A Lakefront Celebration with Old-World Glamour at Villa San Vigilio
Photographed by Esme Film & Photography
There’s something inherently cinematic about arriving by boat—and for Nina and Connor’s wedding on the shores of Lake Garda, that moment set the tone for the day. Guests glided across the water to reach Villa San Vigilio, a historic estate that seems suspended in time, where the couple would exchange vows overlooking the lake’s silvery expanse.
The morning began quietly in Torri del Benaco, a quaint coastal town just across the water. Nina and Connor each prepared in private villas, surrounded by calm anticipation before their lake crossing. “The day began quietly,” said the photographer Esme Film & Photography, “with each of them getting ready at private villas <…> before making their way to the iconic Villa San Vigilio—by boat, of course.” The bride’s arrival was a moment of serene beauty, her veil catching the breeze as she stepped onto the shore.
Their ceremony took place in a grassy garden above the lake, framed by stone walls and soft floral installations in apricot, blush, and cream. The aisle, flanked by family and friends, offered a view as memorable as the vows themselves. Afterward, the newlyweds took a private boat ride together, a moment to breathe in the joy of it all while guests gathered in the villa’s tiered gardens for aperitivo.
As evening settled in, dinner was served in the villa’s inner courtyard, where a long table stretched beneath crystal chandeliers. Candlelight, textured linens, and a gentle palette of pastel florals created an atmosphere that felt refined yet intimate. “Dinner was served under the stars,” said the photographer. “Round tables, chandeliers, and soft candlelight transformed the setting into a timeless dreamscape.”
The celebration carried on into the night, with cake-cutting beneath fireworks and the kind of joy that doesn’t need words. Every detail of the day was shaped by Monica Jardine of Lovely Weddings Italy, whose subtle, thoughtful planning allowed the setting—and the couple—to shine. “She curated every detail with effortless sophistication,” shared the photographer. The result? A wedding that felt less like a production and more like a love story unfolding in real time.
Wedding team
PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY: @esme.filmandphotography
VENUE: @villasanvigilio
PLANNING: @monicajardineweddings @lovelyweddingsitaly
FLOWER DESIGN: @chiaraspertifloralevents
BEAUTY: @goncharova_muah
LIGHTING & AUDIO: @pagani_service
APERITIVI MUSIC: @lotustrio.official
BAND: @puppetsbanditaly
BAR SERVICE: @bartenders.it
BOAT TRANSFERS: @garda.tours
PRIVATE TRANSFERS: @xtransfer_ncc
LIVE PAINTER: @alexpiraspaintings