Virginia and Federico married in July in Piedmont in Italy, with their ceremony held at The Santuario della Madonna del Lago and their reception at Castello di Torre Ratti, which also happens to be the groom’s breathtakingly beautiful family home. Their close friend Isotta Fanfani planned and coordinated the wedding from Italy, bringing everything together on the ground as guests travelled in from different countries to be there.
The couple first met in 2008 at a sailing school in Sardinia and remained close for years before their relationship blossomed in 2020. By the time they married, they had known each other for seventeen years.
Florals were by Oltre Il Giardino, arranged for the ceremony and reception, then reworked for brunch the following day so everything could be used again. A vintage car belonging to Federico’s family, once raced by his grandparents in the Paris Dakar, also played a special role on the day.
Virginia’s chic and minimalist look was Cortana – she discovered her gown at Le Fate Atelier in Milan, where she was provided with ample time to try each option without pressure and chose a dress that prioritised movement and ease. She paired it with a silk Coftana veil embroidered with small stars and a sheer top inspired by 1930’s evening wear.
Wonderfully talented and Love My Dress recommended photographer, Stefano Santucci, documented the day using analogue photography, in his signature effortless and entirely unobtrusive style. We absolutely adore Stefano’s work and it is an incredible pleasure to be able to share it here once again. Enjoy!
Discover Talent
You’ll find only the best, most talented suppliers, vendors and exclusive hire venues in our directory listings. Create an account to save your favourites.
A shared nostalgia for past eras has always connected us. We are drawn to history, aesthetics, and places that feel layered with time. We wanted our wedding to feel playful and a little chaotic, bucolic yet elegant, with a strong sense of warmth and intimacy. Above all, we wanted it to feel lived-in and joyful, not overly polished.
Explore Our Shop
Create a user account to save all your fave shop items to your own personal dashboard. New brands and items are added to our shop every week.
I also wore a veil by Cortana. It was a simple silk veil, delicately embroidered with small stars. I loved that it felt subtle and poetic rather than traditional, adding a sense of character and nostalgia without overpowering the rest of my look. The veil and sheer top were the most significant elements, alongside personal jewellery pieces.
The veil and sheer top were the most significant elements, alongside personal jewellery pieces.Hair and make-up ws by Angelo Nenna Pintor, who created a look that felt natural and true to me.
Federico was accompanied by his mother, and I was accompanied by my father to the ceremony, which was officiated by a priest at the church.
It was minimalist, fluid and chosen with the idea that she could wear it again in the future. She added a touch of character with a beautiful silk veil embroidered with stars and a sheer turtleneck top inspired by 1930s evening dresses.
Photography
We chose Stefano Santucci because of his use of analog photography and his unique way of working with light and colour. His images feel gentle, nostalgic and poetic, never forced.
On the day, he was incredibly discreet and kind, almost invisible, yet he captured every meaningful moment.
If you love natural, mostly unposed photography with a strong emotional depth, he is an absolute must-hire.
We had a vintage car that belonged to Federico’s family. It holds a very special meaning for us, as Federico’s grandparents once raced it in the Paris–Dakar. Having it present on the day felt like a quiet tribute to family history, passion and continuity, and it fitted naturally into the atmosphere of the celebration rather than feeling like a styled prop.
We met in 2008 at a sailing school in Sardinia and quickly became best friends. We grew up together through our adult lives, sharing experiences, values and passions. In 2020, our friendship naturally turned into a romantic adventure and we never looked back. By the time we married, we had known each other for seventeen years.
The Reception
Flowers were by Oltre Il Giardino. We loved their sensitivity and creativity. They understood our vision immediately and even reorganised the flowers from the dinner tables into a new setup for the following day’s brunch, allowing everything to be reused and enjoyed again.
Our catering and cake was provided by by Rovida Signorelli, with an unmistakably Italian focus on quality and generosity. Our cake was simple, beautiful and delicious – exactly what we wanted.
We loved bringing all our friends and family together in one place, from so many different chapters of our lives and countries. Seeing everyone reconnect and celebrate together was incredibly moving.
Notes From The Wedding Planner
The couple’s friend, Isotta Fanfani
Federico and Virginia wanted a celebration that felt deeply personal, informal and full of meaning rather than overly styled.
The design of the day was guided by their shared love for nostalgia, history and authenticity, with the aim of creating an atmosphere that felt lived-in, warm and joyful.
The setting itself, Federico’s family home, played a central role in shaping the aesthetic. Rather than imposing a concept, we worked with what was already there: the architecture, the garden, the natural flow of the spaces and the emotional weight the place already carried for the family.
Everything was designed to feel effortless and spontaneous, allowing guests to move freely and feel at ease.
Florals were intentionally natural and abundant, with a soft, organic feel, enhancing the spaces without overpowering them. Details were chosen with care but never to feel precious or untouchable.
The focus was always on people, connection and celebration, leaving room for the day to unfold naturally and imperfectly, which is exactly where its beauty lay.
Above all, this was a wedding designed to be enjoyed. Nothing was meant to feel staged, and every choice was made to support a sense of ease, presence and shared joy.
We loved bringing all our friends and family together in one place, from so many different chapters of our lives and countries. Seeing everyone reconnect and celebrate together was incredibly moving.
Words of Wedded Wisdom
We would have reminded ourselves even more to slow down and fully live every moment. The day truly flies by.
Ask for help and don’t try to do everything yourselves. Let go of small details and focus on being present. What stays with you is the feeling, not perfection.
Save this wedding to your favourites
Create a user account save all your favourite content to your own personal dashboard
Register here, it will only take a few moments – you’ll then be able to save all your favourite Love My Dress content, including real weddings, shop items, ceremony readings, inspirational editorials and recommended supplier / vendor and venue listings. Enjoy!
x
