Olivia & Tom’s Italian Fairytale Wedding on Lake Iseo
There are destination weddings, and then there are weddings that feel as though they belong in a film. For our beautiful bride Olivia and her husband Tom, their wedding in Italy was exactly that.
Set within a breathtaking castle overlooking Lake Iseo, Italy, their celebration brought together panoramic lake views, olive trees, timeless white florals and 55 of their closest family and friends for an unforgettable three-day Italian wedding.
And, of course, there was Olivia’s incredible Rosa Clará wedding dress, a gown she had fallen in love with months before she ever stepped through our doors at Annabel Sarah Bridal.
A Surprise Proposal in Malaysia
Olivia and Tom’s story began its next chapter thousands of miles away from their eventual Italian wedding venue.
The couple were travelling in Malaysia to celebrate Olivia’s 30th birthday and Tom’s 35th birthday, with both of their mums joining them for the trip.
On Olivia’s birthday, Tom had arranged a special dinner on a private beach on the island where they were staying. During dinner, he suggested they take a walk together along the shoreline.
As they walked along the beach, Olivia spotted an area beautifully decorated with flowers and fairy lights. Written in the sand were the words:
“Will you marry me?”
Tom got down on one knee and proposed.
For Olivia, it was a complete surprise.
Overwhelmed with emotion, she spent most of the proposal crying and could barely manage to say yes! Afterwards, their mums joined them to celebrate with champagne.
It was the beginning of a wedding journey that would eventually take them to one of the most beautiful corners of Italy.
A Destination Wedding on Lake Iseo, Italy
Choosing Italy for their wedding wasn't simply about finding a beautiful destination.
Lake Iseo has been part of Olivia's life for as long as she can remember.
With family living in the area, Olivia has visited the lake every year of her life. When she eventually introduced Tom to this very special place, he fell in love with it too.
With its spectacular scenery, Italian culture and unmistakable charm, the couple knew it was where they wanted to get married.
Their venue, Castello Oldofredi, provided the most incredible setting for their romantic Italian castle wedding.
Surrounded by just 55 of their closest friends and family, Olivia and Tom exchanged vows against panoramic views across Lake Iseo.
Romantic, intimate and incredibly personal, it was everything a destination wedding should be.
More Than a Wedding Day: A Three-Day Italian Celebration
Rather than asking their guests to travel to Italy for a single day, Olivia and Tom turned their wedding into an entire weekend of celebrations.
On Friday evening, guests were welcomed with a traditional Italian pasta dinner and drinks — the perfect relaxed introduction to the weekend and an opportunity for everyone to spend time together before the wedding.
Saturday was the main event: Olivia and Tom's wedding day at Castello Oldofredi.
Then, on Sunday, the celebrations continued with a laid-back pool party and the opportunity for guests to explore the island.
It meant their wedding wasn't over in a matter of hours. Instead, they were able to enjoy several days surrounded by the people they loved most.
Olivia's Rosa Clará Wedding Dress
Long before Olivia started booking bridal appointments, she had already spotted one particular wedding dress online.
Around six months before she began visiting bridal boutiques, Olivia discovered a Rosa Clará wedding dress that stayed firmly in her mind.
She tried on several other beautiful wedding dresses and found gowns she loved, but there was one problem: she kept comparing every single one of them to that Rosa Clará gown.
When Olivia came to Annabel Sarah Bridal, we didn't have the exact dress in our collection.
But that wasn't going to stop us.
As specialists in Rosa Clará and the wider Rosa Clará Group, we were able to track down Olivia's dream wedding dress and arrange for it to be flown into our bridal boutique especially for her to try.
And the moment she finally put it on, everything fell into place.
Olivia fell in love with it all over again and knew instantly that she had found the one.
The Dress She Had Always Imagined
Olivia had a very clear idea of the details she loved in a wedding dress.
A beautiful square neckline, delicate lace detailing across the bodice, a more understated skirt and a spectacular long train were all part of her vision.
Finished with a long veil, her Rosa Clará gown gave her exactly the timeless, romantic bridal look she had imagined.
It also couldn't have been more perfect for an elegant Italian destination wedding.
The delicate lace against the historic architecture, the understated silhouette beside the lake and that incredible train and veil created a bridal look that felt sophisticated without competing with the beauty of the surroundings.
Olivia's seamstress ensured the finished gown fitted beautifully, while our role at Annabel Sarah Bridal was to make sure she had all the time and support she needed to feel completely confident in her decision.
Olivia visited us several times, trying her gown with different veils until she knew everything was exactly right.
In her words:
“Throughout the entire journey, Annabel and Sally were absolutely incredible. They were so supportive, patient and accommodating, allowing me to try the dress on multiple times and pair it with different veils until I was 100% sure of my choice.”
And one of the loveliest compliments we can receive?
Olivia has already recommended us to several of her friends.
Timeless Italian Wedding Styling
The styling of Olivia and Tom's Lake Iseo wedding was beautifully considered.
A neutral colour palette allowed the natural surroundings to remain the focus, with plenty of white and green florals complementing the lake, castle and surrounding Italian landscape.
The overall aesthetic was timeless, elegant and romantic.
Their ceremony took place with the lake providing an extraordinary natural backdrop, while their cake cutting also overlooked the water.
For their wedding breakfast, guests dined within a beautiful olive tree courtyard — a setting that could hardly have felt more Italian.
Rather than over-styling such an incredible venue, every detail worked with the surroundings.
A Boat Trip Around Lake Iseo
One of Olivia and Tom's favourite decisions was also one of the simplest.
Immediately after their ceremony, the newlyweds escaped for a boat trip around Lake Iseo.
Not only did it provide an incredible opportunity for their photographer and videographer to capture the couple against the spectacular scenery, but it also gave Olivia and Tom something even more valuable: time alone together.
After months of planning and the emotion of the ceremony, they had a chance to simply sit together, take everything in and realise they were finally married.
With the lake, Italian mountains and historic architecture surrounding them, the resulting moments perfectly captured the magic of their destination wedding.
Olivia's Advice for Future Brides
After planning her own destination wedding, Olivia's biggest piece of advice is to make a conscious effort to slow down and enjoy it.
Wedding days pass incredibly quickly, so she recommends being present and taking in the moments rather than constantly thinking about what happens next.
One tip she particularly recommends is setting aside 10 to 15 minutes immediately after your wedding ceremony for just the two of you.
Before greeting guests, photographs, dinner and celebrations take over, having those first few minutes alone as a married couple gives you the opportunity to pause and appreciate what has just happened.
Olivia also recommends starting your wedding planning early.
Giving yourself plenty of time means fewer rushed decisions and more opportunity to actually enjoy the experience.
And perhaps most importantly, don't focus solely on the wedding day.
The dress shopping, planning, celebrations, excitement and anticipation are all part of your wedding story too.
Planning Your Own Bridal Journey?
Olivia's story is also the perfect reminder that your dream wedding dress doesn't necessarily have to be hanging on the rail when you first visit us.
At Annabel Sarah Bridal, we specialise in an extensive selection of Rosa Clará Group wedding dresses, with collections designed in Barcelona and bridal styles ranging from modern minimalist gowns to lace, fitted, A-line, couture and statement wedding dresses.
And if you've fallen in love with a particular Rosa Clará style that we don't currently have in the boutique, just like Olivia did, it may still be possible for us to source the gown for you to try.
Our private bridal appointments in Alcester, Warwickshire, give you exclusive use of our bridal boutique, plenty of time to explore different styles and a relaxed, pressure-free environment in which to find the dress that feels completely you.
Whether you're planning an intimate UK celebration, a destination wedding in Italy, or your own three-day wedding adventure somewhere further afield, we'd love to be a small part of your story.
Congratulations Olivia & Tom. What an absolutely beautiful beginning to married life.
Olivia & Tom's Wedding Suppliers
Venue: Castello Oldofredi — @castellooldofredi
Hair & Makeup: Alessandra Villamua — @alessandravillamua
Wedding Dress & Veil: Annabel Sarah Bridal — @annabelsarahbridal
Photographer & Videographer: Storybox Films UK — @storyboxfilmsuk
Flowers: Petali d'Alice — @petalidalice
Music: La Classe Degli Asini — @laclassedegliasini
Wedding Dress Alterations: MD Bridal Alterations — @md_bridal_alterations
Comments