Gorgeous Lake Como Wedding with Epic Fashion-Style Photography

Destination Wedding in Lake Como by Orlova Maria and WeddItaly 41

Today’s real wedding is not quite like anything we’ve featured before. When I first saw it I actually thought it was a shoot, each detail was so immaculately styled.

But once I’d read self-confessed perfectionist, Evgeniia’s story of planning her and Stepan’s destination wedding in Lake Como, all the stunning imagery and glamorous style made sense.

Their day was aesthetically breathtaking, but each element, from the setting, to the florals, to the wedding date itself, was chosen out of their love for all things classical and romantic.

Planner Victoria Kharitonova of WeddItaly pulled out all the stops to create the perfect day for the couple and their six guests, across three beautiful lakeside settings.

As a model in her native Russia, Evgeniia opted for a fashion style photography to capture their day. The couple teamed up with friend and photographer, Maria Orlova, to create cinematic boudoir shots and wedding portraits.

And I have a feeling you’ll agree, the results are pretty epic…

Destination Wedding in Lake Como by Orlova Maria and WeddItaly 34

Photo by Maria Orlova via Bridal Musings

Planning Our Wedding

We began preparing the wedding after two years of dating. I always knew how and where my wedding would be Lake Como.

The Alps is my favorite place on Earth: mountains and water together create the best background for the most important day in your life.

If it’s possible to capture this atmosphere with words – these words would be, magic, elegance, splendour, and love.

Choosing the date, we were guided by the magic ‘velvet season’ (Russian term for one of the most favorable periods for rest) in Italy and by astrological considerations, there are few favorable days in a leap year.

So, our day forever will be the 2nd of September.

Destination Wedding in Lake Como by Orlova Maria and WeddItaly 22

Photo by Maria Orlova via Bridal Musings

Destination Wedding in Lake Como by Orlova Maria and WeddItaly 35

Photo by Maria Orlova via Bridal Musings

The Photography

The choice of photographer, locations, outfits were particularly important. I didn’t want reportage photography or fine art styles. I called my old friend Maria Orlova and we decided that instead of a classic wedding photo session, we would make a fashion photo shoot.

So, my “bride’s morning” began on a stunning historic Villa Palazzo Salis. My boudoir set was made by a designer Inna Shenkao.

The boudoir shoot continued with meeting bridegroom in the mountains. I like this version of the wedding story – starting day together, and not meeting at the altar.

Destination Wedding in Lake Como by Orlova Maria and WeddItaly 9

Photo by Maria Orlova via Bridal Musings

Destination Wedding in Lake Como by Orlova Maria and WeddItaly 24

The Decor & Details

The concept of my wedding was determined by three things, classic, elegance and intimacy.

The landscape of Italy, country of the Renaissance and the most picturesque nature made our wedding theme “Art of Love”.

We used Italian landscapes in our paper invitations and on the wedding cake. Rose quartz and serenity were the main wedding colors. I chose a hydrangea as the main flower.

It took me about six months to choose a wedding dress, I tried on 73 dresses.

In the end I found beautiful dresses made by a young designer from Saint Petersburg, Uliana Skupinovou, on social media.

We decided to develop a sketch and discussed all the details and after two months and three fittings, I received the dress, which surpassed all my expectations. The corset formed a perfect match with a full skirt and a two meter train.

Destination Wedding in Lake Como by Orlova Maria and WeddItaly 39

Destination Wedding in Lake Como by Orlova Maria and WeddItaly 42

Destination Wedding in Lake Como by Orlova Maria and WeddItaly 16

Destination Wedding in Lake Como by Orlova Maria and WeddItaly 38

Destination Wedding in Lake Como by Orlova Maria and WeddItaly 32

Destination Wedding in Lake Como by Orlova Maria and WeddItaly 33

Photo by Maria Orlova via Bridal Musings

The Venues

Like many brides, I dreamed about wedding ceremony at Villa Balbianello.

This is the most spectacular and popular wedding location on the lake, predictably, was already booked for this date a year before.

But my wedding planner Victoria found an alternative. It was Villa Monastero, in the beautiful town Varenna on the opposite lakeshore. Then Victoria was able to organize a photo shoot at Villa Balbianello , so I can say that my wedding was where I really wanted.

We chose three locations, photo shooting at Villa Balbianello, the ceremony (and another photo session) at Villa Monastero and finally a gala dinner in the panoramic restaurant in Valle d’Intelvi (Argegno town).

I need to mention my wedding planner’s time management competence. My wedding day was completely planned. Our six guests enjoyed every location and every moment without any stress or delays.

There are a lot of advantages of making your wedding day only with close friends and parents. We spent two hours in each place, walking around and taking pictures, and got around by shuttle boat.