Real Weddings
A Quiet Kind of Love, Lake Como
Photos by Greg Finck.
On the shores of Lake Como, Yuri and Dev chose to celebrate in a way that felt quietly personal, with just 50 guests gathered for a weekend that unfolded at its own pace. Set against the timeless backdrop of Villa Balbiano, the atmosphere leaned into a soft, old-world elegance, where candlelight, rich florals, and long tables created a sense of warmth and ease.
Our Story
Name / Yuri & Dev
Location / Lake Como, Italy (ceremony at Villa Balbiano, with the wider experience connected to Villa d’Este
Wedding Date: Not specified
Guest Count: 50
Budget: Not mentioned
How did you and your husband first meet?
Dev and I met online, like most people these days. His username was spiritual gangster, and I remember thinking this could be the start of something amazing or a total disaster. Luckily it was amazing.
Tell us a little about your proposal story.
Dev proposed in January 2024 while we were in Bali, which has always felt significant to us. He likes to say he met me just a week after coming back from a trip there, so it’s always stayed with us in a way. He planned a sunset picnic at Amandari, with candles, lush greenery, and the sky turning soft shades of pink and purple. It was simple, intimate, and exactly us.
What do you love most about eachother?
There’s something about Dev that I can’t quite put into words, I just love him. He’s incredibly smart and curious, and so naturally generous in the way he moves through the world. He notices the small details most people overlook and cares deeply about the people and things that matter to him. He always says he loves my obsessive tendencies and attention to detail, which makes me feel really seen. I love how he carries himself with a quiet confidence. Being with him just feels easy in the best, most natural way.
Decor
How would you describe the aesthetic you chose for the wedding?
I wouldn’t say I leaned into a specific aesthetic. I actually tried to steer clear of trends. It was more about capturing a feeling. Being in Lake Como naturally brought that to life, and everything seemed to grow organically from there. I wanted the wedding to feel deeply romantic, with an old world sense of elegance, class, and refinement. We focused on timeless details, soft textures, and a sense of understated luxury, nothing that felt overdone, just thoughtful elements that complemented the setting. It was important that everything felt authentic to the environment and to us, creating an atmosphere that was both intimate and effortlessly beautiful.
Wedding Planner
I first came across Oana when I saw a wedding she had planned for another bride, and I was immediately impressed by her work. We hopped on a call, and right away I felt completely confident, like I was in the hands of someone who truly knows what she is doing. I turned to my husband and said, “This is our wedding planner, indefinitely”. From that moment, I knew she was the one to bring our vision to life perfectly.
I worked with Oana, who planned my wedding flawlessly and made the whole process feel completely effortless. Her creativity, attention to detail, and ability to bring our vision to life went beyond anything I could have imagined.
Photo & Video
I left the choice of our photographer and videographer to Oana, which is one of her true superpowers. She instinctively knows how to guide you to the right vendors to bring your vision to life. Greg Finck is a phenomenal photographer whose work speaks for itself, timeless and effortless, capturing quiet, candid moments you barely notice yet will always remember. Cordes Studio, an incredible couple, creates videography that tells the story of the day with elegance and heart. They instantly understood the romantic, refined mood I wanted and brought it to life even more beautifully than I could have imagined.
Did you work with a stylist?
Yes, I collaborated with Torrin Gouskos, a stylist based in New York City, on my wedding week looks. I had a very clear idea of what I wanted, and Torrin understood it immediately. Together, we refined each look and accessory so everything felt cohesive, chic, and effortlessly cool. Her eye for detail made every fi nal touch feel truly special.
As a fashion-obsessed girl, bridal shopping was a year-long adventure. I explored countless stores across New York City on my own, including curated bridal boutiques and incredible vintage shops, which felt like bridal shopping heaven. Torrin joined me for many of these visits, offering guidance and helping me refine choices, but I loved navigating it myself. It was during this process that I found my dinner reception dress, and discovering so many options made selecting the perfect pieces for each moment feel even more special.
Concept and Floral Design
Floral Design
I wanted a fall palette that felt rich and romantic. The deep burgundy reds contrasted beautifully with the lush backdrop of Villa Balbiano. The tablescape needed to evoke a feeling of abundance, overflowing with blooms, silver candelabras, flickering candles, and clusters of green grapes, like an old-world Italian feast. The Lake Como Florist brought that vision to life beautifully, layering every detail so it felt effortlessly lavish yet intimate. The result was exactly what I had imagined, warm, lush, dramatic, and undeniably chic.
Can you tell us more about your unique choice of favours to your guests?
Yes, I’ve always loved the small details that make staying in a beautiful hotel feel special, and Villa d’Este has always stood out to me in that way. I wanted to recreate that feeling for our guests throughout the weekend. Each night, there was a little surprise waiting for them. After aperitivo on the first night, I left cigars for the men and a Charlotte Tilbury lipstick trio set for the ladies, along with a note hinting at what was to come. The second night, I left custom Lago di Como caps for the men and silk scarves for the women, giving them a playful clue about the wedding day while still keeping the venue a secret. Every time guests returned to their rooms, there was something to discover, which made it such a fun and personal way to build anticipation and make everyone feel part of the experience.
How did you decide on your wedding cake?
I was initially inspired by a Schiaparelli dress I saw on the runway, which I believe Ariana Grande later wore to the Met Gala. I was drawn to its sculptural, almost surreal femininity, and from there the idea of a Roman bust felt like a natural evolution, something timeless yet unexpected. I didn’t want a traditional cake, I wanted it to feel like a piece of art, almost as if it belonged in a gallery. We kept the palette soft and tonal, and styled it with cascading grapes to bring in that old world Italian sensibility. Flavor wise, we kept it classic and indulgent, elevated but familiar, so it balanced the statement look with something guests would genuinely love to eat.
Food and Drinks
A few words about the food and drinks, what did you serve, and how did you choose it?
Food and wine were such an important part of the weekend. Since Dev and I made these choices together, we wanted to lean fully into authentic Italian cuisine that was generous, flavorful, and memorable. Our welcome party featured perfectly grilled Bistecca Florentinas that set the tone for the weekend. Cocktail hour included Negroni Sbagliatos as the cocktail of choice, with stations of freshly sliced prosciutto and wood oven pizzas keeping everyone grazing and sipping. On the wedding day, we served multiple pasta courses, including caviar Spaghettoni and rich paccheri that everyone raved about. Everything felt indulgent, warm, and effortlessly Italian, exactly the way we wanted our guests to experience the weekend.
What vendors or creatives did you collaborate with and love working with?
We collaborated with many vendors who truly made our wedding feel so special. One that really stands out to me was having a content creator, Eli was amazing. If there’s one thing I would recommend to any bride, it’s having someone dedicated to capturing those in-between, tender moments. She has such a natural eye for it and documented everything so beautifully.
Details
What heels or shoes did you wear?
I ended up wearing quite a few pairs throughout the weekend. I’ve always loved heels and see them as a way to bring a different energy to each moment. For aperitivo, I wore the tulip heels from Cult Gaia, which felt playful and sculptural. For the welcome party, I changed into a strappy René Caovilla pair that felt a bit more dressed up. The morning of the wedding, I slipped into blue satin Manolo Blahniks, which felt like such a classic bridal moment, and for the ceremony, I chose ivory Amina Muaddi slingbacks, clean, sharp, and timeless.
A few words about the hair and makeup- the looks you went for and how it felt.
Hair and makeup were something I thought a lot about going into the weekend, so working with Studio Como felt really collaborative from the start. I shared inspiration boards and my wedding lookbook, and Daniella and Camila helped shape each look in a way that felt natural and true to me.
For aperitivo, we went with a soft French twist with a side part that felt polished but still effortless, paired with fresh, glowy, skin-focused makeup. The overall look felt light, romantic, and just a little elevated, and worked so well with the outdoor setting.
For the welcome party, I wanted something with more edge, so we did a slicked-back, almost wet look that felt very Bond girl, with a smoky eye and nude lip, still keeping the skin really clean and luminous so it didn’t feel too heavy.
On the wedding day, we shifted into something more timeless with soft old Hollywood waves and a deep part. With my shorter bob, it read very chic and intentional, almost like a modern take on a classic look. The makeup was more refi ned and slightly more minimal than the other days, with an emphasis on skin, soft defi nition, and a natural glow. It all felt cohesive but still distinct for each moment, and I felt completely like myself throughout.
How would you describe your husbands outfit/ style on the wedding day?
I would describe Dev’s style on the wedding day as classic. He’s naturally very refined and always knows what works for him, so everything felt very effortless. He wore a custom Michael Andrews suit with patent Louboutins, a bow tie, and a Tiffany blue Patek Philippe. It all came together in a way that felt timeless and very him.
Honeymoon
We actually went on our honeymoon about a month after the wedding, and both had the same feeling, we weren’t done with Italy. Our friends always joke we’re practically citizens at this point. We wanted somewhere quiet and removed, and Castello di Reschio in Umbria felt like the perfect escape. It’s this beautifully restored thousand-year-old castle, incredibly private, with a kind of understated luxury that feels very rare. Everything is so considered, from the interiors to the landscape. We spent our days drinking coffee, reading, truffle hunting, and just settling into that slower pace, it was exactly what we needed.
Entertainment
Each part of the weekend had its own sound and feeling. For the welcome party, Mario from Villa d’Este played piano alongside a singer, and it felt transportive, like an old New York supper club reimagined on the Italian coast. The wedding day began in a much more delicate place, with harp and violin guiding the ceremony and cocktail hour. It was soft, romantic, almost dreamlike. Then, as guests sat down for dinner, the Gypsy Queens arrived and completely shifted the atmosphere. They were vibrant and immersive, and suddenly the energy expanded, with guests laughing, singing, and dancing in their seats under the open sky. By the afterparty, the formality had melted away, and DJ Craig from ALR Music took over with a set full of early 2000s hip hop and crowd favorites, carrying the energy through the rest of the night.
During our first night, “Aperitivo a Lago,” a live painter joined us, arranged by our wedding planner, Oana. She spent the evening creating delicate watercolor portraits of our guests in real time, and people loved watching her work unfold. By the end of the night, guests could take their portraits home, leaving them with a beautiful and personal keepsake from the evening.
Our Advice
My advice would be to find a great wedding planner, have a clear idea of your guest count, and trust your instincts. At the end of the day, it really should be about the two of you and the celebration you want to share together.
