STEPHANIE + CHARLIE // INTIMATE ELOPEMENT IN LAKE COMO, ITALY

Have you ever been to a place so breathtaking/mind-blowing/outrageously picturesque that you actually wondered if you were even on the same planet anymore? That’s exactly how I felt back in August, when I had the privilege of shooting the most romantic elopement ever in Lake Como, Italy. Ya know, the place the Star Wars franchise used as the backdrop for Anakin + Padme falling in love. The place where John Krasinski married Emily Blunt. The place where George Clooney lives!!!

Now Lake Como is also the place where Stephanie + Charlie tied the knot in what was the most romantic elopement ceremony I have ever been a part of. Steph had dreamed of having her big day in Italy since before she even met Charlie [who me and my associate Sav affectionately dubbed the King of If He Wanted To, He Would] — and naturally, being daddy AF, he made sure to make it happen for her. (insert romantic sigh here)

Their ceremony was held at a beautiful home right on the water called Villa la Ruga, owned by a charming Italian man named Francesco [can a charming Italian man be named anything else?]. His girlfriend officiated, and me + Sav were put in charge of music. I’ll probably never forget the moment where Charlie was instructed to kiss his bride and I accidentally played “Hot in Herre” by Nelly instead of the selection Stephanie *actually requested [my face turned bright red, Sav’s eyes almost fell out of her head, and the bride + groom just laughed and danced their cute little asses off. It was better than perfect.].

Immediately after the ceremony, we snapped a few pics and then went straight to Francesco’s gorgeous water taxi for a cruise down the lake. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen Disney’s Luca, but I promise you the scenery at Lake Como has to be where animators found their inspiration.

I still smile anytime I think about this trip — there was so much genuine love and romance in the air, not to mention gelato and pasta and wine and everything we’ve always been told makes Italy so magical. Take me back!

Keep scrolling to see some of our favorite photos from that gorgeous day!