info@illumina-weddings.com
info@illumina-weddings.com
I plan weddings in the luxury segment - clear, aesthetic, well thought out.
And yes: Lake Como is one of my favourite places to do this.
A weekend that feels like you - stylish, genuine, unforgettable.
A process that works. A villa with history.
Whether in the iconic Villa Balbiano, the elegant Erba or the spectacular Pizzo - right on the water, with a garden, portico or private jetty.
Or a boat trip to Villa del Balbianello - with a free wedding ceremony in the open air and a small group dinner.
Plus: excellent food, live cooking, an aperitif bar in the inner courtyard.
DJ or saxophone in the open air. Everything is possible.
I work with selected service providers on site, know the processes, the subtleties - and know how to turn an idea into a real experience.
Whether it's an intimate dinner with 20 guests or a three-day celebration with all the trimmings - we'll organise it to suit you.
Lake Como is not just a backdrop.
But a place with a very specific atmosphere.
And perhaps soon the place of your story.
Lake Como has many spectacular sides - and at least as many wedding venues.
Whether a wedding ceremony with a lake view at Villa del Balbianello, a legendary celebration at Villa Balbiano or a weekend at the Mandarin Oriental - each of these locations has its very own character, its own possibilities, but also its own pitfalls.
In the blog, I present my favourites to you - with an honest look and what you rarely find out otherwise.
A wedding in Italy offers a fantastic backdrop, but also brings with it the challenge of balancing the guest list and the budget. Many couples underestimate how quickly costs can get out of hand - whether it's because the guest list is too large or because the budget wasn't planned properly from the outset. Without clear priorities and a well-thought-out structure, this can quickly lead to unexpectedly high expenses, which often leads to disappointment afterwards
In Italy, it can be difficult to find the right service providers - especially if they charge utopian prices or take ages to respond to inquiries. Many couples don't know how to distinguish between reputable providers and overpriced offers. In addition, they often lack the knowledge to use their budget efficiently so that high-quality service providers are hired without breaking the bank. With my network of reliable and professional partners, I take care of this.
Organizing a wedding in Italy without the necessary experience can quickly become overwhelming and create a feeling of powerlessness. Language barriers, legal formalities and the search for and coordination of local service providers are often much more complicated than they first appear. Many couples suddenly find themselves under enormous time pressure without really making any progress - and before you know it, valuable planning time passes without crucial tasks having been completed.
In Italy, it is crucial to coordinate all service providers perfectly to ensure that everything runs smoothly. The hustle and bustle begins in the morning with the arrival of the caterer and the florist. The photographer immediately has questions about the best photo spots and the ideal location for the getting ready. Without a wedding planner who keeps track of everything and has all the details under control, things can quickly become chaotic. Day-of coordination is therefore essential to ensure a stress-free wedding for the bride and groom.
With me as your wedding planner, you can rely on tailor-made support that benefits from my many years of experience in upscale event management. Not only will you receive personalized advice that is fully tailored to your individual wishes, but you will also have access to my exclusive network of first-class service providers and venues. This will not only provide you with good offers, but also a service at the highest level - for a wedding that is unique in every respect.
As an expert for destination weddings at the most sought-after locations in Italy - from the Amalfi Coast to Lake Como and Tuscany - and Switzerland, I am perfectly networked to make your wedding an incomparable experience. You can count on innovative and stylish concepts that not only suit you, but also the exclusive atmosphere of your location.
Planning a wedding in Italy requires much more than just a good idea -
It takes experience, the right contacts and a clear concept. Without professional support, you will quickly lose track of all the details, that make the difference between a well-organized wedding and an unforgettable Wedding Weekend.
because true exclusivity needs more than just a beautiful backdrop: With clear planning, a sense of aesthetics and a network that opens doors. No standard packages. No compromises. But a weekend that feels like you all round.
Whether it's Villa Balbiano, Balbianello or a hidden estate: I know the places - and the people behind them. I will find the location that suits you - not just visually, but also logistically and atmospherically.
I only work with professionals who have mastered their craft - be it floristry, technology or music. People I've been working with for years. Reliable. International. Well-rehearsed.
Italy loves the dolce vita - but not when it comes to permits, delivery times or construction plans. If you want to celebrate here, you need structure, foresight and a clear timetable.
Subtleties in the process, negotiations, atmosphere in the team - in Italy, a lot happens "between the lines". I speak the language and know the rules of the game - that makes all the difference.
I don't just know the most beautiful villas - I also know the people behind them. I know who opens doors, how to get licences, what is technically possible - and what is not.
I speak the language (in the figurative sense)
and make sure that the work on the wedding day is not "Italian charming", but precise.
I'm on site long before the first service provider arrives - and often the last to leave.
I don't just coordinate processes. I keep an overview when things get tight. And I'm there when something goes wrong - usually before anyone even notices.
I work with selected partners who know their job - floristry, technology, service, music. People I can rely on because we have already realised many luxury weddings together.
What that means for you:
You enjoy your weekend on Lake Como -
and know that everything is running smoothly in the background. Smooth, structured, with attention to detail.
By not just looking at first impressions - but at what is really important to you.
Not every villa suits every process, every style or every expectation. Some look spectacular, but don't work in terms of organisation. Others are more reserved - and that's exactly why they are perfect.
I listen, ask the right questions and quickly recognise what suits you - atmospherically, logistically, emotionally.
What's more: I know the villas on Lake Como not just from photos, but from experience. I know what is possible - and where the limits are.
The result is not a standard solution, but a place that suits you perfectly.
At Lake Como, I work exclusively with selected local partners with whom I collaborate regularly - floristry, technology, music, service, styling. No coincidence, no experiments, no compromises.
I know the processes, the mentality and the details that matter here - and I know who can be entrusted with which tasks.
All the service providers I use share my standards of quality, aesthetics and reliability - and know how international weddings on Lake Como really work.
I coordinate all the trades, speak the language, hold the strings together - so that you can sit back and relax and everything will be exactly as it should be: perfectly tailored to you.
At Lake Como, it's not just about the wedding day - it's about the whole experience.
I plan complete wedding weekends for my couples, including welcome dinners, after brunches, boat trips or private events at special locations.
Private boat transfers to the wedding ceremony, an aperitivo on the water, an exclusive dinner in a Michelin restaurant or an informal pizza evening with a view of the lake - anything is possible if it suits you.
I also take care of hotel allotments, shuttle services, childcare, concierge services or personalised gifts for your guests.
Everything in the background - but perfectly organised.
Because it is precisely these details that make the difference between "beautiful" and unforgettable.
With calm, clarity and absolute reliability.
I am used to working with people for whom perfection is a matter of course - and discretion is not an option, but a prerequisite.
Whether international guests, confidential procedures or special security requirements: I work in a structured, anticipatory manner and in the background.
I keep an overview, make decisions before they become necessary - and ensure that you can concentrate on the essentials.
I communicate efficiently, respect your privacy - and guarantee that everything behind the scenes meets the standards you set yourself.
By not offering an off-the-shelf concept - but by listening first.
I'm interested in what moves you, what inspires you and what defines you as a couple. From this, I develop a design and process concept that is tailored to you - visually, in terms of content and emotionally.
I don't work with mood boards from the internet, but with ideas that suit you and reflect your style - reduced, opulent or deliberately different. I think in terms of experiences, not elements: Light, timing, dramaturgy, atmosphere.
And because I have access to a strong network of excellent service providers, I can realise exactly that - at the highest level, with a clear signature and maximum precision.
The result?
Luxury weddings that don't look like "luxury weddings". But like yours.
