A Pastel "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" Wedding in Italy's Picturesque Lake Garda Region
If Megan and Christopher aren’t “somewhere over the rainbow,” you’re most likely to find the happy couple at the same hospital where they work. Having met their first week of medical school, they’ve been “inseparable” ever since, the couple says. Both are emergency medicine doctors and began their residencies at the start of the pandemic, and are still co-workers today. “Megan has always loved The Wizard of Oz, and is especially enchanted by hot air balloons. Naturally, Chris had to propose on one, overlooking the desert of New Mexico,” the couple adds of their intimate, memorable proposal.
Judy Garland’s words from the iconic movie carried over into their wedding aesthetic, with Christopher and Megan landing on Italy as their location. The New Yorkers originally wanted something closer to home, but the idea of a getaway for their wedding became more enticing, especially after a call with their wedding designer, Nicole Bono. And soon, they were planning a destination wedding in Italy. “We both had a connection to Italy from our heritage and also have a love of family tradition and togetherness,” Megan says. “We immediately fell in love with a beautiful villa called Villa Arcadio in the charming town of Salo, overlooking the breathtaking mountains and stunning waters of Lake Garda.”
With an unforgettable venue spot now secured, the two (along with their Italian vendors) set to work on crafting a memorable “never-ending party” for themselves and their loved ones. Planning a wedding abroad involved a lot of collaboration, from custom invitations to fall florals that seamlessly fit into the hillside villa. The couple even booked the entire villa for the weekend to give the space a homey feel throughout the events. Wanting to highlight northern Italy’s culture, they kicked off the celebrations on that first night with “a welcome dinner at a vineyard with a luxury cottage feel covered in floral pinks to go with the Rosé they are famous for,” Megan says. What followed was “a colorful shoreside beach party where guests were all asked to wear white in order to unify the group, with a rainbow balloon arch and beach ball hot air balloons adding a color pop and personal touch,” the bride adds.
And finally, the wedding day itself. Though “somewhere over the rainbow” was part of the theming, the colors took on a pastel shade for a more delicate look, rather than the typical rainbow hues. Tobia Girardi, their florist, elevated the naturally green grounds with mixes of lavender, yellow, pink and orange through gladiolus, roses, dahlias and other autumnal blooms. Megan says, “We wanted everything to feel natural, as if it had been grown on the grounds. We were married just above the olive grove, surrounded by pomegranate and fig trees, lush vegetation and beautiful natural flowers, and so we complemented that with an alcove of florals that appeared as though they had been planted.” This display complemented the waterfront views of Lake Garda, the nearby mountains and the architecture of the centuries-old villa.
Even the decor took inspiration from the fruit trees, with centerpieces of fresh citrus (a local favorite), grapes and peaches amidst the candles and florals. But before guests dined at the one long dining table beneath the stars, Megan and Christopher’s ceremony was first. The couple said “I do” outdoors at the Villa Arcadio with a grounded floral arch and loved ones in simple white chairs. “The ceremony itself was officiated by my first cousin, to make the moment even more special. The groom’s mother did a classic reading in Italian during the ceremony,” the bride says of unique, personal touches during the event.
The groom had also gone “full Italian” for his wedding day look, with a classic black tuxedo from the tailor Donati Abbigliamento in Perugia. The bride, however, brought a bit of New York to Italy with her gown, a custom number from Shareen Bridal that had an off-the-shoulder design and slightly flowy fit that she paired with a pearl veil. The bride even describes the local hair and makeup artist as her “fairy godmother” for the day, making sure Megan’s look was natural (while also helping to keep her fed during the busy day).
Even more speeches and traditions came through during the reception, with Megan’s grandmother reading a family heirloom prayer and her uncle reading a special poem. Tying back into creating a “home away from home” at the villa, the newlyweds left keepsakes at each place setting. “Each guest had a custom menu designed by our local Italian artist, Serena de Carolis, who created and hand-made all of our incredible stationery. And…we made sure to cover as many tables as possible with pictures of our families and friends,” says Megan. On these menus? A selection of local cuisine, like fresh seafood and risotto, as well as a few specialty cocktails.
Judy Garland even made a few appearances, once at the vintage phone guestbook station in the form of an old record, and again during the reception, where Megan sang a rendition of “That’s All.” As a classically trained singer, this was one of the more special moments of the day, according to the groom. Music played an important role throughout the reception, with live, local musicians, such as a guitarist duo and a live band that performed something to commemorate the wedding date. Megan says, “Of course, a September 21st wedding had to bring all the guests to their feet with Earth, Wind and Fire’s ‘September’ performed live… After all, we got married on the 21st night of September!”
Ending the incredible weekend of events, the couple’s closest friends and family enjoyed another Italian classic: late-night pizza. And a fireworks show in the night sky. The culmination of Christopher and Megan’s efforts for this unforgettable destination wedding required days of coordination with their team. “Executing something effortlessly takes much more work than you would think. For everything you see in its final form, there is a tremendous amount of logistical support behind the scenes,” the couple says, adding to any nearlweds, “If you have the resources, a wedding designer is worth prioritizing for so many reasons, the most paramount being peace of mind.”
Though the night ended with fireworks, closing the chapter on their wedding, to the newlyweds, this is just the start of their story. “We are proud to say that our dream came true of making a wedding event that was just as much about our family and friends as it was about us. We feel incredibly lucky every day that we were… surrounded with so much love and cannot wait to see what the future holds,” they say.