A Stunning Destination Wedding at Lake Como, Italy

Intimate Destination Wedding in Italy Overlooking Lake Como

Given the views you’re about to see—the kind that are so beautiful they almost don’t seem real—you might be tempted to think that the most unforgettable aspect of this destination wedding in Italy was the idyllic Lake Como villa N+J selected as their venue. Here’s the truth: it’s the emotion and connection that flowed through every aspect of this intimate Italian wedding weekend that I’ll always carry with me.

A dream come true in every way.

There’s no other way to describe a forever love story that starts in a setting like this! But before I get ahead of myself, I have to rewind a bit—before the clifftop ceremony, the boating day on the lake, the story-filled welcome dinner and wedding rehearsal—to our European-inspired Adriatica Village engagement session.

Located in Mckinney, Texas, Adriatica Village was the perfect location to capture the essence of the Old World without actually stamping our passports prior to the ceremony. Think cobblestone streets, terracotta roof tiles, narrow cypress trees, wine bistros and authentic pizzerias…a taste of the Mediterranean in the heart of Texas! In addition to visually evoking N+J’s upcoming destination wedding in Italy, the extra time we spent together during their Adriatica Village engagement session laid the foundation for me to capture organic, effortless interactions at their Lake Como wedding a few months later.

And what a wedding it was. Tucked between Lecco and Varenna on the shores of Lake Como, the five-star Villa Lario Resort Mandella was ideally suited for an elegant, intimate wedding weekend. With just nine luxury suites, the grounds felt as charming as they looked. Working hand in hand, AML Weddings and The Garden of Love created a striking ceremony setup that complemented, rather than competed with, the spectacular natural beauty on every side. A relaxed aperitivo hour featuring hand-carved prosciutto, homemade mozzarella, and regional wines flowed into a leisurely dinner, giving guests space to slow down and savor every intentionally-designed moment of celebration.


From Dallas to destinations worldwide, I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to tell love stories like these.

Thank you to the following vendors:

Planning: AML Weddings | Venue: Villa Lario Resort Mandello | Photographer: Stephanie Michelle Photography | Videographer: Shawn Yang Films | Florist: Garden of Love | Hair & Makeup: KH Beauty | Entertainment: Blunotte, Fred Astaire, Piro Arts | Officiant: Lake Como Wedding Celebrants | Rentals & Decor: Nuage Designs, SMAC Rent | Rehearsal Dinner/Welcome Party: Baba Du Lac