Sara & Andrew

Sara wanted 'an Italian film.' Andrew wanted 'somewhere quiet enough to hear the lake.' Villa Pizzo gave us both — a private water entrance, a botanical garden of camphor trees, and Como's mirror surface as the backdrop.

Guests arrived by wooden Riva boats from Bellagio at six. Aperitivo on the lawn at the water's edge. The civil ceremony was held beneath antique stone arches; vows were exchanged in two languages.

Dinner was long, lazy and floral — white roses spilling from antique silver, olive branches running the length of the table. At midnight, gelato carts were rolled out, and the guests sat barefoot on the marble steps as the lake fell still.