A Whimsical Wedding at Lake Garda

Playful palettes, lavish floral arrangements, and an aisle brimming with untamed foliage framed Carol and Nick’s wedding day with a sense of enchanted wonder. The elegant couple – she with Arab roots, he of Irish heritage – transformed their love story and celebrations into a deeply personal endeavor.

In the Chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore, near Italy’s Lake Garda, they exchanged vows beneath the church’s celestial dome. Surrounded by wild trees and grasses that lent an atmosphere of earthy grandeur.

The celebration continued under forested canopies, where guests dined at an ethereal, candlelit table. Overflowing with wild florals, seasonal fruits, and vintage accents, the setting was as dramatic as it was intimate.

Thoughtful details elevated the occasion: hand-painted stationery in elegant scrolling script, a champagne tower in lieu of a cake, and the bride’s corseted Vivienne Westwood gown — all modern flourishes that honored the timeless beauty of Convento dell’Annunciata.

Our Story

Names / Carol Ghannam and Nicholas Drapac

Location / Lake Garda, Italy

Wedding Date / 5th July 2024

Guest Numbers / 105

Budget / Not disclosed

How We Met

We met whilst we both lived in New York at an Australian Christmas Party! After a night spent chatting on the fire escape, Nick slipped into my DMs soon after. From that point on, we were inseparable.

Our Engagement Story

We were in Croatia (where Nick is originally from) and had spent the day hopping around vineyards and swimming in the lakes. We ended the day by taking a small fisherman’s boat to a nearby island and Nick proposed in front of a beautiful sunset on the beach.

The Setting

Wedding Location

The ceremony itself was at Chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore in the small lake town of Sirmione, Italy. We really wanted to get married in a church, especially because my family is quite religious but knew it would be difficult as there are certain rules and documentation requirements but we managed to figure it out. The church was so beautiful and ethereal and we loved that it was in the middle of a busy Italian town.

Our reception took place at Convento dell’Annunciata, a 15th-century Italian convent nestled within a lush forest. We fell in love with the venue as soon as we saw it. We wanted something naturally beautiful, historic and somewhere with lots of different areas to keep our guests entertained and excited. The dinner was set on a long dramatic table in the forest with lots of candles, weird and wonderful flowers, fruits and vegetables and ornaments. Then back to the Convento for dancing, where we transformed the space with a disco ball and cocktail bar to dance the night away.

We chose Lake Garda because we wanted something a bit different and we love the North of Italy. It was important for us that we didn’t host the whole weekend in one venue. Across the weekend we showcased different parts of the lake through different activities like a welcome boat tour for some culture, followed by a welcome party in a local vineyard with a traditional Italian folk band and homemade lasagne.

Aesthetic

We have a deep love for antiques and envisioned a charming vintage vibe with a fresh, modern summer twist that still felt warm and inviting. For the dinner setting, we wanted the table to blend seamlessly with the lush surroundings, incorporating abundant greenery and natural textures. It was essential that no two parts of the table looked alike, giving it a beautifully handpicked feel where no detail was overlooked.

Preparation

I got ready in an apartment near the church with my bridesmaids and mother. Before the ceremony, I wrote individual letters to each of my bridesmaids, along with a few small gifts. I bought them matching pyjamas from Damson Madder and a Diptyque perfume – which also became the signature scent of the wedding.

Photography

Editorial and romantic. We chose the talented Nicoletta Subitoni as our photographer, drawn to her beautifully styled approach from the start. After an initial call, we hit it off immediately. Having a photographer you connect with is so important, as you spend so much time together on the day and want to feel at ease. We wanted our photos to feel natural, not overly staged – especially since we both dislike posing and didn’t want to be away from our guests for too long.

“We really wanted it to be something our guests had never seen before, but something that felt authentically us.”

Style Notes

Ceremony Décor

The church itself was a vision. For that reason, we kept the décor minimal, opting for wild trees and grasses with a few flowers delicately intertwined.

Reception Décor

There were gorgeous vintage ornaments along the table. Candles of all shapes and sizes in both brass and silver, flowers that varied depending on where you were seated, and finishing touches of fruits and vegetables created a rich, layered display. We really wanted it to be something our guests had never seen before, but something that felt authentically us. We love to host dinner parties so wanted it to feel like one big dinner party. As the evening went on, and the sun went down, it created the most romantic intimate atmosphere. Pure magic.

Wedding Planner & Stylist

Danila Stella was our wedding planner, based in Italy which was a must given the language barriers. Danila was great and pulling everything together and no request was too much for her. The day went completely to plan and that was down to Danila.

Flowers

I wasn’t too particular about the florals, as long as they felt wild and wonderful. For the ceremony, we kept bouquets green and white for simplicity and the boutonierres had rosemary in them to reflect Nick’s Croatian tradition.

Stationery

We had Elsa Gladstone design all of our stationery which was one of my favourite parts of the process. All of the designs were handpainted and it really gave a personal touch to the weekend.

Food & Beverages

We had an Aperitivo with lots of live stations such as a pasta bar and a live steak station which was a hit. Dinner was a three course seafood affair to keep it light ahead of the party, and dessert was an array of Italian classics paired with an Affogato stand. Drinks were crucial to us, so we had Quality Drinks as the bar caterers who had margaritas waiting for us as we entered the dancefloor. The cocktails were delicious – we were so pleased we made that choice.

Fashion & Beauty Notes

Bride’s Dress & Shoes

Vivienne Westwood dress with Jimmy Choo shoes (albeit had to change into some Gucci platforms).

Bridesmaids Dresses & Shoes

All the bridesmaids dresses were different – they chose their own based on what they felt comfortable in with a few different colours.

Groom’s Attire

Nick’s tuxedo was made by one of his groomsmen, Jake Grantham of Anglo-Italian.

The Details

Entertainment

Entertainment was, without a doubt, the most important part for us. During the ceremony, a soprano singer performed Ave Maria as I walked down the aisle, adding to the ethereal atmosphere. She was accompanied by Cadena Strings, a string trio that also played during Aperitivo hour, switching to modern songs. It felt very Bridgerton!

As guests entered for dinner, they were welcomed by Brendan Mills on saxophone and Jamie Johnson on vocals. They played romantic classics through the meal, but by the end of dinner, everyone was standing on their chairs, singing along, and ready for the after-party.

Being Arabic, I wanted to surprise our guests, so we had a belly dancer arrive during dinner to lead us to the champagne tower. Later, we danced the night away with Brendan DJing, backed by Jamie’s incredible voice.

We enjoyed a mix of our favourite genres – disco, soul, pop, Latin, and Arabic music. We stayed on the dance floor all night, and having the bar nearby kept everyone else there, too!

Our Advice

If I could give other couples one piece of advice…

Guests feed off of your energy, so if you are having a great time, they will be having a great time, but remember it’s just about you two.

Our Contacts

Wedding Venue / Chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore & Convento dell’Annunciata

Wedding Stylist & Planner / Danila Stella Events

Photography / Nicoletta Subitoni

Videography / Alessandro Pentenè

Bride’s Dress / Vivienne Westwood

Bride’s Shoes / Jimmy Choo & Gucci

Makeup & Hair /Anna Vereta

Stationery / Elsa Gladstone

Florist / Fluida Design

Catering / Scotti Ricevimenti & Quality Events

Lighting / Croval Service

Fabrics / Tessuti Raponi