Here’s What a "Wild Garden Oasis" Wedding in Lake Como Looks Like!
This gorgeous couple said yes to forever under a blooming "unfinished" arbor by Chiara Sperti with views of the breathtaking mountains and crystal waters of Lake Como - I mean, it just doesn't get much dreamier than this. The entire destination wedding weekend was planned to perfection thanks to Eventoile - from the post-ceremony boat ride to the al fresco reception under a canopy of romantic café lights, the team truly brought every detail of the bride and groom's vision to life and so much more. Don't miss the full gallery of images taken by Katie Grant Photography to immerse yourself in everything this gorgeous day has to offer.
From Katie Grant Photography... On a beautiful June day in Lake Como, Italy, Alison and James were married in a lovely ceremony surrounded by their nearest and dearest. Alison and James traveled all the way from San Francisco to have their wedding in the unparalleled location of Lake Como. The mountains, the sparkling emerald water, and the gorgeous food drew them in and led them to plan the most divine day for friends and family. Eventoile and Chiara Sperti created a beautiful and wild garden oasis where the couple exchanged vows and where the guests dined under the open skies of Italy.
From the Bride... Two years into dating, James and I dropped everything and moved across the world from New York to Shanghai together. Ever since, we've loved being adventurous and traveling the world together. James actually proposed to me by surprising me while I was on a girls trip in Australia, of all places! Italy is a special place for us given our love of food. Pasta is my favorite, while pizza and gelato are James'. Lake Como was one of the most beautiful places we've ever seen. The sparkling turquoise waters, surrounded by the rolling green hills, and the picturesque ancient streets at every turn made us feel transported to a different era. We knew our guests would also fall in love with the magic of the lake. So when we were deciding on destinations for our wedding, Lake Como rose to the top of the list.
Our guests flew in from all over the world to meet us in Lake Como, from California, Chicago, New York, Taiwan, Singapore, and beyond. Because everyone came from afar, we wanted to plan what felt like a vacation for our guests. Our wedding venue accommodated all our guests and we loved that everyone stayed in one place - it felt like one giant slumber party! We planned three days of activities. First, we hosted a welcome party on a private cruise around the lake for everyone to catch the sunset from the water. The next day was the wedding. Our ceremony was held on a terrace with the backdrop of the lake, cocktail hour was held at another beautiful vantage point of the lake with a live jazz band, and we dined al fresco in the warm Italian evening. On the last day we hosted a brunch and beach day at a beach club in Bellagio, a short ferry ride away. We wanted our guests to get a chance to see multiple towns around the lake, so they could truly experience what Lake Como has to offer.
Our goal was for our wedding to feel warm, intimate, and lighthearted. We don't take ourselves too seriously, and we wanted the wedding to feel like us. We planned fun surprises for each other and our guests. We chose secret readings for each other to be revealed at the ceremony. It turns out both were themed around dogs and love, as we are obsessed with our husky Jax. I also surprised James with a gelato cart for dessert - he and our guests loved it! For late night food, we provided not only pizzas but also a variety of Japanese-style cup ramens - what better way to end a night of dancing under the stars?
Photography: Katie Grant Photography | Florals: Chiara Sperti | Wedding Dress: Ines Di Santo | Invitations: Momental Designs | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Hair & Makeup: Samantha Pretto | Calligraphy: Emily Yan | Wedding Venue: Lake Como | Planning: Eventoile | Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar | Video: Studio 80
