Tell us a little about yourselves!
Dan and I met in October of 2021 and quickly fell in love. He loves all things mountain biking and skiing and I am a foodie and theater kid at heart. We live in Colorado with our little dog, Dougal. We’re big fans of being married to each other.
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
Lake Como wasn’t always the plan. Initially, we intended to get married in the US with about 120 guests, but as we toured venues it quickly became clear that a larger wedding didn’t feel authentic to the intimate vibe we wanted to create. Our running joke as we continued to nix venues was “what if we just said ‘forget it’ and got married in Italy?”. We didn’t realize this was foreshadowing at the time. Italy seemed like a stretch, but…
A smaller guest list provided us with more flexibility in our budget, so the running joke gradually became less of a joke. Eventually it became a much more pointed question: what if we took 40 of our closest friends and family to Lake Como for an experience rather than just a wedding? Fast forward about a year and that's what we did!
We started with our Bachelor and Bachelorette parties in Lisbon and the French Riviera, respectively. Our guests joined us in Bellagio, Italy in the days leading up to the wedding before we made our way to the villa.
We love Italy and the opportunity to have an intimate wedding with our closest friends and family in Lake Como was a dream.
Tell us about your outfits.
Ultimately, we wanted our looks to be timeless while also befittingly dramatic for an Italian wedding. I started with the gloves. From the beginning, I knew I wanted the drama of long white opera gloves so it was ultimately a matter of finding the dress that would work well with that accessory. Vivienne Westwood ’s designs embody every aspect of what I was looking for in a dress: a timeless, feminine, and sophisticated silhouette. Because the train of the dress wasn’t very long, I went for a cathedral length veil with blusher and matching satin piping. For jewelry, I went with family heirlooms: a pearl choker belonging to my grandmother, a pearl bracelet that my mom wore at my parents wedding, and diamond earrings with teardrop pearls that also belonged to my grandmother. I’m so happy with how the entire look came together! I felt beautiful.
Dan kept things classic with a black tuxedo and bow tie from Suit Supply which he paired with his grandfather's cufflinks. In the spirit of keeping things dramatic, he opted for a sock less loafer. Embroidered on the inner collar of his tux is our wedding date.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
We wanted all of our guests to have the time of their lives. We wanted to create an environment in which all of our closest people felt close to one another. We wanted it to feel once-in-a-lifetime but also familiar and cozy. To do this, we chose to host a welcome dinner rather than a rehearsal dinner two days before the wedding so that everyone had an opportunity to spend time before we all moved into Relais Villa Vittoria the following day.
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
Attire
We wanted our guests to feel glamorous and love their look. We encouraged everyone to wear whatever made them feel their absolute best which resulted in so many colors, textures, and silhouettes. Each bridesmaid picked her own dresses with a floral theme in mind. I love that each of their personalities comes through as a result. Everyone looked stunning!
Florals
We decided to keep the ceremony florals simple so as not to take away from the natural beauty of the lake and our surroundings. I carried a simple bouquet of white calla lilies and each bridesmaid carried a single calla lily.
Table setting
We wanted dinner to feel whimsical and reminiscent of al fresco dinner with friends, so a single long table was important to keep that intimate vibe. We wanted it to look beautiful but also eclectic and effortless as if someone casually picked a few flowers from the garden right before dinner was served. Hence, small bouquets in various vases rather than large bouquets. The menus and placecards were designed and hand painted by my step sister, Kyle Gholson.
Any tips for couples getting married?
You can plan your dream international wedding without a wedding planner and within your budget, if you have the time, patience, and organization. We were told it wasn’t possible and we did it!
Consider an intimate wedding. Some of our friends describe their weddings as a bit of a blur because there were so many guests. Having fewer people kept us more present and we have distinct memories with each guest from that day. It’s so special.
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
Our photographers, Urška & Domen were absolutely sensational! They were organized, so friendly, and their suggestions really helped shape our vision for the day. They pay attention to detail, while also being thoughtful and kind. Domen even tied Dan’s bowtie! We wanted a mixture of editorial and also candid shots to capture our day and they did that and so much more. Looking back and our photos, we can feel the emotion of each moment in what they captured. I couldn’t recommend them highly enough.
We hosted our rehearsal dinner at a small local restaurant in Tremezzo called La Fagurida. Lello, the owner of this lovely establishment, took the utmost care to create one of the most wonderful experiences for us and our guests. It was cozy, relaxed, authentic, and the food was the best meal we had in Italy. The whole evening was perfection. If you are in the Lake Como area, I urge you to make a stop at La Fagurida and say hello to Lello for us!
Photographer: Urška & Domen @urskaanddomen | Flora: Figli Dei Fiori @figlideifioricomo | Ceremony & Reception Location: Relais Villa Vittoria @relaisvillavittorialakecomo | HMUA: BLBS @blbsmanagement | Catering, Cake & Beverages: Relais Villa Vittoria @relaisvillavittorialakecomo | Stationery: Kyle Ruelas Art
@kruelasart | Entertainment: La Bottega Della Musica @bdm.weddings | Dress: Vivienne Westwood
@viviennewestwood | Veil: Monique Lhuillier @moniquelhuillierbride | Wedding Rings: Mark’s Diamonds
@marksdiamonds | Shoes: Badgley Mischka @badgleymischkabride | Wedding Party Attire: V Chapman, Needle & Thread & Mac Duggal