Live Vicariously Through This Couple’s Fairytale Destination Wedding at Villa Erba in Lake Como, Italy

While everyone was stuck inside during the height of the pandemic, were all found creative ways to facilitate human interaction. So, when Sade Okagbue’s friend invited her to join a virtual “House Party” app, she leaped at the opportunity. “We played games and met new people,” she describes. “We would have themed nights and discussion topics; it was a whole thing!” One day, Sade noticed a new guy in the House Party: Afam Okagbue. “I’m like, ooh, he’s cute—I flirt, and he flirts back. He lived in Houston, and I lived in the DC area. He came to see me one weekend, and we have been together ever since!”

When deciding to marry, Sade and Afam wanted to hold two significant events. “In our culture, we typically have two weddings: a traditional wedding where we perform traditional marriage rites and then the more Westernized wedding,” the bride—a wedding planner herself—explains. A week before their trip to Lagos, Nigeria, to perform the first ceremony, the groom planned a special dinner for the two. “When I got there, I noticed how nice the hostess and everyone else were to me,” Sade recalls. “Our dessert came out at the end of the meal, and the plate read “Will You Marry Me?” He got on one knee, and I said yes! I was caught off guard because I was so sure he would propose in Nigeria during our traditional wedding.”

As far as location was concerned, it was a love-at-first-sight, no-brainer decision. “The first time I traveled to Italy, I completely fell in love with the country, the food, the scenery and the architecture. It was my dream to get married there,” Sade says. Peaceful Lake Como was an idyllic setting for the couple’s wedding vision. The side-by-side villas on the lake evoked vintage elegance—the chosen aesthetic for the big day. One locale—Villa Erba—offered scenic vistas of the lake itself, which the bride and groom deemed perfect for their ceremony, while the other—Villa Gastel—featured a romantic garden setting to host the reception.

In line with their vintage event, Sade sought a wedding dress with no embellishments whatsoever. “I wanted a lace dress with zero sparkle, zero bling… just lace,” she laughs. “Everyone, from my friends to the dress designer, tried to get me to add even just a shred of bling, but I stuck to my guns. I wanted a timeless, classic dress that would bring the drama without anything shiny.” Her custom gown featured an illusion neckline and an overskirt, and her second dress—which she changed into during the reception—showcased a similar illusion neckline but included a more fitted silhouette and whimsical, ruffled sleeves. Afam selected a tuxedo with a sleek white jacket: also a bespoke outfit made specifically for him by Nigerian designer Kimono Kollections.

On a September afternoon, family and friends from around the globe gathered in the open-air ceremony space set against the glistening lake and rolling Italian hills. It was projected to rain, but the bride’s strong faith and heartfelt prayers seemed to stave off the showers during the event. Before they walked down the aisle, the bride and groom chose to share a romantic boat ride as their photographer snapped gorgeous photos of the pair—and then, it was on to the “I dos.” Sade strolled toward her beloved to the tune of “Too Faithful” by Moses Bliss, escorted by her mother.

“For decor, it was important that we did not obscure the view of the lake but enhance it. For that reason, I went with a classic white aisle and a backdrop that looked like it was building into the lake view,” Sade reveals. Vintage-inspired chairs dotted the rocky coastline, flanked by lush bouquets of white flowers made to look natural to the setting. The altar featured similar blooms and greenery, incorporating dahlias, wax flowers, aster flowers, garden and classic roses, Larkspur, stock, oakleaf hydrangea, clematis and a mix of foliage.

Villa Gastel’s courtyard awaited the newlyweds and their guests to celebrate their reception in secret-garden style. “The venue has these incredible climbing vines all around the courtyard space that literally made us feel we were whisked away to an enchanted garden in the middle of Italy,” says Sade. “We avoided tall centerpieces & an oversized sweetheart backdrop.” Underneath ample string lights, guest tables were bedecked with gold-rimmed glassware, white chargers and blush linens—long tables featured verdant, live runners with yellow, pink, coral and ivory blooms. In contrast, round tables displayed medium-height arrangements with a textured look. “We opted for two pillars on either side of the sweetheart table wrapped in greenery and florals, with floral arrangements in the front of the table.”

“The full circle moment was having my husband tell me “I can’t believe this is our wedding” at the end of the night,” the bride smiles. “It was no easy task getting him to understand all the details and decisions that were made along the way, but knowing that he was just as happy with the end result as I was, made it all worth it!”