Would you believe us if we told you this was a REAL wedding? Prepare to be wowed as we take you on a journey through Tais and Gianluca gorgeous Italian wedding at the mesmerizing Crotto dei Platani on the shores of Lake Como. The bride absolutely stunned in two different romantic bridal looks, the couple arrived to their reception by boat, and their dreamy wedding dinner was held under trees filled with twinkling lights - I mean, does it get any better? Their Lake Como wedding is brimming with endless inspiration for those planning a wedding abroad, or perhaps a small intimate wedding celebration. Artfully photographed by One Fab Day recommended photographer Nice 2 Look, we can't wait to fill our Pinterest boards with all the gorgeous images from their day!

So, first things first, let's get to know our couple a little better, shall we? Bride Tais is Ukrainian and Groom & Gianluca is Italian. They met on a beach in Sardinia in August 2019. The pair are currently based in the City of Como in Italy.

The proposal happened while the couple were at home. The bride fills us in, "the proposal was at home, in the morning, on my twenty-sixth birthday! Gianluca attached a balloon to our little bunny Loki and on the bow was the little box with the ring". After having such an important role in the wedding proposal, Loki was also part of the morning preparations. How sweet!

The couple tied the knot in a civil ceremony at Lake Como in September 2023 with 30 of their nearest and dearest at the Comune di Cernobbio followed by a gorgeous sunset dinner by the water at Crotto dei Platani in Brienno. The lovebirds are planning a church wedding and larger wedding celebration in Sardinia in 2025.

The bride tells: "Our civil wedding was an intimate ceremony, with our relatives. Given the difficult situation that Ukraine is experiencing, it was a day of joy and hope. It was a magical day, the love of our family and our witnesses. The lake is the place where we chose to live and the sea was the place where we met, which is why we decided to have two ceremonies, one at the lake and one at the sea."

Tais looked incredible in her ceremony look which consisted of a gorgeous off-shoulder corset top and full skirt by Italian bridal label Atelier Emé. She completed her look with silver sparkle bridal flats by Steve Madden and accessories by Boite d’Or and Autore pearls.

After the ceremony, Tais and Gianluca along with their photographer Sergii from Nice 2 Look set sail on a classic wooden boat for their bridal portraits. The result? Utterly romantic photo memories to cherish forever.

The brides sweet bouquet consisted of roses, lisianthus, and fluffy aistilbe in shades of sugar plum, pink and cream.

Gianluca looked oh-so-suave in his Giorgio Armani suit while their bridesmaid wore an Alexander McQueen dress paired with YSL heels, and their groomsman donned an Alessandro Gilles suit.

When asked what made their venue Crotto dei Platani “the one” bride Tais says, " The intimacy of the place, the smell of the lake and the scent of nature were all perfect. The restaurant is on the lake so you can arrive by boat which added to the romance. Our banquet room was a “secret garden” all to ourselves with an imperial table where you can celebrate with the whole family. Gianluca’s family came from Sardinia while mine came from Ukraine."

For their lakeside portraits and cocktail hour, Tais swapped her full bridal skirt for a pair of tailored bridal trousers, before changing back into her skirted look for dinner and dancing.

When asked what made the day extra special to them, Tais says, "Having family next to us is the most precious thing we can have, the gratitude of having them next to us on such an important day."

She also adds, "There were two moments dedicated to our respective origins, Gianluca’s - Italian while mine - Ukrainian. As soon as we got off the boat, according to Italian tradition, the guests threw rice at us - a symbol of abundance and fertility, while during lunch the Ukrainian tradition dictates: After the vodka was drunk, “bitter” was shouted out loud, thus making it clear that the treat from the bride’s hands is excellent and has an exceptional flavor. It was believed that after a kiss the bitterness of the drink disappears and only pleasure remains."

Their dreamy reception under trees filled with twinkling lights complete with a lush florals and in shades of pink has us swooning!

As the couple are planning a bigger ceremony and wedding for 2025, they are keeping their first dance for that special day. However, the still made sure to cut their wedding cake and have a Champagne toast to remember their Civil Ceremony celebration!

And for words of wedded wisdom? The couple have this advice for other couples, "Definitely rely on a wedding planner! It was essential for us to enjoy the day in peace with no worries."

To that they also add, "Live every moment and have fun!". Here, here!

Congratulations and thank you Tais & Gianluca for sharing your gorgeous Lake Como wedding day with One Fab Day and to Nice 2 Look for the magnificent imagery. You can see even more in the gallery below.

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