Daisy & Ciaran got married in Italy. A beautiful, tranquil and medieval village called Orta San Giulio, which sits on the edge of Lake Orta, about an hour north of Milan. It’s a minor star in the constellation of subalpine lakes, but has all the fascination and history of Italy’s larger lakes, all tucked into the smallest narrow spaces!
I arrived late on the Friday night having travelled from London to be there for the big day. I didn’t get to see much of the journey from the airport as it was dark by then, but as the roads became narrower and narrower, I was sure our car wouldn’t fit through the streets. As we slowly drove through the narrowest road ever, we turned a sharp corner and into the old rustic Piazza. I knew I’d arrived in the right place as Ciaran and Daisy with their friends and family were still up drinking wine out under the stars giving this sleepy town a whisper of excitement.
It had been raining all week so hopes were up for a sunny day on Saturday, and we weren’t let down! The ceremony wasn’t until 4pm so with plenty of time to look around the area and prepare my kit. So I headed out for pizza and a wander around the square with Daisy and Ciaran to check out suitable locations for portrait shots, as if I even needed to. Practically every inch of this place had a photo opportunity just waiting to happen. Tiny ally ways leading to the lake, which incidently has an island in the middle (which is also called Isola San Giulio). Tiny pizzerias, wine bars, winding steps, beautiful rich coloured wonky buildings and the jetty’s by the lake all made for this James Bond film like setting!
I met Daisy for a few prep shots at her hotel room which had the best bath ever!, then made my way down to the grounds outside the Town Hall – ‘Villa Bossi’, (a beautiful medieval building built in 1500, with gardens leading to the lake). Ciaran was nervously waiting and guests were arriving, along with a few tourists wondering what was going on! Daisy looked stunning in her slim-line dress adorned with grey and cream sequins and was walked down the aisle by her grandpa. The couple seemed to giggle their way through the ceremony too, which was in both English and Italian, so somewhat confusing in parts!
After group shots by the lake, guests enjoyed drinks and canapés in the gardens of Hotel San Rocco whilst the new Mr & Mrs Kinsella and I went for some portrait shots around the village. Dinner, speeches and dancing followed as the sun went down over the mountains in the distance – casting a wonderful warm golden light across the lake for me to relish in.
I was truly blown away with the sheer beauty of this wedding. The location was exquisite, the weather and the light were both perfect, the bride was beautiful, the groom was a true gent and all their friends and family really made me feel so welcome. This was the perfect way to end my wedding season of summer 2014. I can’t wait to re-visit Lake Orta some day
Thank you Daisy and Ciaran, it was a real honour to be a part of your day. Congratulations to you both.
