This wedding showcases the liveliness of a marriage of cultures. Bri’s family is a tight-knit group of Latino-Americans from Texas, USA; Robby’s family are a lively bunch of Ethiopian-Italians living in a small town near Milan, Italy.

Bri and Robby’s envisioned a colorful spring soirée- and that it was! They chose chic, modern elements to awe. The wedding’s location on Lake Como in Laglio, Italy set the scene for and Italian-inspired celebration. They chose elements to represent heritages from both sides of this American-Italian fusion.

Bri (the bride) is a full-time wedding florist back in the United States. While she designed and made her own wedding florals for her United States ceremony, she relinquished the duty of her Lake Como wedding florals to Lada Fiori who did an outstanding job creating the vision Bri had in her mind. The decor of the reception space spoke of garden soirée with lakefront views. Colored candles burned and dripped under the elevated floral installment of the head table, and bud vases adorned each table’s centerpieces.

Bri’s ceremony gown was a fully laced Pnina Tornai gown with a sweetheart neckline. She walked down the aisle with ivory silk gloves and the most stunning double-layer veil. Before her windy boat ride, she threw on a faux fur cropped coat to stay warm.

The bridesmaids were styled with a floral and pastel color palette with varying textures of tulle, ruffles, and chiffon. From light yellows, blues, lavenders, and peaches, each girl was fitted with an equally flattering and unique dress to match her personality. 

Bridesmaids walked down the aisle carrying a small bunches of calla lilies- the same flower that Bri carried during her US wedding ceremony. During the day when the sun was highest, her bridesmaids carried lovely white parasols as they trotted around the venue grounds.

The groomsmen sported taupe colored suits with peach ties. They gave the guests a good laugh as they walked down the aisle with various wooden canes- taken (and returned) from their airbnb in Como- we all had a good laugh! Robby sported a modern cream colored fitted suit with cropped trousers and sleek loafers. 

Before the ceremony, the two did a First Look on the dock of Villa Regina Teodolinda. Bri’s prayers were answered as the sun peeked from behind the clouds and reflected off of the water.

The ceremony space flourished with a rose petal walkways and a full floral arch installation. Each guest seat adorned a personalized wedding magazine, detailing their story. Bri chose one of her bridesmaids to sing during the ceremony along with the harp trio, so Bri and Robby sang alongside their guests during a time of worship before saying “I do”. 

The newlyweds decided to join one another in an intimate post-ceremony boat ride immediately following tying the knot. All their guests sent them off along the boat dock and balcony as the two sped off for a Lake Como tour. They laughed and cried together at the stern of the wooden vessel before retiring to the boat cabin to rest.

Guests enjoyed a wonderful apertivo with edible flowers while Bri and Robby enjoyed their boat ride. The first course consisted of SunLake Catering’s small ravioli del plin filled with meat and herbs with porcini mushroom, thyme and parmesan cream cheese served with truffle. The main course was beef fillet with milk and truffle creame, duck foie gras mousse, with potatoes and thyme. Everyone in attendance had the pleasure of sipping white and red wines along with espresso and teas. The cake was a timeless and simple 5-tier wedding cake- enough to feed everyone and for seconds, and thirds. Bri and Robby cut the cake after dusk with the twinkling city lights reflecting off the water in the background. 

During the reception, Bri snuck away to change into her Selkie reception gown, paired with a floral headpiece. After the first dance, Robby and his family began a beautifully moving time of worship through their own cultural dance. Silk scarves were raised above the heads of Robby and his mother, moving with the beat of drum. As the foreign guests observed, they were overtaken, and the Italians waved them in to join. Soon, all guests and vendors alike were joined in song and in celebration of Bri and Robby, and the wonders of a mixing of families.