Real Wedding in Italy at Villa Regina Teodolinda, Lake Como, Ryan & Kristina

Gaia Ferroni
Apr 1
4 min read

A Classic Italian Wedding Weekend at Villa Regina Teodolinda on Lake Como

When Ryan and Kristina, our beautiful couple from California, chose Villa Regina Teodolinda for their des

tination wedding in Italy, they envisioned something timeless, intimate, and satisfyingly Italian. & at DWS we took on the challenge to help them to bring their vision to reality!

They flew in fifty of their closest friends and family from the U.S. and together we turned their Lake Como wedding into a full Italian experience.

As their planners at DWS Italy, our goal was to design a seamless two-day celebration that felt authentic, elegant, and stress-free.

And it all started the night before……

The Welcome Party: Pizza, Boats & Italian Summer Magic

On August 30th, the celebrations began with a relaxed pizza party overlooking Lake Como.

But this wasn’t just any welcome dinner.

Ryan and Kristina surprised their guests by personally making pizzas together. Laughter, flour on their hands, completely immersed in the moment.

It was playful, spontaneous, and set the tone for the entire weekend.

Later that day, guests enjoyed a private boat tour on the lake, one of the most magical ways to welcome international guests to Lake Como. When planning a destination wedding here, incorporating the lake itself into the experience makes everything feel intentional and unforgettable.

Getting Ready at Villa Regina Teodolinda

The wedding morning unfolded inside the villa, surrounded by historic charm and natural light.

Kristina got ready with her five bridesmaids and her glam team from The Bridal Studio. The atmosphere was joyful and emotional. Her mom told us how inseparable the bond between Kristyna and two of her bridesmaids was! They had been best friends since childhood and even shared a matching tattoo symbolizing their friendship. Honestly watching them getting ready together and be there during such an emotional moment got us teary-eyed.

These are the right people, the ones you should pick to be close to you during your getting ready. People you love, not that you are forced to choose. People that wish to truly share one of the best days of your life with you.

The First Look by the Lake (And an Important Planning Tip)

Ryan and Kristyna chose to do their “first look” on the lakefront at Villa Regina Teodolinda, a quiet, emotional moment before the ceremony.

This decision allowed them to:

Enjoy an intimate moment together
Take photos with the wedding party in advance
Free up time later for golden hour portraits

However, when doing a first look at the same location as the ceremony, logistics are crucial.

👉 Planning Tip

If you’re considering a first look at your ceremony venue, you must carefully coordinate timing with florists, rental teams, and catering to avoid visible setup or delays in the background of your photos.

And that’s what we did!

You must be sure that while you are having the first look in the ceremony space (as this is the first part used during a wedding), your suppliers are able to focus on something else (i.e. that tables are set from the catering to allow the florist to move onto their work in the reception space or that the welcome panel is ready to allow them to decorate) - overall, don’t waste your suppliers valuable time as this may delay everything and you’ll end up with rushed outcomes!

The Ceremony: An Intimate Symbolic Celebration

At 4:00 PM, guests gathered for a symbolic ceremony officiated by someone deeply meaningful to the couple.

The white floral palette created a refined, classic Italian atmosphere, timeless yet romantic against the backdrop of Lake Como.

It was emotional, personal, and filled with laughter.

Aperitivo & Dinner, Italian Style

Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed cocktail hour with an open bar and classic Italian aperitivo vibes.

Dinner was a seated reception, beginning with a grand entrance and the couple’s first dance between the tables, a moment that immediately set a celebratory tone.

The evening flowed naturally between courses, heartfelt speeches, and music.

As the sun began to set, Ryan and Kristyna slipped away for golden hour portraits, including one iconic moment: a Vespa photo by the lake.

Because yes, if you're getting married in Italy, a Vespa shot is almost mandatory.

Golden Hour on Lake Como

One of the reasons Lake Como weddings are so breathtaking is the light.

Around 8:00 PM, the sky turned soft and golden, creating the perfect backdrop for romantic portraits.

👉 Planning Tip

Always protect 20 minutes in your timeline for golden hour photos. In Italy, the light is part of the experience, and we built the schedule around it.

Cake, Outfit Change & Party Time

The cake cutting happened under sparkling lights, followed by an ice cream cart that added a playful Italian twist.

Later in the evening, Ryan and Kristina changed into their second looks, transitioning the atmosphere from elegant dinner to full celebration mode with a DJ set.

It was the perfect balance of sophistication and fun.

So Why Is Villa Regina Teodolinda Is Perfect for an Intimate Lake Como Wedding?

With its lakeside position, historic architecture, and private atmosphere, Villa Regina Teodolinda is ideal for couples looking for:

An exclusive yet intimate setting
A full wedding weekend experience
A true Italian villa aesthetic
Seamless indoor-outdoor flow

Planning a Destination Wedding in Lake Como?

Designing a destination wedding in Italy is about more than beautiful décor.

It’s about:

Guest experience
Logistics
Vendor coordination
Timeline management
Cultural expectations
Flow of the entire weekend

At DWS Italy, we specialize in crafting destination weddings in Lake Como that feel effortless — even when months of planning and coordination happen behind the scenes.

Ryan and Kristyna’s wedding was classic, personal, and authentically Italian — exactly what a Lake Como celebration should be.

If you’re dreaming of a classic Italian wedding at Villa Regina Teodolinda or anywhere on Lake Como, we would love to guide you through the process.

Let’s design your Italian wedding weekend together.