Louisa & Alex — A Wedding Weekend at Villa Arcadio, Lake Garda
Some stories have a way of finding their way back to you.
I first met Louisa and Alex when I photographed their civil wedding in Munich. It was one of those days that stayed with me, not only because of the two of them, but because of the warmth of their families and how naturally everyone made me feel part of it all. So when they reached out again about their wedding celebration at Lake Garda, I couldn’t have been happier. It felt a little like a reunion, this time with Italian sunshine, beautiful surroundings, and a whole weekend ahead of us.
An Evening in Salò — Welcome Drinks at Bar Italia
We began the weekend with a little stroll along the waterfront in Salò, just before meeting everyone for the welcome evening at Bar Italia.
The light was so special that evening. We wandered through the streets and along the lake, catching up and taking a few photographs before joining their family and friends.
Bar Italia, right on the waterfront, was the perfect setting for the evening. Drinks by the lake, familiar faces, conversations that carried on well into the evening and that unmistakable feeling of summer in Italy.
There was something especially lovely about seeing everyone together again, knowing that the wedding day was still to come
The Wedding Day — Villa Arcadio, Lake Garda
The following morning brought us to Villa Arcadio, tucked into the hills above Salò, surrounded by olive trees and overlooking Lake Garda.
The day began slowly, with everyone getting ready and all those little moments that happen before a wedding truly begins. One of my favourites was Louisa’s first look with her father and brothers. Such a beautiful, emotional moment and one that reminded me again how much family means to these two.
Then came the ceremony.
Watching Louisa walk into the church with her parents was incredibly moving. There was so much emotion in that moment, and throughout the ceremony, in the quiet glances, the smiles, and the reactions of the people closest to them.
Those are always the moments I find myself drawn to. The ones you can’t plan or recreate, but that somehow say everything.
After the ceremony, we returned to Villa Arcadio for cocktail hour. Everyone was finally together, drinks were flowing and the atmosphere shifted into that wonderful, relaxed feeling that comes after all the anticipation of the day.
Dinner followed at one beautifully long table, with everyone gathered together for the evening. There is something about wedding dinners in Italy that I will never get tired of. The conversations, the laughter, the lingering moments between courses and the simple pleasure of being somewhere beautiful with your favourite people.
And, of course, the night ended exactly as it should: with everyone on the dance floor.
Perhaps the most beautiful part was that this didn't feel like the beginning of something new, but a continuation of a story I already felt lucky to know.
A little more to discover
Nadia & Kyle — A Summer at Villa Cimbrone, Ravello
Hannah & Julian — The Art of Understatement, Villa Grabau
