Photo by Andrew Bayda
Some brides arrive with a mood board. Sara arrived with a feeling. She wanted to walk down the aisle through a real garden in bloom, not past arrangements standing politely in vases, and she wanted every flower to look chic, refined and quietly luxurious. At Villa Cipressi in Varenna, with its terraced gardens tumbling down to Lake Como, we had the perfect place to make that wish come true.
Sara's Wish: A Real Garden in Bloom
There is a difference between decorating a garden and making a garden. Sara's brief asked for the second. She imagined a ceremony that felt as if the flowers had always grown there, abundant and natural, yet with the polish of a truly elegant wedding.
We answered with white. An all-white palette, layered with fresh greens, is one of the most sophisticated choices a couple can make on Lake Como. It never competes with the view; instead it glows against the deep blue of the water, the dark cypresses and the old stone of the villa. And because white flowers come in so many shapes and textures, it allowed us to build depth and movement without ever losing that clean, expensive-looking simplicity Sara loved.
A Ceremony Aisle That Grows From the Terrace
Photo by Andrew Bayda
Villa Cipressi's lakeside terrace is a ceremony setting few venues can match: open water ahead, mountains on the horizon and mature trees framing the view. Rather than placing arrangements along the aisle, we planted it. Both sides of the gravel path became low meadows of white roses, hydrangea, delphinium and gladiolus, as if the garden had simply grown in from the edges of the terrace.
The mix matters. Hydrangea gives soft, cloud-like volume; roses bring romance and fragrance; delphinium and gladiolus add height and a wild, upward movement, so the meadow never looks flat or arranged. Seen from the gardens above, the aisle curves through the terrace like a path through a flowering field, leading guests' eyes straight to the lake.
Photo by Andrew Bayda
For seating we chose white wrought-iron chairs. Their delicate, garden-furniture lines belong in a villa garden and keep the whole scene light and airy, a small detail that helps the flowers feel like the main event.
The Arch on the Stone Stairs
Photo by Andrew Bayda
Villa Cipressi's stone stairs, softened with ivy and age, are one of its most beautiful features, and we wanted to celebrate them. At the top we built an arch of white and blush roses with green hydrangea, a gentle frame that feels part of the architecture rather than added to it. The touch of blush brings warmth to the white, and the green hydrangea ties the arch back to the garden.
Below the arch, white hydrangea and roses gather at the foot of the stairs, so the flowers seem to flow down the steps toward the terrace. It became a natural stage for portraits, and for the bridal party in particular.
Photo by Andrew Bayda
Bouquets and the Bridal Party in Sage and Champagne
Photo by Andrew Bayda
Sara's bouquet was all white roses: pure, classic and quietly luxurious. For her twelve bridesmaids we designed bouquets of white garden roses and white pompon dahlias, loosened with variegated, pittosporum-type greenery. The dahlias add a playful, sculptural round shape, while the greenery gives each bouquet an airy, just-gathered feel.
Photo by Andrew Bayda
The bridesmaids wore satin in sage and champagne, a palette that works beautifully with white flowers. Sage echoes the greenery and the cypresses; champagne picks up the warmth of the stone and the hint of blush in the arch. Standing in a line on the terrace, with the cypresses and the lake behind them, they looked like part of the garden itself.
Photo by Andrew Bayda
And as the light softened toward golden hour, the stairs filled with bouquets held high: exactly the joyful, unposed moment a garden wedding should create.
When It Rained: Plan B
Lake Como weather has a mind of its own, and on this day the rain arrived in time for dinner. The dinner moved to the plan B, and the evening carried on in a happy, celebratory spirit. It is a reminder that a good wedding design always comes with a second plan ready, so that a change in the weather is simply a change of scene, never a disappointment.
Tips for Couples Planning a Villa Cipressi Wedding
- Use the terraces. Villa Cipressi's gardens are layered from the villa down to the water. Designing for views from above, as well as from the aisle, makes the flowers look spectacular in every photo.
- Plant, don't place. If you dream of a garden in bloom, ask for meadow-style designs at ground level rather than tall arrangements on stands. They feel natural and keep the lake view open.
- Mix textures within one colour. An all-white palette comes alive when you combine roses, hydrangea, delphinium, gladiolus and dahlias in different shapes and heights.
- Frame the stairs. The stone staircase is a natural portrait spot. An arch at the top turns it into a setting for the whole bridal party.
- Coordinate the bridal party with the flowers. Sage and champagne flatter white florals and the villa's greens and stone.
- Always have a plan B. Weather on the lake can change quickly. Plan a covered alternative for dinner early, and design it with the same care as plan A.
- Check the season. Our Bloom Calendar shows which flowers are at their best each month in Italy.
You can see more of our work in our gallery, and learn how we approach florals and full event design on our services page.
Credits
- Venue: Villa Cipressi, Varenna
- Photographer: Andrew Bayda
- Florals and décor: Lake Como Florist
Dreaming of a white garden wedding on Lake Como, or anywhere in Italy, Switzerland or Europe? We would love to hear about your plans. Get in touch with us, and let's start designing your day together.
