This ethereal wedding inspiration will have you dreaming of Lake Como

Calm, Ethereal & Romantic Lake Como Wedding Inspiration | Valentina Operandi 3

Ever since our post about keeping calm on your wedding day I’ve been dreaming of a white one-piece and going for a relaxing swim the morning of our wedding. Then, this romantic, ethereal styled shoot from Lake Como appeared in front of me confirming how dreamy and calming the idea would be.

Valentina Oprandi photographed this gorgeous wedding inspiration with such care and precision. From the stunning detail oriented garb, to the light florals that match such an ethereal scene.

The greys and light blues in the stationery and florals blend into the misty colors of Lake Como, and complement the groom’s stunning blue suit perfectly. To say the bride’s white kimono is the next tier for bridal robes is an understatement, I think we all need to take note from all the Japanese grandmothers of the world.

Calm, Ethereal & Romantic Lake Como Wedding Inspiration | Valentina Operandi 1

A Story from Valentina Oprandi

The return to one’s own origins is overwhelming during the most important moments in our lives.

Mei has always heard to stories about her homeland from her grandparents, since she was a little girl. Her grandmother always told her about the value of traditional clothes, about how important the choice of the right fabric is and its symbolic meaning. She always told her how nature, in Japan, merged into a whole with the traditional houses and how the relation with nature gave an absolute peace to someone’s soul. But Mei was born and raised in America, and she could only imagine those Japanese traditions.

Collin and her dreamed forever to have their wedding in Italy.

They wanted a place where nature could embrace them in a hug. Lake Como, with its hills, the mist and the blue of the water that highlights everything, let her think about what her grandmother used to tell her in her stories and which gave her a huge satisfaction and fulfilled her dreams.

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Photo by Valentina Operandi via Bridal Musings

Before the wedding, Mei wore her mother’s Kimono and she refreshed herself in the crystal clear lake water. The Island, a mixture between nature and tradition, was the setting through that unforgettable day.

The first encounter between Mei and Collin was amongst the ruins of the island, a few steps away from the location chosen for the ceremony. Set inside the crypt, a semicircle was created by greenery and flowers, candles and light blue silk. A semicircle around the newlywed symbolizing an embrace around them.

The reception tables were set up inside the ruins. It created an elegant, but at the same time new, style. A light, long tablecloth glided over the stones, the mise en place was filled with pewter dishes and glasses and vintage goods from Bottega di Corte. Placeholders with fabric, hand-painted calligraphy by Poeticalligraphy, hand-dyed napkins were all included with many candlesticks and lighted candles.

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Photo by Valentina Operandi via Bridal Musings

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Calm, Ethereal & Romantic Lake Como Wedding Inspiration | Valentina Operandi 2

The Details

The florist Chiara Sperti decorated the scene with a centerpiece of pastel colored flowers. The bride’s bouquet also had pastel colors such as light blue, pink, a mixture of dried and fresh flowers, similar to the table’s flowers.

The bride’s dress was designed by Elisabetta Dologu, a dress full of details (flowers and beads) on the bodice, and a skirt that falls smooth and with simplicity, following the body’s lines. The kimono that Mei wears is in lace and designed as tradition requires.

For the stationery, we used grey stone paper, transparent tissue and white cotton paper. Elements coming from nature were included, hand painted with grey ink. The “Save the Date” consists of two sheets: the first in cotton paper with a painting of the location with watercolors, and the upper part in vellum paper with a grey calligraphy.