This Lake Como Wedding Will Inspire Wedding Mood Boards for Years to Come
Nastassja and Daniel met one another as many modern couples do—on a dating app. But their love story was anything but ordinary. Since Nastassja was in Indonesia when Daniel first asked her out, the two didn’t meet in person until she was back in New York City a month later. Once they finally did connect, they went to Salvation Taco for a casual date that ended up changing their lives forever. “I didn't think anything of our first date because I thought it was merely one of those fun nights you have that doesn't turn into anything. To my surprise, Danny continued to ask me out. By week three, we were inseparable, spending almost everyday together and slowly falling for each other,” the bride says. Seven years later, Daniel proposed to Nastassja at the Chatham Lighthouse Beach in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. “Time seemed to stop as he bent down on one knee and asked me to marry him with my dream ring in my dream proposal setting,” the bride recalls.
After the proposal, it was all about planning the perfect fairy-tale wedding. The first thing the couple determined was where they should get married, which was actually a no-brainer. “Italy has been my favorite country for a long time, and Danny and I bonded over our love for Italian food when we first met. I visited Lake Como for my friend’s wedding in 2023, and it was the only place that made my jaw drop the entire time I was there. Since then, I knew Lake Como was the place I wanted to get married at,” the bride says.
The summer wedding was held at the famed Villa del Balbianello, which overlooks the tranquil waters of Lake Como. And since the venue can’t be accessed by car, the couple had their group of about 80 guests transported to the villa by boat. Their loved ones sat facing three stone arches covered in lush ivy, with views of the water and mountains surrounding them, as a cellist and violinist played romantic tunes during the processional. The couple even flew in their pastor from Canada to officiate their ceremony, and incorporated an Indonesian wedding tradition called Sungkeman. “My husband and I kneeled before our parents to pay our respects and seek their blessings. It was an incredibly heartfelt moment that caused the majority of the guests to tear up,” the bride adds.
The ceremony had a traditional white-and-green color scheme, and the ceremony decorations and floral arrangements were minimal as to not overshadow the venue’s architecture and natural beauty. “We had a blend of mirrored and white iron pedestals that held bouquets of hydrangeas, anthuriums, roses, bells of Ireland, gladiolus and a touch of baby’s breath,” the bride says.
It was then, during the reception, that the matcha green and strawberry pink color palette came to life. Decorating the four long tables was an abundance of the same flowers used for the ceremony but in dreamy tones of pink for the centerpieces, while garlands of greenery (along with dazzling chandeliers) hung from the ceilings and ivy covered the walls, creating an enchanted forest feel. “To add another layer of romanticism, I added lace to our wedding dinner menus and included a pink bow to the place cards. I couldn’t be happier with how everything looked together,” the bride says.
From the live illustrator that painted portraits of the guests to the Chantilly cream and berry Italian millefoglie wedding cake, the lakeside mansion wedding was full of surprises and delish delights. But one of the couple’s favorite moments was the after party. “Every guest got on the dance floor, even our parents, uncles and aunties. Everyone looked genuinely happy and the energy was really high. It felt surreal to be partying in Lake Como with all of our favorite people,” the bride says. But the collective joy didn’t stop there. The couple tells us that the maid of honor, a bridesmaid and a family member got engaged during the wedding weekend. “It’s safe to say that love was in the air,” the couple says.