A design-led celebration with an effortless rhythm, Brandon and Aaron’s wedding at Villa Pizzo unfolded as a seamless journey through one of Lake Como’s most storied estates. With their closest guests, the couple embraced the villa’s romantic architecture and lakeside charm, creating a day that moved from garden aperitivos to a terrace ceremony and dinner beneath a glass greenhouse. Every element, crafted with care by Wow Wedding, felt considered and relaxed, echoing the mood of a summer holiday rather than a scripted affair. “The chemistry was immediate. They understood that we didn’t want a theatrical wedding,” Aaron said.
Location: Villa Pizzo, Lake Como, Italy
Style: Refined, design-forward, understated
Time of planning: 18 months
Number of guests: 85
Setting: Villa
Season: Spring
Brandon and Aaron first crossed paths at Aaron’s college graduation in the Hudson Valley, introduced through mutual friends. A year later, a spontaneous reunion in Montauk sparked the beginning of their relationship, with daily calls bridging the distance between New York and Los Angeles until Brandon moved to Brooklyn to be with Aaron.
Their proposal, like much of their relationship, was quiet and deeply personal—Brandon slipped an emerald-cut diamond from his grandmother’s ring into Aaron’s hand during a walk by the river where they’d first met. “It felt right to propose without a speech,” Brandon said. “Everything had already been said.”
Couple's Morning
Brandon and Aaron got ready together in the villa’s sunlit rooms, surrounded by timeless textures, soft morning light, and the quiet rhythm of Lake Como just beyond the windows. They buttoned each other’s jackets, adjusted cuffs, and exchanged glances that carried years of history. Getting dressed together was a simple part of how they’d always done things: side by side.
Their suits, both tailored by Marco Cassina in luxurious Loro Piana fabrics, reflected their distinct personalities while staying in harmony. Brandon wore an ivory two-piece with a crisp white shirt, no tie, and Manolo Blahnik loafers, paired with a silver-handled cane he’d picked up in Bellagio the morning of the wedding—a stylish solution to a last-minute injury that, in his words, “ended up being kind of fabulous.”
Aaron chose a warm oat tone with subtle texture, dark brown loafers, and a classic watch. The details—Aaron’s vintage Rolex gifted by his parents, Brandon’s sculptural silver rings—felt intimate and meaningful.
Ceremony
The ceremony took place on the villa’s stone terrace, with the lake stretching behind and a sculptural garden built directly into the foreground. Working with Lake Como Florist, Brandon and Aaron asked for florals that felt rooted in the villa itself. Moss, grasses, and white blooms were sculpted into low arrangements that appeared to grow straight out of the stone. Vessels stayed hidden, giving the illusion of a wild terrace garden in bloom.
Brandon’s sisters officiated the secular ceremony, while both families stood with the grooms beneath the deep blue sky. Elements of Brandon’s Jewish heritage were gently woven in—a shared tallit and the breaking of the glass. Instead of a wedding party, they had one best man and one maid of honor. Vows were spoken against a backdrop of the lake, their voices steady, the words unhurried. The mood stayed grounded and open—elegant and sincerely felt.
“We wanted the picturesque setting of the lakeside villa to be the main event; everything else should be a subtle enhancement.”
Cocktail Hour
Cocktail hour stretched along the villa’s stone edge, where guests gathered in sunlight with Aperol spritzes in hand and Lake Como at their backs. The atmosphere felt cinematic but unforced—elegant clothes, bold colors, vintage sunglasses, linen suits and laughter moving easily through the garden. While the crowd lingered by the citrus trees and low walls, photographer Andy Nasta captured quiet portraits of Brandon and Aaron—just the two of them, framed by water, sky, and the soft rhythm of the afternoon.
"The overall tone was elevated but unfussy—waitstaff in white dinner jackets, Aperol spritzes at every turn, laughter and candlelight echoing off centuries-old walls."
Decor & Setting
The reception unfolded beneath a glass greenhouse built around an old pine, where the setting itself became part of the design. Long tables were dressed in soft sage linens with clear glass chargers and neatly folded white napkins, while centerpieces played with color and structure—chartreuse hydrangeas, fiery orange gloriosas, sculptural greens, and wild moss arranged as if they had grown straight through the tables.
Tapered candles in tangerine and olive flickered in clear holders, mirroring the transparency of the space. Overhead, lily-shaped light fixtures added quiet drama. The team at Wow Wedding created a layout that felt immersive, and every decision was in dialogue with the lake, the architecture, and the color palette.
"Moss-covered vases were hidden among dinner tables, creating the effect of a wild garden growing through the space."
Reception
The reception moved with ease from dinner to dancing, with a live set by Steven Wright and DJ Ale Vigneri keeping the energy flowing through golden hour and into the night. The Horah brought everyone to their feet, and heartfelt toasts gave way to choreographed moments and spontaneous moves on the mirrored dance floor. Brandon and Aaron stayed in the center of it all—laughing, twirling, hand in hand, surrounded by guests who never seemed to leave the floor.
"Cocktails in the garden, dinner beneath a greenhouse, and an afterparty inside the villa’s richly decorated rooms."
Later, guests made their way into the villa for a lavish dessert installation and late-night bites, while outside, a showstopping millefoglie was assembled live and finished with a champagne spray. The evening stretched long into music, movement, and one final round of dance and laughter before the lights dimmed and the villa quieted down.
PLANNER & DESIGN Wow Wedding | VENUE Villa Pizzo | PHOTOGRAPHER Andy Nasta | FLORALS Lake Como Florist | CONTENT CREATOR Kristina Belihina | RENTALS Memorable Rental | CATERING AFM Banqueting | STATIONERY IUMI | MC & SINGER Steven Wright | DJ Ale Vigneri | SOUND & LIGHT BDM Weddings
