A Poetic Wedding on Lake Garda

Surrounded by the stately grandeur of a historic villa on Lake Garda, Helena and Simon’s wedding unfurled with sculptural elegance. The couple, who share a love for both the Alps and the sea, chose the storied estate for its palatial architecture — where details like centuries-old statues emerging from the facade of a staircase and a lily pad fountain adorned the garden courtyard.

Helena, designer of BRUNA The Label, brought her signature refinement to every detail. The ceremony was flanked by two rows of white chairs and anchored by a partial circle installation of blush and ivory blooms.

For the reception, round tables overlooked the undulating surface of Lake Garda, covered in tonal florals, pale linens, and elevated details that honored the poetic softness of the landscape.

Lake Garda Weddings

Our Story

Names / Helena Maria Rupp and Simon Rupp

Location / Villa Bettoni, Lake Garda, Italy

Wedding Date / June 15th 2024

Guest Numbers / 100

Lake Garda Weddings

How We Met

We were introduced by friends during our time at university in Innsbruck.

Our Engagement Story

The proposal happened on the sunlit cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, surrounded by our closest family and the stunning Italian coastline. It became a moment we will always cherish.

What we love most about each other…

Helena about Simon: His calmness, loyalty, and the way his eyes are only for me.

Simon about Helena: Her loving nature, her humor, and how we understand each other without words.

Lake Garda Weddings

The Setting

Wedding Location

Lake Garda holds a special place in our hearts — not only because of our shared love for the Alps and the water, but also because it offered the perfect location for our guests traveling from all over the world. We are drawn to the Italian way of life: the incredible cuisine, the relaxed and joyful atmosphere, and the timeless beauty of the landscape and historic architecture.

Aesthetic

Timeless beauty that reflects a timeless love. For the overall aesthetic, we envisioned a romantic setting that blended tradition, thoughtful details, and elements with personal meaning. Over the years, I have designed many bridal collections for our jewelry brand, BRUNA The Label — and our wedding was a way to bring that vision to life in the most meaningful way.

Preparation

I got ready on my own with my amazing hair and makeup team, while Simon spent the morning with his groomsmen. One of my favorite moments was the first look with my dad, and then with my stunning bridesmaids — it felt just right. I was quite nervous that morning, so having a bit of quiet time to myself before sharing the excitement with them was exactly what I needed.

Photography

After selecting our main photographer, we had the incredible opportunity to also work with Melli, the lead photographer from EMÈS Weddings. Her raw, candid, documentary-style approach immediately resonated with us. Among the stunning portraits, Melli captured fleeting moments full of motion and emotion — each frame felt spontaneous and alive, holding a beautiful sense of surprise that we absolutely adored.

Videography

We had the pleasure of working with the incredibly talented Shayne from EMÈS Weddings. From our very first conversation, Shayne gave us the best feeling — warm, genuine, and completely in tune with our vision. When we received our video, we were moved to tears. It was intimate, elegant, and deeply personal. Shayne truly managed to bottle up the magic of our day in a way we’ll cherish forever. We couldn’t have imagined a better team to preserve our memories.

Lake Garda Weddings

Style Notes

Ceremony Décor

For the ceremony, we used one of the venue’s long balconies, arranging two rows of white chairs on each side, all facing the breathtaking view of Lake Garda. We kept the décor simple and elegant, focusing on a few carefully placed floral installations — two rose arrangements at the entrance and a stunning rose arch at the front that nearly formed a full circle. Our color palette featured soft, romantic tones of white, cream, blush, and touches of greenery, creating a timeless and serene atmosphere.

Reception Décor

The reception took place on the terrace of our wedding venue, overlooking dreamy Lake Garda — a truly magical setting. We chose round tables named after our favorite Italian cities, all styled in elegant white and cream tones, creating a timeless and romantic atmosphere.

Lake Garda Weddings

Wedding Planner & Stylist

We worked with the talented Katharina Landenberger, who had planned many beautiful weddings before and immediately matched our personal vision.

Flowers

For the florals, I was inspired by a timeless, elegant aesthetic with a touch of understated glamour. We chose blush roses in soft, neutral shades to create a romantic atmosphere. Throughout the ceremony and reception, we kept the arrangements cohesive — rose installations added a sense of harmony and sophistication without overwhelming the space.

Stationery

All our stationery was created by an Australian designer — from invitations to hand-painted signs and the wedding website. The talented Alex behind Xela Studio captured our aesthetic and vibe from the very first try.

Favors

We gave our guests our signature scented candles from our own brand, BRUNA The Label. Each fragrance evokes memories of French Polynesia — a place that has inspired us and holds a cherished place in our hearts. With every light, we hoped to share a little piece of that magic.

Cake

Our cake was a four-tiered dream, elegantly frosted in white and adorned with roses. Each layer featured a different flavor — pistachio, nougat, passion fruit, and strawberry with raspberry — creating the perfect mix for everyone.

Food & Beverages

We started with a classic Italian aperitif followed by a seated dinner. The food was authentically Italian, allowing our guests to enjoy every classic dish. We wanted to capture the essence of la dolce vita — and with the warm ambiance, incredible views, and joyful energy, it was perfect for us. We selected two wines from Lombardy as our signature wines for the day.

Fashion & Beauty Notes

Bride’s Dress & Shoes

After searching for the perfect dress all around the world, I found it at a bridal boutique in Vienna. It was a custom Rosa Clará dress, and with the support of the boutique, we personalized it to create my dream wedding dress.

The roses on my dress tell a personal story: three on the front for my siblings (L, M, and H), and one larger rose on the back for my husband Simon — my greatest love who always has my back. Roses have always had special meaning to me — not only because my mother’s name is Rosemary. Some of my earliest memories are of wandering through her garden, enchanted by their quiet beauty. These symbols came to life in the most timeless and elegant way. I will treasure it forever.

My second dress was a custom-made Aston Bridal gown that was perfect for the evening — and especially for dancing.

Bridesmaids’ Dress & Shoes

For my bridesmaids, I chose dresses from Héxié Studio, an Australian brand whose aesthetic perfectly matched our wedding vision. The color was a soft baby blue — Simon’s and my favorite shade — which tied beautifully into our overall theme. Each bridesmaid chose a design that suited her best and styled it with her favorite heels and BRUNA jewelry, making each look feel personal yet cohesive.

Flowergirls & Pageboys

We coordinated their adorable outfits with my dress, incorporating matching floral silhouettes to create sweet, harmonious moments.

Lake Garda Weddings

Wedding Rings

My engagement ring is one of the most stunning pieces I own, designed by Simon. It is a truly unique creation that we’ve chosen to keep just for us. For our wedding bands, we selected timeless solid gold rings that transcend trends. I’ve always loved stacking rings, so the design is perfect for pairing with my eternity ring—a meaningful wedding gift from Simon.

Jewelry & Accessories

I focused on timeless details like elegant Vivienne Westwood gloves and classic jewelry pieces, including the BRUNA Coeur necklace in 14k solid gold with lab-grown diamonds, and BRUNA Vivo earrings featuring real baroque pearls. One of the key pieces was my custom silk, hand-embroidered veil by Fadi El Khoury, featuring roses and our initials.

Lake Garda Weddings

Hair & Makeup

I opted for timeless hair and makeup, created by a stylist and makeup artist I’ve known and worked with for many years. Having someone I trust by my side made the experience even more special.

Groom’s Attire

The groom and groomsmen wore black tuxedos with white shirts — elegant and classic. For the evening party, Simon changed into a white tuxedo jacket, which paired perfectly with my second dress.

Lake Garda Weddings

The Details

Transport

The day before our wedding, we hosted a cocktail with our loved ones and arrived in a vintage Riva yacht — my husband’s favorite boat. The view of our historic wedding location from the water still gives me goosebumps.

Honeymoon

We stayed in Italy for a few days after the wedding to relax and process everything. Our actual honeymoon took place the following year and became a babymoon at the St. Regis Maldives.

Gift Registry

Our guests traveled from Germany, Austria, and even farther to join us in Italy — their presence was the greatest gift. We didn’t want them to give anything beyond their time and love.

Lake Garda Weddings

“We wanted to capture the essence of la dolce vita — and with the warm ambiance, incredible views, and joyful energy, it was perfect for us.”

Wedding Songs

During the ceremony, a live string quartet played one of my favorite Lana Del Rey songs. I’ll never forget the sound of that moment.

Entertainment

We had the best live music experience with the band from Everso!

Celebrant

The lovely Marina Danner officiated our wedding, and she was just perfect. Between the tears and wide smiles, she gave a beautiful speech about our love story, ending with both of us saying “yes.”

Readings

We both wrote our own vows to keep everything personal and heartfelt.

Lake Garda Weddings

Our Advice

A memorable moment…

Yes — it started to rain heavily. We knew rain was a possibility, but we decided to fully commit to our outdoor dinner setup with no backup. We felt confident and didn’t think twice. In the end, the rain came right after dessert — but by then, it didn’t matter. The dinner had ended perfectly, and we simply moved the celebration indoors. The energy stayed magical, and everyone kept dancing and celebrating.

One thing I wish I knew before I started my wedding plans…

There’s nothing we would change. It truly turned out to be the most perfect day of our lives.

If I could give other couples one piece of advice…

Stay authentic and take the time to define what truly matters to you as a couple. There’s no “right” way to plan a wedding — what’s most meaningful is that it reflects your story, your values, and the way you want to celebrate.

Sources of inspiration…

As a Creative Director, I drew inspiration from the smallest details — from the many bridal collections I’ve designed for my own brand, BRUNA The Label, to vintage glamour, iconic films, and the ever-evolving worlds of social media, bridal magazines, and blogs. It was a beautiful blend of personal vision and timeless influence.