Galina + Edoardo’s magical Lake Maggiore wedding
Photo: Ti Amo Photography
London based couple Gali and Edoardo celebrated their marriage in the Piedmont region of Italy. With family from Russia, on the bride’s side and Italian roots from the groom, this couple knew that guest experience was going to have a heavy influence on their wedding choices. After switching from a Tuscan dream to magic in Piedmont, Gali and Edoardo chose an exquisite 19th-century villa situated on the picturesque shores of Lake Maggiore. And let us tell you, Lake Maggiore definitely gives Lake Como a run for its money! The venue, Villa Rusconi-Clerici was beautifully complimented with a colour palette to match the lush greens, blues and reflections from the water.
Wedding photographer Yulia (Ti Amo Photography) tells us how the couple’s decor dreams were given life: “The centerpiece of the decor was the stunning glass pavilion that was adorned with lush greenery, providing a natural and organic feel to the ambiance. The color scheme for the decorations was chosen to be understated, with a soothing blend of green and white tones. The tables featured elegant glassware and mirrors that added a touch of glamour to the space, reflecting the soft glow of candlelight emanating from the towering chandeliers. The delicate white flowers added a touch of whimsy to the overall atmosphere, creating an airy and elegant ambiance that was nothing short of magical.”
We cannot forget to mention the two dresses Gali wore! Sensational in a romantic floaty Eva Mendel gown for the ceremony; with the evening reception bringing a more sophisticated elegance in a tighter shape and show-stopping open back.
SUPPLIER TEAM
Planner: Anya Gariboldi from Toutenrouge | Photographer: Ti Amo Photography | Florist: Flowers & Me | Mua: Julia Dittrich | Venue: Villa Rusconi-Clerici | Lights & Music: Daniele Pavignano Events | Catering: Le Gourmet Decoration agency: Trava Myrava | Bridal Fashion: Hera Zuerich & Idea Sposa Couture
“The groom was attired in a timeless, dark blue tuxedo.“
How did you both meet?
“We first met in the MBA program, but didn't get a chance to spend any time together or to get to know each other really. We then met again in a year through a common MBA friend when I moved to London from Zurich.” Gali - bride
Why did you choose Italy?
“Italy has always been a dream wedding destination for me, so when I got engaged to an Italian man, it further reinforced conviction that my Italian wedding was destiny. We were initially looking to have our wedding in Tuscany - we even almost signed a contract with a beautiful villa there. But then my then fiance randomly stumbled upon a picture on my phone of a lake wedding - I saved in on my phone from the internet years and years ago. He pulled away from the Tuscany idea and suggested we look for a wedding venue on a lake. We wanted to do it in Piedmont - the region where my husband's family is from - so we decided on magnificent Lake Maggiore.” Gali - bride
“The bride has opted for a natural color scheme of green and white for the floral arrangements, with a hint of blue added to the bridesmaids' dresses to represent the serene hue of the nearby lake.” Yulia
Best money spent?
“Considering my fiance is Italian and I am Russian, we had to accommodate for three languages - English, Italian and Russian. The best money spent was on translating speeches for our guests - it was time and effort for both those who gave the speeches and for us finding and managing the translators, but it was worth it - it really made all guests feel included and a part of our special day.” Gali - bride
Did anything go wrong on the day?
“Up until the day of the wedding the weather was showing rain - which would be quite unfortunate as the ceremony was supposed to take place on the beautiful lawn in front of the villa. Not did it only not rain, it was actually super hot - so hot that our sound equipment turned off from overheat and we had to make a decision at the aisle to cut our ceremony from four speeches to one.” Gali - bride
“Take a good team for your wedding and just enjoy every moment of this day!!” Yulia
The photographer’s stand out moment
“As Gali made her way down the aisle, the timeless melody of "Con te Partirò" filled the air, and she walked hand-in-hand with her grandfather, savouring the moment.
The couple's furry friend made a special appearance, carrying the rings down the aisle, adding to the already emotional moment. It was a heartwarming scene that touched the hearts of everyone in attendance.” Yulia
“If you are working with suppliers that have great reviews, don't stress and just trust them.”
Did you keep to your initial budget?
“We went over by about 30%” Gali - bride
Favourite styling feature
“We had a few unique styling ideas that came from our decoration agency. They first really got to know us and then came up with these ideas. One was the drapes that hang behind and on the sides of the video screen in the middle of the room - they had mine and my husband's vows written on it in a very light colour. We also had mirror runners on the tables that had "Amore Mio. My Love. Моя любовь" in the same font as our vows on the drapes. We had the same "Amore Mio. My Love. Моя любовь" theme on our wedding charms to guests, on our seating plan, menus, speeches booklets, etc. I think these personalised unique features truly made the wedding special.” Gali - bride
“This wedding is classic yet full of personal details and warm moments, reflecting the couple of Gali and Edoardo.” Yulia”
Any advice you have for future couples
“If you are working with suppliers that have great reviews, don't stress and just trust them - they are in this business for a while and mostly are very nice people. While we were stressing out and trying to micromanage in the beginning, once we got to know the suppliers, they gave us lots of comfort and truly went above and beyond to make our wedding special.” Gali - bride
Biggest win when planning your wedding?
“We had the most amazing and the most helpful Maid of Honor and the Best Man. For me it was my sister and for my fiance it was his best friend - they did so much work and contributed some incredible ideas that made our wedding so much more special.” Gali - bride
Stand out supplier
“Le Gourmet were an absolutely incredible catering (mentioned pretty much by every guest). Very classy photography provided by Tiamo Photography and absolutely stunning bride's hair and makeup by Julia Dittrich.” Gali - bride
SUPPLIER TEAM
Planner: Anya Gariboldi from Toutenrouge | Photographer: Tiamo Photography | Florist: Flowers & Me | Mua: Julia Dittrich | Venue: Villa Rusconi-Clerici | Lights & Music: Daniele Pavignano Events | Catering: Le Gourmet | Decoration agency: Trava Myrava | Bridal Fashion: Hera Zuerich and Idea Sposa Couture
If you haven’t realised by now we are self-confessed Italian wedding lovers - we love everything about these special days. Thank you for taking us with you on this journey! Choosing a venue is one of THE most important things you can do to get yourselves on the right track from the start. Fear not, we have compiled the best of the best in our 2025 Venue Hotlist - get your copy now.
Categories
PLANNING | REAL WEDDING | BUSINESS | SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT | INSPIRATION | WANDERLUST
