A Four Day Lake Como Celebration with Enchanting Fruit Trees

Featured Members

To honor their fifteen-year union, Zaina and Matthew hosted their family and friends in Lake Como, Italy for a romantic four-day celebration. A Charming Fete worked with the couple for over a year, making sure every detail was intentional and the experience unforgettable for each of their guests. The couple instantly fell in love with the scenic landscape of Lake Como while on a trip to Italy. It felt like the perfect location for their destination wedding as it has such a strong resemblance to Zaina’s family village in Kafroun, Syria while also honoring Matt’s Italian heritage. The main source of inspiration comes from Zaina’s father’s garden, a place rooted in peace, beauty and love.

From the moment they entered Villa Bonomi’s jasmine garden they knew this would be the perfect setting. They worked with the Rattiflora team for many months developing the meaningful concept of fruit trees lining the aisle which would lead Zaina to Matt. The trees were abundant with apples, pears and plums, a true replica of the ones the bride’s father planted in her childhood backyard. Light rain came as the ceremony began, then completely cleared and the sun came out at the exact moment their officiant, Roberto, read the following passage… “Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.” The timing was unexplainable and felt like a blessing from heaven, witnessed by everyone in attendance!

Location: Lake Como, Italy
Style: Intentional, Lush, Colorful
Time of planning: 14 months
Number of guests: 112
Setting: Italian Villa
Season: Summer

Zaina and Matt met in New York City in August of 2010, while starting their sophomore year at The New School. She was studying fashion design at Parsons, and he was studying jazz performance on the electric bass. Zaina’s new roommate and soon to be best friend, Ashley, asked if she’d “like to meet the guys that live down the hall” and Matt happened to be the only one home at the time. They quickly became friends and spent almost every day together exploring and enjoying life in the city.

Zaina and Matt’s friendship began to develop into something more and their feelings for one another grew significantly over those first seven months. Being raised in a very traditional Christian Syrian household Zaina had never dated anyone and felt nervous taking this next step, but their love and connection had become undeniable. One evening after class they walked over to their favorite East Village ice cream shop, Sundaes and Cones where Matt asked Zaina to officially become his girlfriend and she excitedly said “Yes!”. No matter the highs and lows they’d face over the next fifteen years they always remained committed to one another taking on every challenge together.

On October 2, 2018, Matt proposed to Zaina in front of the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park which is a very special and sentimental place that she has visited since high school. She had walked the same path to the fountain for over ten years and on this particular Tuesday she decided to stop and recreate a photo she had taken the first time she visited the Bethesda Terrace, having no idea that both sets of their parents were sitting in the photo this time with their faces buried behind The New York Times newspapers. As Zaina and Matt began descending the stairs of the terrace she noticed the people covering their faces with the newspapers and a camera crew taking photos and recording them.

She thought they were walking onto a commercial set and she began trying to dodge the cameras when Matt quickly spun her around. He got down on one knee, asked her to marry him and in that moment she realized the people behind the newspapers were their parents. Matt knew how important it was to Zaina that they have their family present when he proposed so he flew her parents, Joseph and Nahla, in from Ohio and his parents, Bill and Lisa, traveled into the city from New Jersey. Of course, she said “Yes!” as their parents lowered the newspapers and excitedly embraced them. They were ecstatic and continued the celebration with dinner and champagne at The Loeb Boathouse while recounting the amazing surprise that Matt had just pulled off.

Welcome Party

Zaina debuted her wedding weekend wardrobe with a vibrant pop of color and whimsy. She instantly fell in love with this tea-length Monique Lhuillier gown from the Spring 2025 collection while shopping in New York City. Embellished with hand-beaded, three-dimensional poppy flowers, she styled it with gold kitten heels and an iconic Olympia Le-Tan Lake Como book clutch embroidered with their wedding date on the back. Matt complemented her in an olive Ader Milano jacket over cream Suitsupply linen.

The celebrations kicked off on Thursday evening with a welcome dinner at Onda restaurant. The couple envisioned this event to feel exciting and energizing as they welcomed their guests to Italy. The decor was inspired by fresh citrus; bold striped linens layered the tables with hand painted plates and fruity floral arrangements. Guests arrived dressed in shades of yellow, peach, orange and green. DJ Ronny set the vibe for the evening as the Aperol spritz bar flowed. Guests enjoyed a feast of Onda’s classic dishes followed by fig and tiramisu desserts. Once the dinner began to wind down a private charter awaited guests for a two-hour sunset cruise exploring Lake Como.

Church Blessing

On Friday things slowed down for a blessing at Chiesa di San Vincenzo, a Cernobbio church that has stood since 1150. Don Gianpaolo led a mass and blessed the couple’s new rosary, crucifix and bible along with their wedding bands, the historic organ filled the nave, and every pew held someone who had flown across the world to be there. Zaina kept it modern in a draped ivory Stella McCartney silk set she found while shopping in Milan days earlier, with her everyday Cartier bracelets and ivory Manolo Blahnik heels.

Bride's Morning & Fashion

Zaina woke up in Villa Bonomi bright and early the morning of July 19^th. To start off her wedding day the villa coordinated a relaxing massage for her in her bridal suite as the wedding planners and vendors began to arrive on property for set up. She then slipped into a mint green feather pajama set from Sleeper which she paired with matching shearling Oran sandals from Hermès, while Gabby, the family’s almost seventeen-year-old Yorkie, pranced around in her own mint green feather pajamas.

Zaina’s mother, mother-in-law and bridesmaids all began getting ready alongside her in coordinating green silk robes while they fueled up for the day on a delicious breakfast display by their wedding caterer. Once hair and makeup were complete Zaina changed into a Stella McCartney silk and lace nightgown printed with white doves for bridal portraits alongside her wedding gown.

Being a designer herself, Zaina struggled to find her dream wedding gown off the rack. After trying on close to a hundred gowns across New York City, she kept coming back to Wiederhoeft. Founded by Jackson Wiederhoeft, a fellow Parsons graduate, Zaina fell in love with the brand and their romantic and feminine designs along with their impeccable craftsmanship and use of luxurious materials. She felt most drawn to their hand beaded Wasp corset and made the decision to go the custom route having the Wiederhoeft team design a collection of separates that she could re-wear for years to come.

Her gown was compiled of five custom garments giving her the flexibility to create multiple looks throughout her wedding day. They created a custom corset, fitted pencil skirt, voluminous overskirt with a train, beaded draped belt and cathedral length veil which all came together creating her iconic bridal look. Wiederhoeft sourced the fabric for her garments directly from the most historic silk mill of Lake Como which felt like a beautiful nod to her wedding destination.

The most personal touch sat on her right hip, where her father would have stood to walk her down the aisle, his handwriting from a letter signed “Love, Dad” embroidered onto the draped silk belt. Zaina also requested that her and Matt’s last names be embroidered on the train of her gown honoring the union of the Leon & D’Amico families. At her final fitting with the Wiederhoeft team, Zaina was honored to reveal her wedding gown to Matt’s ninety-seven-year-old Grammie who came all the way to New York City to see it. It was a very special and emotional memory which included Zaina’s mother and mother-in-law before traveling to Italy for their celebration.

Samantha of Eve Bridal Beauty created a chic, polished makeup look accentuating Zaina’s natural features. Zaina also requested that hair artist Elena Panzeri create a natural and flowy blowout for her long dark hair before pinning her veil on the wedding day. It was very important to Zaina that her glam team highlight the contrast of her dark Syrian features against the ivory of her gown. Her scent of choice was Mojave Ghost by Byredo, and her cascading bridal bouquet by Rattiflora intertwined jasmine with lily of the valley, representing her Syrian family and Matt’s Italian family intertwining on this monumental day.

Groom’s Fashion

Matt is a Captain in the United States Marine Corps, so as tradition would have it, he wore his Dress Blues for the ceremony. He changed into a black peak lapel tuxedo from Ralph Lauren Purple Label for the reception. When it came time for the after party, he had one last outfit change where he swapped his black jacket for an ivory shawl collar dinner jacket from the same label to compliment Zaina’s silver fringe dress. His scent for the day was Apex by Roja, which he found while the two were shopping in Italy.

Ceremony

The ceremony came together in the garden at Villa Bonomi, a landscape shaped by the Italian master Pietro Porcinai, boxed in on three sides by tall jasmine hedges and wide open on the fourth to the lake and the mountains. Guests arrived to welcome drinks and dancing violinists in the courtyard, then were ushered to their seats for the ceremony to begin.

Zaina and her beautiful mother walked down the aisle which carried some of her favorite memories of her father. He has always been an avid gardener, proudest of the fruit trees he grew two by two at their family home in Ohio. Rattiflora ran six full trees heavy with apples, pears and plums down the aisle along with a wall of blooming jasmine flowers as the backdrop of the ceremony.

Cartalia created all of the incredible stationery for the couple starting from their intricate, hand-embroidered invitations with a 3-D watercolor illustration of Villa Bonomi. For the wedding day they had beautiful paper fans with coordinating tassels which guests found on their chairs. The fans were printed with the bridal party on one side and a watercolor of the villa on the other, alongside a passage the couple wrote for Joseph Leon’s garden.

The couple knew from day one that they wanted to skip a first look. Matt was adamant that the first time he saw Zaina in her wedding dress would be the moment she reached the start of the aisle. When asked what the most memorable moment from the wedding day was both Matt and Zaina had a unanimous answer. The moment they saw one another at the ceremony and the way they felt will be something they never forget. Every step closer to one another felt euphoric and it was a moment that can never be replicated.

Their wedding bands came with history, passed down from their grandparents. Matt’s Poppie, Louis and Zaina’s Sito, Raefa have always been two of the most influential people in their lives. They both had very special bonds with their grandparents and their wedding bands were both gifted to the couple long before their plans to get married. Louis and Raefa happen to share a birthday on February 17th making the bond even more serendipitous. It was important to the couple to honor their grandparents and the love they instilled in them on their wedding day.

Their officiant, Roberto of Lake Como Celebrant, welcomed their college friend, Ashley, during the ceremony to share how their love story began. Ashley’s sweet son, River, was also the couple’s ring bearer creating a beautiful full circle moment for this special friendship that they had built over fifteen years. He walked down the aisle with Zaina’s precious little cousin, Celine who made the sweetest flower girl.

Once Roberto named them husband and wife, they walked into an Arch of Swords held by six Marines Matt had served with. At each pair the swords dropped to block the path of the couple and the Marines called out “The price of passage is a kiss!”, only lifting once the couple obliged. The final two swords rose with a welcome to the Marine Corps and a light tap of a sword that sent Zaina and Matt through. It was a highlight for guests to witness this Marine Corps tradition.

Cocktail Hour

Guests were ushered to the cocktail hour where they were serenaded by a live harpist while enjoying elevated views of the lake. The focal point of the cocktail hour was a round bar which was built around a statement apricot tree, another Rattiflora creation.

This apricot tree represented Zaina’s father’s most prized fruit tree, which he planted in their family’s front yard. The specialty cocktail was Gabby’s Italian Sgroppino, named after the family’s precious Yorkie and a spin on the couple’s favorite Italian summer cocktail, combining prosecco with sorbet, a lemon garnish on top and a custom stirrer printed with an illustration of Gabby.

Off to one side a shaded garden promenade ran under the trees with white bistro tables for guests to sit and enjoy the delicious aperitivo. Class Eventi passed hors d’oeuvres and created a display of Italian meats and cheeses while a chef pulled fresh mozzarella by hand. David Bastianoni, the couple’s incredible photographer, used the quieter stretch of cocktail hour to pull the couple aside for a few romantic portraits alongside the lake.

Reception

For their dinner reception the couple wanted the feeling of al fresco family dining on a grand scale. Food is a big part of their cultures and a way they bond with loved ones. They both grew up with fond memories of their family and friends gathering around the table to share a delicious homecooked Syrian or Italian meal. They set three long tables on the great lawn overlooking panoramic views of the lake and mountains. One table in the center for immediate family and two longer tables on either side filled with their cousins and friends.

The fruit trees from the ceremony were moved to the reception and stood framing the bar and dinner tables. The tabletops spilled over with flowers, candles, figs, pomegranates, grapes and an abundance of other fruits and vegetables representing the harvest her father loved to share with everyone. Rattiflora pulled the whole scene together, turning her father’s garden into a tablescape you could sit and eat from. The fresh produce in Italy is unmatched and guests enjoyed picking from the arrangements all night.

Every seat was set with Ginori 1735 Oriente Italiano plates. The couple had this dishware at the top of their wedding registry so that every dinner at home would be a reminder of their wedding day. A green pear sat at each seat with a blue name card wrapping the stem. The head table was dressed with a de Gournay tablecloth, which was painted entirely by hand. It featured a garden of espalier pear trees. Cartalia created the beautiful coordinating menus and bar signage.

Blunotte Eventi set a white grand piano out on the lawn played by a lovely pianist who set the tone for dinner. The first dance was Al Di Là, sung live by Zaina’s cousin, recording artist Ashley Nemeh. Having Ashley sing their first dance was extra meaningful as she has known Matt since their college days. She used to visit Matt and Zaina at their dorm in New York where they have fond memories of Ashley singing while Matt played bass. That history turned the song into a full circle gift.

Class Eventi presented the dinner, opening with a delicious salad, then a homemade pasta course with fresh truffle shaved over every plate. Guests had a choice of steak, fish or eggplant for their main course. The food was absolutely incredible. Between courses Matt’s best man and Zaina’s maid of honor gave the toasts. The couple felt beyond blessed and honored to have Nick and Layla stand up on their wedding day and share such beautiful and emotional sentiments with everyone in attendance. The entire dinner felt like a dream.

Dessert turned into a show. A large millefoglie appeared on the lawn, the Italian wedding cake of paper thin puff pastry and cream. The couple was handed piping bags of cream, bowls of berries and a shaker full of powdered sugar so that they could decorate their wedding cake in front of their guests. Matt and Zaina cut the first slices with his Marine Corps sword and began popping champagne as the sun set and the crowd cheered them on.

The After Party

After cake, the couple had shuttles waiting to transport their guests to the after-party location. Guests arrived to the greenhouse at Villa del Grumello, lit up by soft candlelight along with an Italian dessert display and drinks flowing to keep the party going into the night.

The couple made their grand entrance to the after party led by Arabic drums. One of the most memorable parts of the evening was a special performance by Lebanese artist Suheil Saker. Zaina’s father loves Suheil’s music and mentioned to her mother that one day when Zaina gets married, he wants Suheil to perform at her wedding. Suheil spent months getting to know the family, wrote beautiful custom songs and flew all the way from Lebanon to perform on their special day.

The couple danced the night away with their family and friends, a highlight being the traditional dabke dance, holding hands and uniting their loved ones who flew from all over the world to be there.

As the night began to wind down Class Eventi had a truck stationed outside of the greenhouse making fresh pizzas for guests to take home in custom pizza boxes. It was the perfect ending to an incredible day!

Pool Party & Brunch

The day after the wedding, guests arrived back to Villa Bonomi for a brunch and pool party send off. Class Eventi arranged a full Italian breakfast along with a juice and coffee bar, a live pasta station and the crowd favorite, a gelato cart. Guests enjoyed the pool and reminisced on the amazing weekend while the ring bearer and flower girl ran around the property in matching fruit printed swimsuits.

Zaina stayed on theme in an Oscar de la Renta dress printed with figs and grapes, a nod to their wedding day tablescapes and she paired it with Manolo Blahnik kitten heel sandals. Matt kept it easy in a pastel green polo, cream Suitsupply linen and tan Allen Edmonds loafers. It was the soft landing the weekend needed and the perfect way to unwind with their loved ones before departing Lake Como.