Champagne Sunday

Our wedding video

One year ago today, we were married in the most romantic place in the world, Villa Cipressi, Varenna, Lake Como, Italy.

OUR WEDDING DAY

Getting Ready | Bridal Hair | Bridal Makeup | The Gown | The Decor

The Ceremony | The Cocktail Hour | Mr. & Mrs. | Wedding Reception | Wedding video

Hubz and I were waxing romantical about our Lake Como wedding and honeymoon in Italy/France this morning. This time in June '11 we were on our honeymoon in Italy so I felt nostalgic and made us a typical Italian breakfast - prosciutto, capicola, salami, cheeses, and brioche/breads. You typically see these as an appetizer in the US, but we found every hotel in Italy provided this as a staple breakfast. Whereas the grumpy American oldies were whining about not having cereal, eggs, or pancakes, we were in foodie heaven! We quickly adapted this into our daily morning routine.

Our Wedding: The Reception

One year ago today, we were married in the most romantic place in the world, Villa Cipressi, Varenna, Lake Como, Italy.

OUR WEDDING DAY

Getting Ready | Bridal Hair | Bridal Makeup | The Gown | The Decor

The Ceremony | The Cocktail Hour | Mr. & Mrs. | Wedding Reception | Wedding video

We treated our family to a gourmet five course dinner provided by Villa Cipressi's in house restaurant topped off with Italian Vino Rosso, Pinot Grigio and wonderful crisp Prosecco.

The dessert table was beyond imagination. I'd never seen such an impressive display of every variety of sweetness and texture and flavor. It was an absolute hit.

Glass bride and groom from Etsy shop Route4Glass

We chose a traditional Italian wedding cake called a "Saint Honore" cake. Cream puff filled pastries with cream and chocolate frosting. Topped with blown glass bride and groom lovebirds.

Our Wedding: Mr. & Mrs. Crosby

One year ago today, we were married in the most romantic place in the world, Villa Cipressi, Varenna, Lake Como, Italy.

OUR WEDDING DAY

Getting Ready | Bridal Hair | Bridal Makeup | The Gown | The Decor

The Ceremony | The Cocktail Hour | Mr. & Mrs. | Wedding Reception | Wedding video

While guests started cocktail hour we snuck away for a walk alone, kind of. We spent a quite couple of minutes catching our breaths from the hectic morning and day. As soon as we finished our ceremony, the clouds rolled in and the wind starting blowing. It was a miracle that we were able to have our outdoor ceremony in the sunshine that day.

Our Wedding: The Cocktail Hour

One year ago today, we were married in the most romantic place in the world, Villa Cipressi, Varenna, Lake Como, Italy.

OUR WEDDING DAY

Getting Ready | Bridal Hair | Bridal Makeup | The Gown | The Decor

The Ceremony | The Cocktail Hour | Mr. & Mrs. | Wedding Reception | Wedding video

Cocktail hour was quite impressive. This is what we had: Sliced prosciutto ham, flakes of Grana Cheese, Sliced Felino salami, Ascolan olives, hot puffs, mini pizzas, Coated vegetables, little puff pastry croissant with anchovies, little puff pastry croissant with ham and cheese, fried bleaks, Choice of warm quiches, selection of canapés.

Our Wedding: The Ceremony

One year ago today, we were married in the most romantic place in the world, Villa Cipressi, Varenna, Lake Como, Italy.

OUR WEDDING DAY

Getting Ready | Bridal Hair | Bridal Makeup | The Gown | The Decor

The Ceremony | The Cocktail Hour | Mr. & Mrs. | Wedding Reception | Wedding video

(Our wedding ceremony begins under the sun dappled shade)

(Dad preparing his speech. Look at the brilliant reflection in the picture frame on the left)

(Guests arrive)

(Villa Cipressi is gorgeous inside and out)

(Getting married with a view of Lake Como, what a dream come true!)

(Maid of Honor dress: J. Crew)

(Dad breathed out each step so as to not trip and fall: left, right, left...)

Our Wedding: The Decor

One year ago today, we were married in the most romantic place in the world, Varenna, Lake Como, Italy.

OUR WEDDING DAY

Getting Ready | Bridal Hair | Bridal Makeup | The Gown | The Decor

The Ceremony | The Cocktail Hour | Mr. & Mrs. | Wedding Reception | Wedding video

For the ceremony chairs, I had the planners tie simple bows of navy/white stripe ribbon to add a touch of color. Villa Cipressi;s garden was so spectacular, we didn't need much more decoration.

(Chair bows: DIY with ribbon from IsaMay Designs)

I hired a wedding planner in Italy and started planning out the design a year beforehand. Our wedding colors were orange, green, white with navy and white stripes - quintessential Italian chic. I designed the flowers and bouquet at home and sent pictures with descriptions of the flowers I wanted:

orange roses
ranunculous
white roses
green hydrangea
white hydrangea
lavender colored blossoms (they could not find fresh ones, but replaced it with dried ones)
assorted foliage

The navy and white striped tablecloth was DIY project. I sewed the 30 foot long table cloth the night before we boarded the plane and finished it at 4 in the morning. For the ladies, I draped pashmina scarves in chartreuse green and navy. I designed, printed and cut our own Mr. & Mrs. signs for our reception chairs. I originally planned on shipping birdcages but our planner found a few for rent, which we used for display at the ceremony sight as well as in the reception room.

For the reception, I packed a suitcase full of silver taper candlesticks (of mismatched, varying heights, taper candles of varying lengths, silver mint julep cups to hold individual roses, and silver bowls for the table bouquets). And I packed four parasols for a splash of orange color. For our wedding invitations, ceremony, invitations and place cards, I developed my own travel themed stationary which eventually became an Etsy business.

So all of the above, including the 20 lb tablecloth, I packed into its own suitcase. To plan a wedding abroad blindly, as well as DIY most everything was absolute madness, but well worth it in the end. With my wealth of experience, perhaps I become a local Lake Como wedding & event planner myself!