weddings are on sunny days, and couples are always worried about this point. Usually it is their nightmare. But we assured Emily and Michael that rainy weather could still be beautiful and unique. The only thing is you must have a well-organized plan. You know, in Italy they have a proverb, ”Sposa bagnata, sposa fortunata.” that means that rain on the wedding day brings good luck to the bride. And we are sure that Emily and Michael will have their happily ever after.

The theme of the wedding was elegant simplicity, with a color palette of white, ivory, blush, olive green, and touch of gold. You can see it starting with the stationery and finishing with the small details. We couldn’t help adorning the lovely dog of the couple with the wreath on his neck. It walked down the aisle with the groomsmen, opening the ceremony. 

From the bride… Michael and I have quite a love story. He is originally from Germany, and I was born in Canada, but we met eight years ago at a surf camp in Costa Rica. We fell in love and ended up dating long distance for four years before he moved to California to be with me. We got engaged in Big Sur, California, and had dreamed of getting married on the coast of California, but after a trip to Lake Como, Italy, we fell absolutely in love with the idea of an Italian wedding. It was the best decision we made as the food, wine, and romantic atmosphere can’t be beat.

I found our wedding planner, Anastasia, on Style Me Pretty, and all of her weddings were so beautiful, so I knew she would be able to execute our ideas perfectly. Every day for two weeks leading up to the wedding, I would check the weather reports. The night before, the radar was calling for 100% chance of rain, and I became so upset even though everybody told me not to worry. I had been dreaming of our beautiful, floral arch overlooking the lake, our guests enjoying cocktails in the garden, and us taking a sunny boat ride for photos. Our friends and family all traveled from far away to be with us, and I wanted it to be the perfect day spent outdoors. On the morning of the wedding, we had to make a decision, and I wanted to so badly have it outside, but our planner, Anastasia, suggested we move everything under the tent. Halfway through our ceremony, the winds picked up, and it started raining. Looking back, all I remember is that September 9th was the most beautiful and magical day of our lives. It didn’t matter that the rain ruined my hair and my dress was destroyed, because the only memories we have now are that everything felt perfect.

My advice to other brides planning an outdoor wedding would be to not panic when you see rain in the forecast because your wedding will be the best day of your life regardless of the weather. Your guests are there to celebrate your day, and the rain won’t stop them from having an amazing time. Also, don’t be afraid to take some chances in the rain. We almost canceled our boat ride when we knew it would be raining, but our favorite photos from the day were taken in the rain. The way the fog and the mist rolled through the mountains was truly stunning.

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Photography: Thecablookfotolab | Event Planning: Happy Moments Collector | Floral Design: Flower Haute Couture | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Invitations: Sydney Beth Designs | Rings: Mark Broumand | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Needle & Thread | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Fame And Partners | Catering: Sunlake Catering | Groom's Attire: Loro Piana | Venue: Villa Geno

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Move Over Clooney; We’ve Got The New It Couple of Lake Como

Whenever I hear Lake Como, I tend to think Clooney but that may no longer be the case. After oohing and aahing over Marta Guenzi’s gallery right here, I can’t stop thinking about this wedding, the elegance, romance and the straight up style of it all. Beautiful white blooms burst everywhere, with pops of bright lemons and sweet kisses from the beaming Bride and Groom; it’s stunning to say the least. See our new King and Queen of Lake Como right this way – and don’t miss Alessandro Bordoni’s film below that captured the magic live!

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From Marta Guenzi… One requirement of any visit to Lake Como is a cruise of the lake by boat. This not only allows for one to feel instantly glamorous, but also allows for an uninterrupted vantage point from which to take in the steep Alpine foothills that line Como’s perimeter and the many historic villas that dot its shores. If you’re particularly lucky and your captain is especially experienced, he’ll know which buildings warrant a closer peek and he’ll steer just close enough to those so that the eye may roam freely and the imagination may run wild.

The villa that most captures the wildest imaginations is a very grand mansion on the western branch of the lake. This villa is known as Villa Sola Cabiati, or —to those in the know— La Quiete. It is famous for being one of the most stunning villas in a wonderland of stunning villas, and also for being the 18th-century vacation home of the very wealthy Duke Gabrio Serbelloni. It was his children who transformed La Quiete into its current Baroque dream, filling it with a museum’s worth of paintings, frescoes, porcelains, tapestries, and furnishings. And this is the place Tyisha and Thomas fell in love with when they started to plan their destination wedding in Italy.

The bride is from New York while the groom is from Stockholm, so their guests came half from the U. S. and half from Northern Europe. And who doesn’t get excited at the prospect of going somewhere gorgeous and unique to exchange vows? What I love about a destination wedding is the feeling of adventure that binds all the participants and this was exactly what I felt during the two days I spent with this amazing couple and their guests.

The wedding weekend started with a boat cruise at sunset and culminated the day after with the religious ceremony at the Church of the Ascension in Cadenabbia followed by an elegant reception at Villa Sola Cabiati in Tremezzina. I loved every minute of this intimate celebration, from the bride getting ready inside the historical rooms doing a pillow fight with the bridesmaids, to the first look in the fern-flecked Italian garden, to the moving religious ceremony, to the relaxing dinner around the imperial table overlooking the lake. Tyisha and Thomas were inspired by typical Italian fruits like lemons and white flowers that in summer adorn the shores of Lake Como. So they designed their watercolored stationery using these elements and chose to decorate the imperial dinner table with a mic of flowers and fruits: lemons, lisianthus, roses, eucalyptus and olive branches. The floral designers, Maurizio Buzzi and Luca Perini by Haute Couture Flower, suggested the spouses to set the dinner under the stars, in the upfront garden of the villa, overlooking the lake. What a better place to have fun and listen to the most touching speeches by the closest friends and family? I won’t steal more time and I’ll leave you with the images of this lovely day!

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Photography: Marta Guenzi Photographer | Videography: Alessandro Bordoni | Floral Design: Haute Couture Flower | Ceremony Venue: Church Of Ascension | Reception Venue: Grand Hotel Tremezzo | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Catering: Maison du Food | Hair + Makeup: Daniela Guanziroli | Music: Blunotte Events

A Pretty Parasol + Lake Como Are All the Inspo We Need

One trip to Lake Como, and Koman Photography KNEW they needed to photograph it for brides- and grooms-to-be – the location absolutely exudes inspiration! A romantic, lace number by Musat (that neckline!), a perfectly effortless looking bouquet by Madness Flowers, and simple, elegant calligraphy by Bijou Creative plus a dainty white parasol and a handsome groom were the only pieces needed for the prettiest of wedding editorials.

We have a deep passion for locations full of historic beauty. We visited Lake Como for the very first time this past year and simply fell in love. Shooting weddings there would be one of our dreams, so we headed there for the next best thing – a bridal editorial. Our beautiful bride wore the Aurora gown by Musat and carried a Madness Flowers bouquet, which consisted of white and soft pastel pink tones. She was pampered by the amazing make up artist, Alessia Bee, and wore beautiful earrings by Lindsay Marie Designs. Timeless paper goods were created by Bijou Creative.

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Photography: Koman Photography | Floral Design: Madness Flowers Italy | Wedding Dress: Musat Bridal | Hair + Makeup: Alessia Bee | Calligraphy: Bijou Creative | Groom's Attire: Prada | Earrings: Lindsay Marie Design | Film Lab: Richard Photo Lab

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This Couple Found Their Wedding Location Serendipitously

Frustrated with the process of choosing a location for their wedding, this couple decided to take a much needed Italian getaway to relax and reconnect. It was during their time abroad that they stumbled upon the gorgeous Lake Como area in a moment that could only be described as pure serendipity – they booked Lake Como’s Villa d’Este and everything else began falling into place. Add to this an incredible team of wedding professionals including Elena Pensini Events and Concierge, Figli Dei Fiori, and Oliver Fly Photography, and this sophisticated, destination affair is something out of a wonderful dream.

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From the bride… Nicholas and I visited Italy to get our minds off of wedding planning as we could not decide on a destination for our celebration. After spending time in Milan and Venice, we ended up in Lake Como and absolutely fell in love! The Villa d’Este Hotel is such a magical spot – you instantly feel as though you’re transported back in time. However, it wasn’t until we returned back home to Palm Beach that we knew Lake Como was the destination we had been searching for.

I flew back a few weeks later to scout venues and meet with wedding planners and ended up choosing to stay on property at the hotel. I wanted to keep all the details very simple as the lake has so much natural beauty, and the venue has so many grand features between the famous Mosaic Garden and the Gatsby-like chandeliers. Figli Dei Fiori, a local flower shop in Como, did an amazing job pairing beautiful flowers (lots of lush hydrangea – the flower of Lake Como!) and hundreds of candles to create an elegant and romantic feeling. I designed all the invitations, programs, and menus, incorporating wax seals and calligraphy to mimic the old world atmosphere of Villa d’Este.

I went to almost every wedding boutique in NYC and Miami searching for the perfect dress. I was very close to designing my own when I found my Naeem Khan dress at Ever After in Miami. It was perfect, and I could customize it to have everything I was looking for in a dress!

Nick and I did a first look a few days before the wedding and took out a beautiful wooden Riva boat on the lake. I was hesitant to wear my dress and have the groom see it before walking down the aisle, but it was one of the best decision we made!

One of our favorite wedding moments was the first dance. We learned and choreographed a dance to “Fly Me to the Moon” with lots of spins and dips! The biggest surprise of the night was the wedding cake – it was so big, it took 4 servers to carry it out!

From Elena Pensini EventsA sweet couple from Miami, the most glamorous venue la Villa D’Este, and Lago di Como…. I had all the best ingredients to create an exclusive and elegant event. When Katherine asked me my thoughts on a color palette, we agreed that light blue and gold would be the right choice – blue with its elegance and gold with its bright sophistication.

Working with Katherine on the wedding stationery has been an unforgettable experience, as well the exciting exchange of ideas while planning. The wedding was sophisticated as the final result of “mise en place”. Everything was lit by the glow of candles and the spectacular chandeliers of the Impero room. Blue delphinium, velvet ribbon, a touch of china, gold wax monograms, the most surprising wedding cake entrance ever, and lots lots of fun – all of that was Katherine and Nicholas’s wedding at the impeccable and unique Villa d’Este.

Thanks to the great work by Oliver Fly, today, looking at these stunning pictures, I can say we achieved what Katherine told me she was looking for during our first meeting while drinking a cocktail on the terrace at Villa d’Este – “something that POPS!”


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Photography: Oliver Fly Photography | Cinematography: Studio 213 Films | Event Planning + Design: Elena Pensini Events & Concierge | Floral Design: Figli Dei Fiori | Wedding Dress: Naeem Khan | Stationery : Bell'Invito | Bride's Shoes: Aquazzura | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Fame And Partners | Catering: Villa D'Este | Hair + Makeup: Jourdan Walker | Hair + Makeup: Daniela Guanziroli | Groom's Attire: Giorgio Armani | Venue: Villa D'Este | Bridal Boutique: Ever After Miami | Groom's Shoes: Stubbs And Wootton | Guest Book : Little Carabao Studio | Music + Lights: Blunotte Events | Photography Assistance: Matthieu Coste

Inspired by 18th Century Opulence and Lake Como Views

If you are considering a destination wedding or simply a celebration with European vibes, then this Italian shoot will totally seal the deal. Held at Villa Sola Cabiati on the shores of Lake Como, it pairs 18th century opulence with wildly romantic details planned by Italian Weddings and Events, lush florals by Dario Benvenuti and images captured by Jacqui Cole. Get inspired by la dolce vita with the full gallery here!

This editorial took place at the stunning Villa Sola Cabiati along the shores of Tremezzo, Lake Como. The Villa has recently opened its’ doors to the guests of Grand Hotel Tremezzo and now offers the opportunity for couples to wed within its’ 18th century opulence. Stepping inside of the Villa truly takes you back in time as you glance around the original fresco covered walls and endless Italian art that lines the corridors. Unsurprisingly, the Villa was the main source of inspiration for this shoot. Dusty blues and soft peach tones were pulled from the fresco wall coverings and created a romantic setting for the shoot. To be sure we maintained the quintessential Italian beauty of Villa Sola, original pieces were included in the tablescape. The stunning cream and blue upholstered chairs are original to the Villa and even the plates feature the Serbelloni family crest. Dario Benvenuti created a stunning scene with the floral design. Endless vines and florals drape over sheet music, candelabras and organic fruit. Our couple spent the day getting ready together in a suite overlooking the Como waters, standing on the incredible floral-lined steps for the ceremony and sailing away on a vintage boat as Mr&Mrs. Every image is set in breathtaking beauty but we really wanted to go beyond the scenery and capture the feeling that one gets when they’re in Lake Como. This small part of the world captures the heart of each person who is lucky enough to visit and to be able to say ‘i do’ in such a setting would simply be magic.

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Photography: Jacqui Cole Photography | Wedding Planning: Italian Weddings and Events | Floral Design: Dario Benvenuti & Viviana Mioranza | Cake: Qualcosa di Dolce | Stationary: cutandpastelab | Makeup: Alessandra De Vito | Hair: NICHA | Grooms' Attire: Black Carpet by Gai Mattiolo | Venue: Grand Hotel Tremezzo | Bridal Gown: Nicole Spose | Bridal Shoes + Tiara: Nicole Spose | Grooms' Accessories: Alessandra Vallone | Tableware and Rentals: Design Solutions

This Wedding Location is STILL Gorgeous on a Rainy Day

Lake Como could be faced with a down pour and it would STILL be absolutely breathtaking. Need proof? These misty I dos, planned with the help of The Lake Como Wedding Planner, will make you a believer. Captured by Gianluca And Mary Adovasio, it’ll have you ready to trade sunshine for a romance-filled gray day.

From the Bride… Set in the beautiful Lake Como, Italy, my husband (still getting used to saying that!) and I got married on May 12th, 2017. My husband is from Tunisia in North Africa and I am from Indiana, so we wanted a location that was between our two families that guests would also enjoy traveling to. And we also really wanted to get married on the water. Lake Como didn’t disappoint, particularly because we had an amazing wedding planner in Rachel Birthistle & Leonora Lepore from The Lake Como Wedding Planner. Not to mention the amazing Gianluca as our photographer and Figli Dei Fiori creating the beautiful floral arrangements (including the flower arch – my favorite design element of the day!). The wedding was an amazing cultural mix of Tunisians speaking Arabic/French and Mid-Westerners speaking English, with the ceremony and speeches at the reception translated into French & English. Because our families literally live on different sides of the world, it was also a unique time with both of our families and friends all being in one place and staying in the beautiful Villa Regina Teodolinda where we got married — the most charming Italian villa right on the water. It was truly like something out of a dream, and although we couldn’t return home with all of the amazing views, villa, food and flowers, I felt so lucky to leave Lake Como with my new husband.

(And if I could give one piece of advice to future brides — it would be that you SHOULD sweat the small stuff. I was so thankful that I spent the time sourcing biodegradable confetti from Amazon Italy, getting extra long sparklers to ensure we had enough time for the photo opp of the sparklers during the cake cutting, etc. You won’t regret the extra time and work it takes.

Photography: Gianluca And Mary Adovasio | Wedding Planner: The Lake Como Wedding Planner | Floral Design: Figli Dei Fiori | Wedding Dress: Anna Maier | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Rent The Runway | Catering: Sunlake Catering | Celebrant: Manuele Facchini | Music: Blunotte Events | Villa: Villa Regina Teodolinda

This is Why Lake Como is on Our Dream Destination Wedding List

I’m pretty certain that Lake Como was made for lovers. It is absolutely on my list of places to see before I die and this wedding captured by Olga Plakitina is exactly why. Can you even handle these portraits? Out of this world. It’s classic elegance in so every way and I just want to dive right into the full gallery with every image I see. Join me in The Vault.

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From Olga Plakitina Photography… I think that till now this is the most fabulous wedding I’ve ever shot. It was so sweet & perfect in every detail that I simply can’t express it with words. Tatyana & Dmitry are wonderful people and so much in love with each other that you start shining when stand close to them. The concept of Tatyana and Dmitry’s wedding was on the base of classic blush colours. The ceremony on the shore of lake Como on one of the most beautiful and cozy villas. Oval arch full of flowers, hydrangeas, roses and eucalyptus decorated in the same style gave the atmosphere of elegance and love. The lounge zone was organized with old-style sofa and armchairs. During the aperitif guests enjoyed live music. The banquet has been decorated by high glass candlesticks and vases with the flowers. Traditional Italian wedding cake was the perfect end of the evening. I think I will remember this wedding forever, because for me it was so much special. I can’t thank enough Tatyana for choosing me and letting me to be the part of all her fairytale.

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Photography: Olga Plakitina | Event Planning: Happy Moments Collector | Wedding Dress: David's Bridal | Invitations: Letter B | Reception Venue: Villa Regina Teodolinda | Bridal Shoes: Gianvito Rossi

Why Italy’s Lake Como Makes an Incredible Wedding Location

Italy’s Lake Como is easily one of the most romantic places to get married in the world. The backdrop to countless celebrity weddings and celebrations, it’s easy to see why Melissa and Kevin felt the same. They packed up their California-based friends and family for an adventure across the world, and the result was a wedding made for the pages of Style Me Pretty. See more from Thecablookfotolab right this way!

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From the Bride… Famous composer Franz Listz wrote, “when you write the story of two happy lovers, let the story be set on the banks of Lake Como.” And so Kevin and I set our story here. We met in the San Francisco Bay Area and when we first started dating we both developed a love for traveling the world together. We discovered that we made fantastic travel partners!  We packed as many vacations in as possible every a year and finally decided to explore Europe together.  While in the South of France we got engaged in the ancient village of Eze, which is without a doubt a jewel in the French Riviera.

We searched high and low for a wedding venue in California but nothing compared to the majestic beauty of the Alps. We then realized a destination wedding would only be suitable for us. Our favorite food is Italian so we knew the majestic alps and a destination in Italy would be the only way to go!  When we saw pictures of Lake Como we were absolutely stunned and when we saw pictures of Villa del Balbianello and found out it could only be reached by boat, we knew that we HAD to get married there.  It is truly one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Not speaking the language and having never been there we decided that having a local wedding planner help was absolutely necessary.  We interviewed many wedding planners but when we FaceTimed with Anastasia with we fell in love! We had great chemistry and she understood our California style & wedding vision. We found our photographer from wedding blogs. We showed her work to Anastasia and turned out they work together all the time. Darya, with the Cab Look of Love is spectacular! Her photography spoke to our hearts. Darya’s style and her ability to shoot with real film in today’s digital world is why we picked her! We knew she would be the ONLY one to document our special day. Planning a long distance event was stressful at times but Anastasia always put us at ease and made everything very easy!

Heading to Italy with our families & friends we were a bit nervous. We were not quite sure what we were going to get or if the weather would cooperate. We soon found out Italians love weddings. And the locals we encountered around the lake were so wonderful and welcoming & even celebrated for us!

On the day of our wedding the lake glistened and the lush colors all around us were glowing. The air was clean. It was like the lake smiled knowing it was our wedding day. The day of the wedding was stress free and every detail was taken care of. The boat ride, food, prosecco, wine, flowers, music and everything was perfection. Our guests still talk about how our menu was the best wedding food, being SF foodies it’s a HUGE compliment. Our wedding day turned out to be perfect. For us, it still is the best day ever. Everything exceeded expectations and we were still in complete awe of the day.  We owe so many thanks to all of our wonderful vendors that made our day so incredibly special. We couldn’t imagine a better place to have shared such a special moment with our family and friends.  Lake Como is now our piece of paradise forever.

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Photography: Thecablookfotolab | Videography: Lumen | Event Planning: Happy Moments Collector | Floral Design: Maurizio Buzzi | Wedding Dress: Custom | Invitations: Minted | Ceremony Venue: Villa Balbianello | Reception Venue: aquadolce | Bride's Shoes: Gucci | Bridesmaid Dresses: BHLDN | Groomsmen Suits: Nordstrom | Bride Wedding Ring (custom): Deja Co | Bride's Jewelery: ILioniti | Bride's Jewelry: armenta collection | Groom & Groomsmen Bow Tie: The Tie Bar | Groom's Ring: David Yurman | Groom's Shoes: Santoni | Groom's Suspenders: Mason&Sons | Groom's Tuxedo: Indochino | Groom's Watch: Panarai | Invitation boxes: Envelopper Inc

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A Lake Como Wedding Planned Abroad

Why Italy, you ask? Well, for Anastasia and Devin, the question was really a matter of why not? They couldn’t imagine a more romantic spot to marry, especially when they came across the very same venue where John Legend and Chrissy Teigen tied the knot. Dive straight into their happily ever after beautifully photographed by Thecablookfotolab.

From Anastasia AslanyanThe wedding of Anastasia and Devin will be always in our hearts. It was special. Special because of the love and happiness all around coming from each of the guests and of the couple. It was fantastic!

The location chosen is one of the most beautiful and amazing on Lake Como and it is not only because of the place but also because of the atmosphere and authenticity – historical villa, beautiful gardens and a fascinating terrace with 180 degree view on the lake and the mountains. As soon as you visit the villa you will understand why John Legend chose exactly this one. Anastasia and Devin decided to choose green and white theme to be more natural in the surroundings. The idea of the ceremony zone was to maintain the nature and the effect of air without making the standard arch but to create something more sophisticated and incorporated in the view. 

During the dinner, the band was playing life music while in between there were some dances and speeches. But the most touchy moment was when the groom played a song that he has dedicated to the bride…everyone was crying! After the dinner followed the cut of the cake with the hugest naked cake we’ve ever seen and the biggest fireworks done in Como. The party started with eight pieces band singing favorite and famous songs. The dance floor was on fire with all of the guests dancing in flip-flops kindly brought and prepared by the couple. All the team together with photographers and videographers were happy on that day because of so many smiles and kindness around as well as sincere and real emotions.

From the Bride…Devin and I met on January 31, 2016 through the traditional way, an app called “Coffee Meets Bagel”. We both live and met in San Francisco, California. It was my first date through this particular app, although I tried all of the websites and apps before. The first date went well, we couldn’t stop talking to each other. Devin dropped me off at home like a real gentleman and I knew he had a lot of potential. We went on a date a week for the first 4 dates since I was traveling a lot. I invited Devin to my house in the wine country for a weekend and since then we haven’t spent a day without each other.

Fast forward to December 12, 2016, a little over 10 months after our first date Devin proposed to me on a mountain in Tahoe, California while skiing. Devin is a great skier and would ski for a living if we could live on that kind of salary. Guess what he proposed with? Coffee in a carry mug and bagel with cream cheese hidden in his backpack.

I went to New York to try on some dresses. I don’t like shopping (unless it’s for shoes), so I was in love with the first dress I tried on. It was simple in the front and the back was wow, sheer back with a long, long train. I tried some more dresses in California, but nothing looked better than the first dress. I decided that it was meant to be and ordered that dress. I made a second dress for dancing, but the first dress was the “star”.

Why did we pick Italy? Well, firstly it’s Italy, secondly it’s Italy and thirdly it’s Italy! Pasta, pizza, wine, history, nature and beautiful culture. When we started thinking of a venue, number one thing we wanted for our special day was to have an outdoor wedding. Naturally being in San Francisco we looked into Santa Cruz or the Wine Country. I helped with a few weddings before as a hoppy and didn’t like United States winery restrictions with hours and vendors. We went to the Italian Alps to meet my family for Christmas 2016 and I thought of Lake Como, Italy, because it was 2 hours away from where we were staying and I spent a week there in the summer 2014. We made an appointment with the first wedding planner that responded to us and visited a few potential locations.

I found Italian Easy Weddings with two partners, one of them was Russian. That worked out perfectly, our wedding ended up bilingual. I am from Uzbekistan, my family still lives in Russia. Italy was 5-8 hours for my family and many of our friends are from the East Coast. Our host, photographer, videographer and DJ were all Russian speakers and my family felt like home. The venue we picked, Villa Pizzo, was suggested by our wedding planners, it wasn’t even on our radar. It was the most amazing place and ceremony and reception were all on one property. Plus John Legend and Chrissy Teigen got married there. Though I think our wedding was more beautiful. My husband plays piano and sings too, so we had a grand piano on the stage for him to sing, just like John Legend. Villa Pizzo was available on July 4th and there were fireworks on the lake, not for us but everyone at our wedding thought it was for us.

Needless to say, we are still on wedding high. The beauty of Lake Como is indescribable, the food is the tastiest in the world, the talents of the band, photographers, wedding planners, florist and decorators is top notch. Due to the beauty of the manicured gardens and the scene of the green alps and the lake, we wanted to keep the decor simple, green with a little bit of white to blend in rather than stand out. Needless to say, we are still on wedding high. If we could get married every year, we would. We had no stress before, during or after the wedding, everything was just smooth and perfect.

Photography: Thecablookfotolab | Cinematography: Lavender Bicycle | Event Planning: Happy Moments Collector | Floral Design: rattiflora | Stationery: Letter B | Bride's Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Rings: Custom from A&J Jewelers | Catering: AFM | Lighting: Blunotte Events | Band: Blunotte band | Groom's Attire: Hugo Boss | Venue: Villa Pizzo | Bridesmaids' Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar | Makeup Lessons: Salt Spelt Beauty

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#anniversarygoals? Look No Further.

I have new hopes for my future anniversaries and it’s right here in front of you. Thanks to Sophie Epton and these two adorable lovebirds, I’ll be spending my week (and many weeks after) imagining myself in this beautiful landscape. Lake Como may be for lovers but it’s also for amazing anniversary shoots – get your week started oh so well with our Vault right here!

From Sophie Epton PhotographyShooting Madison and Eli in Lake Como was the true Italian dream. This sweet couple (originally from Nashville, TN) were living in Belfast and wanted to escape the cold, gray weather to commemorate a year of marriage… And what better way to celebrate than to fly down to beautiful Lake Como, Italy! The lake and surrounding towns are one of the most stunning destinations we’ve ever traveled to and photographed, and provided such a serene backdrop for the entire anniversary shoot. We spent a sunny afternoon walking all over the historical town of Varenna and exploring both the botanical gardens with turquoise water and ancient sculptures, as well as the quaint city center covered in splashes of soft sherbet hues. Madison chose both a bright mustard yellow and poppy red dress to wear that blew perfectly with the breeze and really accentuated the colorful landscape. As the sun started to set behind the Italian Alps, we took a boat out on the lake and ventured out to the historical Villa Balbianello, which was such a great way to cap off the entire day. They say “Lake Como is for Lovers,” and this anniversary shoot was not only beyond magical, but a fabulous way to celebrate commitment and love all over again.

Photography: Sophie Epton Photography | Reception Venue: Villa Balbianello | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | Mustard Dress : Forever 21 | Pants: H & M | Red Dress: Free People | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Shirt: Topman | Silk Ribbon: Frou Frou Chic