Gabrielle + Anthony’s iconic Lake Como wedding
Photo: Giacomo Terracciano Studio
Gabrielle and Anthony’s love story began in New York, but it was always destined to cross the Atlantic. After a nearly four-year engagement, mostly spent buying and renovating their first home, they finally turned their focus to planning the Italian wedding they’d always imagined. With just over a year to pull it all together, they set their sights on Lake Como and created an iconic wedding at Villa Pizzo.
Love Story
“We met at work in New York City, despite both the company (and me) being firmly against office romances. Anthony had just transferred from the Philadelphia office, and I tried very hard to pretend I wasn’t immediately smitten. We stayed “just friends” for a full year, which mostly meant I listened to his dating stories while patiently waiting for him to catch on. That finally changed one night at One Oak, a popular NYC club that’s sadly closed now, when he asked me to join him on the dance floor and be his wingwoman, and I realized subtlety wasn’t going to work. I made the first move and kissed him. The rest is history.”
The Engagement
“Anthony had originally planned to propose at a vineyard in Long Island, but fate had other plans, he came down with COVID, and the proposal had to be postponed. A few weeks later, while we were living in Philadelphia during the pandemic, we went rollerblading after work, something we love to do together. As we reached the pier, he dramatically fell to the ground. I thought he had hurt himself, but before I knew it, he was asking me to marry him. That night we went to an omakase dinner, another favorite of ours, and the next day he surprised me with an intimate family gathering in Brooklyn with both our immediate family and best friends.”
Why Italy
“We knew we wanted a destination wedding, and being Italian-American, Italy felt like the only choice, a place that was special to each of us individually and to us as a couple. I studied abroad in Florence while in college, spending many weekends exploring other parts of Italy, and later, Anthony and I went on a Mediterranean cruise with his family, stopping in Taormina, Sicily. After scouring every region for the perfect villa, we fell in love with one in Lake Como and thought, why not choose the most romantic place in the world to get married?”
The Venue
“After deciding on Lake Como as the region, we explored countless villas, looking for one that captured the romance, history, and charm we wanted for our wedding. We fell in love with Villa Pizzo, a nearly 600-year-old villa that perfectly blended elegance with character. Its breathtaking views, timeless architecture, and intimate atmosphere made it impossible to resist. If we were going to get married in Italy, we wanted a venue that felt as magical and romantic as the moment itself, and Villa Pizzo exceeded every expectation.”
The Planning
“We were introduced to Mara Cirillo of WhiteNotes through one of Anthony’s coworkers who was also getting married in Lake Como, and choosing her was one of the best decisions we made. We can’t recommend hiring a planner enough, especially one local to the area. Mara guided us every step of the way, helping us narrow down venues and vendors that aligned with our vision. She shared a curated list of options, which is how we first discovered Villa Pizzo. While it was initially at the top of our budget, the moment we saw photos of the property and its breathtaking gardens, we knew it was the one.”
Stand Out Moment
“It’s so difficult to choose just one stand-out moment from the day. Moving through the different locations of our villa, from the ceremony to cocktail hour, reception, and after-party, made each part of the celebration feel unique and special. We were also blessed with perfect weather, which allowed us to fully experience everything our venue had to offer.”
The Ceremony
“For both of us, the ceremony was the true highlight. Having our best friend officiate, being walked down the aisle by both of my parents, and reading our vows aloud in front of our family and friends overlooking Lake Como was incredibly meaningful and unforgettable.”
The Style
“Our style was a blend of modern and vintage, which felt perfectly in tune with Villa Pizzo. The villa’s historic charm naturally brought in a vintage element, while details like my rose-colored wedding gown added a modern edge.
We wanted the day to feel sophisticated yet personal, with soft neutral tones and lush greenery complementing the natural beauty of the setting. Overall, we aimed to create an intimate experience for our 98 guests that reflected both our personalities and the magic of the villa.”
The Evening Vibe
“We envisioned a romantic, candlelit atmosphere, so incorporating an abundance of candles to create a soft, dim glow was important to us.”
Looking Back Now
“We genuinely have no regrets from our wedding day. As with any wedding, there are always a few things that don’t go exactly as planned, but fortunately for us, they were all minor. Our planner, Mara, handled everything seamlessly, from small transportation hiccups to behind-the-scenes details, so we never felt any added stress.”
Greatest Lesson Learnt
“If I could change anything, I would have given my hair and makeup team more direction to ensure the final look fully aligned with my vision. I wasn’t as clear as I could have been, which led to a result I didn’t completely love. It’s something I take accountability for, and it reinforced how important clear communication is from the start. One other thing we would do differently is better protect the time leading up to the wedding. We left a few details, like handwriting notes for each guest, which ultimately became such a meaningful part of our seating chart, until the last minute. In hindsight, we would have completed those ahead of time so we could fully relax and spend more quality time with our guests once we arrived in Lake Como.”
Best Money Spent
“When we started planning, everyone warned us that our initial budget would be exceeded, and with our lack of financial planning, they were absolutely right. From the beginning, we knew the three areas we cared most about were the venue, the music and entertainment, and the food. Looking back, we truly feel like we nailed all three.
Without a doubt, the best money we spent was hiring our wedding planner, Mara Cirillo of WhiteNotes. None of it would have been possible without her. We genuinely don’t know how couples plan weddings on their own, especially in another country. Mara was a lifesaver: she communicated with all of our vendors in Italian, handled contract negotiations, and lifted an enormous weight off our shoulders throughout the entire process.”
“Right behind that was choosing our venue, Villa Pizzo, which was beyond breathtaking. The exclusive caterer, AFM Banqueting, was phenomenal, our guests are still talking about the food! For entertainment, we wanted something dynamic, so we went with a DJ paired with live instruments. We hired Lorenzo Zanobetti, also known as DJ Zano, along with a saxophonist and a percussionist, and they absolutely brought the party to life. One of the many memorable moments of the night was watching my dad, and so many of our guests, jump on the bongos; it was pure, unforgettable fun.”
Advice for Couples
“Pre-order your euros (or wherever currency you’ll need) at least a month or two before your wedding to cover final payments and tips. We learned this the hard way, waiting until the last minute meant paying higher conversion rates than we expected.”
Stand Out Vendors
“It would be nearly impossible to narrow it down to just one, we truly lucked out with incredible suppliers all around. Our photographer, Giacomo Terraciano, is unbelievably talented, capturing every moment perfectly. My feedback for future brides with a specific vision would be to provide a shot list or a bit more direction because I did not and wish I did, but even without that, the photos turned out beautiful. DJ Zano and his team brought the party to life with a mix of DJ tracks and live instruments. And our florist, Vertuani, was amazing. I provided minimal direction or photo inspiration beyond a few minor details, and they went above and beyond. Each of them played a huge role in making our day unforgettable.”
VENDOR TEAM
Photographer: Giacomo Terraciano Studio | Wedding Planner: Mara Cirillo of WhiteNotes | Videographer: MDM Wedding Videography| Florist: Vertuanifiori | Catering: AFM Banqueting | Light & Sound: BDM Weddings | Hair & Makeup: The Studio Como | Rentals: Luxury Noleggio | Music: Lorenzo Zanobetti (DJ Zano)
Categories
PLANNING | REAL WEDDING | SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT | INSPIRATION | WANDERLUST
