A Lake Como Wedding Where Layers of Pearl and Petals Steal the Spotlight

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

White combined with rose tones and gold.

[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

Laura and Michael’s Lake Como wedding was a true floral fantasy, inspired by the 3D flowers from Laura’s Oscar de la Renta gown. We wove this detail throughout the design, from the stationery with delicate blind embossing and gold foil, to the opulent yet natural floral arrangements that surrounded their day. Laura dreamed of walking through a sea of flowers, and we brought that vision to life with lush, layered blooms and pearl details, creating an atmosphere that felt both abundant and effortlessly elegant. Every element was designed to leave their guests in awe — something entirely unexpected, unforgettable, and deeply personal to Laura and Michael’s refined taste. The result was a celebration that felt modern, opulent, and full of wonder.

[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”][/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Getting Ready”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Bridal Portraits”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Flat Lays”]

[/board_carousel]
[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]

For her Lake Como wedding, Laura envisioned a bridal look that would capture both the romantic grandeur of the setting and her love for couture craftsmanship. She selected the Oscar de la Renta bridal gown, Look 9 from the Fall 2023 collection — a breathtaking semi-translucent ballgown adorned with delicate 3D florals. The gown’s lightness and intricate detailing gave her an ethereal presence, as if the blossoms were gently floating around her with every movement. To complete her ensemble, Laura chose the matching Oscar de la Renta veil, perfectly echoing the gown’s floral artistry and adding an extra layer of dreamlike beauty. Her bridal shoes from Valentino, featuring enchanting 3D butterflies, were a subtle yet striking touch that added playfulness and sophistication. Every element of Laura’s attire was thoughtfully chosen to reflect her refined style and love for artistry, turning her bridal look into a living expression of elegance and romance — perfectly suited to the enchanting atmosphere of Lake Como.

[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]They chose to forgo bridesmaids entirely, allowing the focus to remain fully on their love story and the breathtaking experience they curated for their guests.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]

They chose to forgo groomsmen entirely, allowing the focus to remain fully on their love story and the breathtaking experience they curated for their guests. But Michael’s wedding day look was the epitome of timeless elegance, crafted with an eye for personal detail. He wore a bespoke three-piece suit from Brioni in a rich, dark green — his favourite colour — perfectly complementing the natural beauty of Lake Como. The deep hue brought a sense of understated sophistication, while cream accessories, a cognac-coloured belt, and matching leather shoes completed the look with warm, refined accents. To make the ensemble even more meaningful, Michael’s brother gifted him custom cufflinks on the morning of the wedding, delicately engraved with his initials. Adding an intimate, sentimental layer, Michael also wore the wristwatch that once belonged to Laura’s late father — a subtle yet deeply heartfelt tribute that carried emotional significance throughout the day. Every element of his attire felt intentional and deeply personal, reflecting not only his impeccable taste but also the cherished relationships that shaped this unforgettable celebration.

[/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Ceremony”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Cocktail Hour”]

[/board_carousel]
[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]

For their Lake Como celebration, Laura and Michael curated a culinary journey that reflected both their refined taste and personal story. The weekend began with a relaxed welcome dinner featuring elevated Italian comfort food — intentionally more casual to create a dramatic contrast with the wedding day’s fine dining experience. Following the ceremony, guests were welcomed with light canapés, including seared tuna with Tropea onion and ponzu, crispy squid with lemon mayo, and Sicilian eggplant patties. Alongside non-alcoholic refreshments, they served Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque 2015 — Laura’s favorite champagne. Not only did she love the taste, but the delicate floral motif on the bottle echoed their wedding design perfectly. A signature cocktail named after their dachshund, “Sir Fritz,” added a playful personal touch. A vintage ice cream cart offered artisanal flavors like Asian Coconut, Pistachio, and Dark Chocolate from Peru — a sentimental nod to their restaurant in Germany. Their Italian head chef, whose family ran a gelateria for generations, now creates handmade ice cream for their restaurant, which Laura and Michael adore. Their love for gelato is so deep that they make it a point to find a Venchi shop wherever they travel. Dinner was a refined six-course Italian menu, featuring blue lobster with mango and yuzu, wagyu with black truffle, maccheroncino with red prawns, lemon risotto with wild asparagus, and Iberico pork with truffle mushrooms. Each dish celebrated seasonal flavor and culinary artistry — a perfect blend of elegance, intimacy, and deeply personal detail.

[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

Laura and Michael wanted their Lake Como wedding to feel like stepping into a romantic garden in full bloom. Their ceremony at the Mandarin Oriental’s amphitheatre featured three stunning floral arches: one at the entrance, another midway down the aisle, and a pavilion-style arch where the celebrant stood. A mirrored aisle amplified the lush design, reflecting the floral meadows arranged between sage green metal garden chairs and creating the illusion of walking through a sea of flowers. Custom fabric signage carried their personalized design from welcome boards to cocktail menus, adding another thoughtful layer of cohesion. For the reception, soft rose-toned lounge furniture complemented the palette and allowed guests to relax in style. Dinner took place in the Mandarin Oriental’s greenhouse, where we surrounded the wedding party with meadows behind the chairs, low centerpieces in sculptural vases, and warm taper candles for a soft, romantic glow. Gold-trimmed glassware, gold cutlery, and charger plates with a delicate leaf twine echoed the botanical elements found in the stationery and menus. Cream linens and napkins added understated elegance and let letters shine. Every detail was curated to immerse guests in a refined yet natural atmosphere that felt both timeless and deeply personal.

[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Laura and Michael’s wedding cake was as thoughtful as it was elegant. Designed by Lisa Bakery, the couple chose a fully vegan three-tier creation, ensuring that every guest — regardless of dietary preferences — could indulge in the sweet celebration. With an intimate guest count of 25, the bottom tier was crafted from foam for balance and proportion, allowing the cake to remain visually striking without excess.

The flavors were a nod to refined, natural indulgence: the top tier featured vanilla sponge with vanilla lavender cream and a zesty lemon layer, while the middle tier paired creamy vanilla with rich pistachio — a combination that was as sophisticated as it was delicious. Visually, the cake carried a clean nude and beige buttercream finish, with a single white orchid cascading down the side, echoing the timeless elegance of the floral design.

The cake-cutting took place during the reception, with the cake table placed directly on the mirrored aisle under the second floral arch. Surrounded by blooming meadows, the simplicity of the cake stood in beautiful contrast to the sea of flowers around it. The top tier was enjoyed on the wedding day, while the middle tier was thoughtfully served during the farewell brunch the next morning — a perfect ending to a weekend full of detail, beauty, and meaning.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]

Laura and Michael’s symbolic ceremony at Lake Como was a heartfelt celebration filled with laughter, emotion, and personal touches. Celebrant Giuseppe Ruberto created a deeply intimate ceremony, weaving in stories from the couple’s siblings to reflect their journey. While they chose not to include formal readings, the ceremony felt rich in narrative, evoking both tears and laughter among their 25 guests. A string duo provided the soundtrack to this unforgettable moment, opening with Lana Del Rey’s “Young & Beautiful” as Laura walked down the aisle. During the ceremony, “A Thousand Years” and Canon in D set a romantic tone, while their joyful exit to “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls added a playful touch. At the drinks reception, Deb Jones Live Music lifted spirits with a mix of modern songs and Italian classics, encouraging guests to enjoy the sunshine and start celebrating. As the doors to the Mandarin Oriental’s Greenhouse opened for dinner, the string duo returned with Bridgerton-style melodies, adding an extra layer of romance. Their music carried through dinner before the evening transitioned into an energetic blend of live music and DJ sets — the perfect ending to a magical day.

[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]

To express their heartfelt gratitude for their guests’ long journey to Lake Como, Laura and Michael wanted to gift them something significant. We proposed custom welcome bags—each personalized with the guest’s name—that were carefully curated to reflect the couple’s love for Italian culture and detail-oriented elegance. Inside, guests discovered a selection of regional delights: Limoncello from Piemonte with a recipe tag for a refreshing Limoncello Spritz, olive oil from Lake Como, truffle delicacies, and artisan lemon-shaped biscuits labeled “Lago di Como” by Lisa Bakery. Thoughtful travel essentials like eye masks, sunscreen, after-sun cream, and a personalized beach towel that matched the couple’s stationery design were also included. Each bag was placed in the guests’ rooms before arrival, along with a welcome note sharing last wedding tips and curated recommendations for their free time during the weekend. Even the photo and video team was thoughtfully included—with bags customized with their brand names and packed with water and refreshments to keep them energized on the wedding day. This gesture was a beautiful example of how Laura and Michael wanted every person, guest, or vendor to feel genuinely cared for.

[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]

While Laura and Michael were excited to have wedding photography and a video, they didn’t come into the planning process with a clear vision for how those memories would be captured. As planners, we knew their story deserved a keepsake as meaningful and unique as their celebration. With the upcoming renovation of Laura’s grandparents’ house—where the painting would one day hang—we proposed the idea of a live painting during their wedding. We brought in Caridad Barragan, a talented live painter known for her ability to not only portray the couple but also include their guests in an expressive, recognizable way. Laura and Michael immediately fell in love with the concept. They opted for a large, 2 x 2 meter canvas capturing the scene after the ceremony: guests mingling at the Mandarin Oriental’s amphitheater, overlooking the serene lake. With only 25 guests, Caridad was able to incorporate nearly everyone into the artwork. The painting is still in progress and will be sent to Laura and Michael once their renovated home is complete—an heirloom filled with love, laughter, and everyone who mattered most on their wedding day.

[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]

Laura and Michael wanted to create a true “wow” moment for their guests—and what better way than with a surprise firework display set to music over Lake Como? When they first mentioned wanting fireworks, we reached out to Studio 3. We suggested an elevated version: a synchronized show choreographed to three upbeat, feel-good songs for a full sensory experience. To keep the surprise under wraps, we guests went out to the terrace of the Greenhouse under the pretense of kicking off the party with a champagne tower. As Laura and Michael began to pour the champagne, laughter and cheers filled the air. And just as they neared the final glass, the first notes of Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” started, and the sky erupted in color over the lake. With each new song—“Good Feeling” by Flo Rida and “We Found Love” by Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris”—guests thought the show had reached its peak, only to be stunned again. Applause, gasps, and pure joy echoed on the terrace. As the final sparkles faded, the band–DJ mix launched the party with high-energy tunes, and the dance floor instantly came alive.

[/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Couple Portraits”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Reception”]

[/board_carousel]
[iframe https://www.youtube.com/embed/zLJx6dwmK1w 600 338]