Location: Lake Como, Italy
Style: Timeless, dramatic, unique
Time of planning: 19 months
Number of guests: 56
Setting: Villa Sola Cabiati, Villa Balbiano
Season: Spring
Jason proposed in 2023 in Tuscany, after a day spent harvesting grapes and wine tasting. Little did he know that Diana had already been scouting venues in Italy every time they traveled there. For the two of them, choosing Lake Como felt completely natural — the mountains rising around them, the serene grandeur of the landscape, and Villa Balbiano, whose ceremony space looks directly out upon them. To them, it all felt like destiny, and with the help of their planners at Bespoke Unique Weddings, their vision came beautifully to life.
Welcome Cruise
The wedding weekend lasted three days and began with a casino-themed welcome cruise featuring personalized playing cards. Diana wore five different dresses throughout the celebrations, and for the cruise, she chose a custom Dolce & Gabbana mini dress inspired by a conversation Jason had with the brand’s Milan team. She completed the look with cherry-red Mach & Mach heels and cherry-themed D&G jewelry.
As the evening continued, guests were surprised with fireworks exploding over the lake right after the welcome speech. The couple had been concerned about the weather leading up to the weekend, yet Diana recalled, “It felt almost like there was someone watching over us as we dodged the weather all 3 days.” On the morning of the welcome cruise, the forecast predicted a 100% chance of rain that evening, but “against the radar, my planners set up Plan A on a gut feeling,” and miraculously, the weather held the entire night.
Rehearsal Dinner
The rehearsal dinner was equally magical, held at Villa Sola Cabiati with candlelight, soft decor, and an atmosphere that felt straight out of a romantic film. The setting glowed with dim light, flickering candles, and warm words shared by the couple and their guests. For the evening, Diana wore a vintage two-piece drop-waist gown with ribbon sleeves, paired with ornate Louboutins peeking from beneath the hem, along with her family diamond necklace.
Their masterful photographers, Emina and Vladan of Vlasta Weddings, captured the weekend beautifully. As Diana shared, they “did an outstanding job despite not a single sliver of sunlight during the events the entire 3 days, so we embraced the dark, moody and windy, all the more cinematic.”
Bride's Morning & Fashion
For the ceremony, Diana wore Zuhair Murad, a gown she described as giving her “that timeless-meets-dramatic feel I’d been searching for.” The high neck, deep V neckline, sleeves, overskirt, and cathedral veil created a look that felt both regal and modern. She had tried on more than 50 gowns, even flying to New York, but she couldn’t stop thinking about this one.
She completed her look with Jimmy Choos and her mother-in-law’s diamond tennis bracelet as her “something borrowed.” Her hair was swept into a low bun, elegant and weather-proof against Lake Como’s famously unpredictable rain.
For her bouquet, Diana wanted a fresh take on the clean, white look, with pastel hues and a single anthurium. As she shared, “I had obsessed over them so much my planners gave in.” She also chose orange roses for both her mother and mother-in-law as a thoughtful gesture of gratitude.
Groom's Fashion
Jason wore a custom Dolce & Gabbana Sartoria tuxedo in dark navy for the ceremony, with Berluti dress shoes. For the welcome cruise, he chose a Joe Bananas blazer, a discovery the couple made together, inspired by the textures and colors of Australian flora and fauna. At the rehearsal dinner, he wore his Brunello Cucinelli blazer, the same one he had on when he proposed. Each look was intentional and personal, mirroring the thoughtfulness behind Diana’s choices.
First Look
Their first look took place on the front lawn of Villa Sola Cabiati. As Diana descended the stairs, the wind lifted her dress, creating a moment that felt straight out of a movie.
Ceremony
“We were married at Villa Balbiano, overlooking the mountains of Lake Como. There is truly nothing like it in the world,” added the bride. The planners built a stage framed by Roman columns and softened with pastel and natural flowers, beautifully arranged by Lake Como Florist. The way the florals climbed and curved around the stone made it appear as if they had been growing there for centuries. It was timeless, organic, and completely at home in the setting, exactly what the couple had hoped for.
"We dreamed up a wedding concept inspired by ancient Rome, and it carried through from the very first moment our guests arrived at the villa. They were greeted by performers dressed in Roman-style gowns with floral crowns, playing antique hand harps while standing on half-capitols.”
The ceremony felt both timeless and deeply personal. Jason walking down the aisle to “Veridis Quo” set a tone that was modern, intentional, and full of meaning. The couple asked relatives who had always been like parents to Jason to co-officiate. One was unable to attend due to work commitments on a television production, but it remained incredibly special to have someone so close to them lead the ceremony.
Their officiant, a screenwriter, delivered a ceremony that was truly extraordinary. As Diana shared, “he took language classes for three months and delivered the sweetest ode to my parents completely in Chinese.” It was a gesture that left everyone deeply moved and became one of the most unforgettable moments of the day.
Planning & Inspiration
From the very beginning, Diana told her planners at Bespoke Unique Weddings that she wanted a “Secret Garden meets Spirited Away” theme for the wedding day, a vision they brought to life flawlessly. Jason hoped to honor his childhood dream of being a DJ and his lifelong love of music, especially Daft Punk. Their song “Veridis Quo” not only inspired his aisle walk, but also set the tone for their welcome party theme, “Very Disco.”
They wove their shared passions into every part of the celebration: the invitation suite, the favors, the cocktails named after their cats, Bagel and Olive, and even a Chinese lucky-cat neon sign that delighted Diana’s parents. Their palindromic wedding dates 5.20.25, 5.21.25, and 5.22.25 thrilled Diana, as numerology holds deep meaning for her. Her mother helped her consult the lunar calendar to choose the most auspicious days.
Reception
The reception was also held at Villa Balbiano. The couple had originally envisioned dining outdoors, but the weather had other plans, and at the very last minute, they shifted to Plan B. Diana later shared that “it turned out to be even more magical than what I had pictured.” The team set everything inside a glass marquee, draped so beautifully that it felt warm and intimate rather than like a backup plan. Roman-style columns, echoing the ones from the ceremony, lined the interior and tied the entire design together.
Diana also changed into a vintage-inspired reception dress, a 1992 Thierry Mugler piece she had fallen in love with, which added structure, romance, and a touch of couture drama to the evening.
The chandeliers were wrapped in soft draping that glowed with moody, romantic lighting, creating an atmosphere Diana described as “both modern and poetic at the same time.” They chose concrete tables with velvet chairs — a blend of sleek contemporary details and antique Roman-inspired elements that Diana said was “exactly what I’d hoped for,” showing how old and new could coexist seamlessly when designed with intention.
After Party
For the after-party, the mood shifted completely. Diana wanted to honor her Chinese heritage, so the space was transformed with glowing red lanterns, vibrant lighting, and, of course, a neon lucky cat sign that illuminated the dance floor. They served dumplings as a midnight snack, a detail guests loved so much that the dumplings disappeared in record time, and the disco energy carried everyone well into the early morning hours.
Advice from the couple:
• People notice the heart and effort behind the details. Some elements of the design and execution were so intricate, I sometimes wondered if I had taken on too much. Our invitations, for instance, took over a month of painstaking edits with my designer and planner, and in the days before the wedding, I was still handwriting personal notes for every guest. Guests came up to me with tears in their eyes, thanking me for the thought and gesture. So my advice: don’t be afraid to pour yourself into the details that feel meaningful to you. They’re the things people carry in their hearts long after the last song is played.
CORE TEAM (ALL 3 DAYS) – PLANNING & DESIGN Bespoke Unique Weddings & Events | PHOTOGRAPHER Vlasta Weddings | VIDEOGRAPHER Matteo Castelluccia | CONTENT CREATOR Olivia & Living Event Content | FLORALS Lake Como Florist | BEAUTY The Studio Como | STATIONERY Letterink | RENTALS Preludio Divisione Noleggio, Tableset Rentals
WEDDING DAY – VENUE Villa Balbiano | CATERING Class Eventi | WEDDING INVITATIONS Ciao Cara Creative | LIVE PAINTING ARTIST Letterink | PHOTOBOOTH Over The Box Italia | WEDDING CAKE Ramperti Pasticceria | ENTERTAINMENT & LIGHT + SOUND Blunotte Eventi
REHEARSAL DINNER – VENUE Villa Sola Cabiati | CATERING Gran Hotel Tremezzo | ENTERTAINMENT, LIGHT & SOUND Blunotte Eventi
WELCOME CRUISE – CRUISE Gestione Navigazione Laghi | CATERING Class Eventi | ENTERTAINMENT Les Italiens Band | PHOTOBOOTH Over The Box Italia | RENTALS Preludio Divisione Noleggio, Tablecloth Rental
