A Childhood Romance Blossoms in Lake Como: Lauren and Branagh's Timeless Wedding at Villa Cipressi

Love Story

In a heartwarming tale of childhood sweethearts, Lauren and Branagh's journey began when they were just 16 years old, meeting through mutual friends. “Our relationship started when we were only 18,” they begin. “We have been together for 9 years & have gone through a lot together, including starting our careers, parenting our two dogs, buying our first house and starting a property development business.”

Their enchanting proposal took place in June 2023, against the stunning backdrop of the Amalfi Coast. "We hired a boat to go over from Positano to Capri and that's where he proposed," Lauren shares with a smile. Little did they know that their mutual love for Italy would play an even bigger role in their future.

When it came to planning their special day, Lauren and Branagh chose the stunning Villa Cipressi in Varenna, Lake Como – a place that had captured their hearts years before. "We visited Lake Como for the very first time back in 2017 & visited Varenna / Villa Cipressi, we mentioned all those years ago that we wanted to get married at that specific venue," Lauren reminisces.

Their dream became reality on July 30, 2024, after just seven months of dedicated planning. "We decided to have our wedding in July 2024 in December 2023, we booked the venue in January 2024 and I planned the wedding myself over the 7th month period leading up to our wedding date," Lauren shares. The couple created a magical three-day celebration, with their 32 guests staying at Villa Cipressi from July 29th to 31st, making it truly an intimate destination wedding experience.

The vision for their wedding was crystal clear from the start. "I decided on a neutral/pink colour palette from the flowers, cake, candles to the bridesmaids' dresses," Lauren explains. "We decided to go for black tie which complemented the theme perfectly." The musical journey throughout the day was carefully orchestrated, featuring a harpist for the ceremony, a jazz band playing Italian classics during the aperitivo and dinner, and a DJ for the evening celebrations.

Their choice of vendors was equally thoughtful. "In the early stages, Villa Cipressi were very helpful, pointing me in directions of suppliers," Lauren notes. "From there, I carefully chose the florist (Garden of Love) musicians (Music Bonus Malus) videographer (Fotorota), and photographer (Gianiaiazzi) as I felt that the work from all of these suppliers really mirrored my vision and taste. From there, I took inspiration from their previous work and tailored it to my vision."

The couple's attention to creating an authentic, timeless celebration paid off in unexpected ways. "A moment that we will both remember is when we walked down to the boat dock in Varenna as we were approaching the boat for pictures, holiday makers & Italians were cheering for us, which we thought was a lovely moment."
When it came to planning their special day, Lauren and Branagh chose the stunning Villa Cipressi in Varenna, Lake Como – a place that had captured their hearts years before. "We visited Lake Como for the very first time back in 2017 & visited Varenna / Villa Cipressi, we mentioned all those years ago that we wanted to get married at that specific venue," Lauren reminisces.

Their dream became reality on July 30, 2024, after just seven months of dedicated planning. "We decided to have our wedding in July 2024 in December 2023, we booked the venue in January 2024 and I planned the wedding myself over the 7th month period leading up to our wedding date," Lauren shares. The couple created a magical three-day celebration, with their 32 guests staying at Villa Cipressi from July 29th to 31st, making it truly an intimate destination wedding experience.

The vision for their wedding was crystal clear from the start. "I decided on a neutral/pink colour palette from the flowers, cake, candles to the bridesmaids' dresses," Lauren explains. "We decided to go for black tie which complemented the theme perfectly." Their choice of vendors was equally thoughtful. "In the early stages, Villa Cipressi were very helpful, pointing me in directions of suppliers," Lauren notes.

Morning details

Every detail of Lauren and Branagh's wedding was thoughtfully curated, beginning with their bespoke invitations. "I had my invitations designed specifically with Villa Cipressi on the front," Lauren shares. Working with a specialist from Etsy in the US, they created stunning invitation suites that set the tone for their Italian celebration.

The couple's wedding rings tell their own sweet story. "When Branagh purchased my engagement ring, he also purchased a matching wedding band so he already had that covered," Lauren explains with a smile. For Branagh's ring, the couple made it a special occasion: "We went together to a Jewellers close to us in Altrincham where we decided to go with a platinum wedding band for him."

Lauren's approach to wedding day jewelry was elegantly understated. "I decided to go for simple dainty jewellery to complement my lace/tulle dress," she notes, demonstrating her commitment to a cohesive, timeless look.

The wedding stationery suite was equally impressive, with each piece carefully sourced from Etsy specialists. "I had name cards made for seats at the ceremony along with white fans, menu cards with names on for the dinner table, and a guest book for my guests to write in for us to look back on," Lauren describes. The personal touches not only enhanced the guest experience but created lasting mementos of their special day.

Bride getting ready

Lauren's journey to finding her perfect wedding dress is a story of love at first sight. While her first appointment at a boutique in Knutsford, Cheshire yielded several beautiful options, none felt quite right. However, everything changed on January 19, 2024, when she stepped into The Wedding Club in Knightsbridge, London.

“I walked into the shop and immediately spotted my dress hanging and was desperate to try it on," Lauren recalls with excitement. "As soon as I did I fell in love with it and knew this was the one for me." The "Priscilla" by Zuhair Murad captured everything she dreamed of – delicate lace, a stunning corset top, and a showstopping long train. "I can't recommend The Wedding Club enough!" she adds enthusiastically.

The morning of the wedding found Lauren in the elegant Suite Mimosa at Villa Cipressi, surrounded by her mother and bridesmaids who wore beautiful "Blush" dresses from Pretty Lavish.

Her bridal look was thoughtfully curated down to the smallest detail. "Matching Zuhair Murad Veil, Tulle bow," Lauren talks about her accessories. She completed her ensemble with Charles Keith lace heels, dainty drop earrings, and a bridal hair comb that would later replace her veil. For her signature scent, she chose the romantic Sirene by Fragrance Du Bois.

The final touch to her bridal look was a classic bouquet from Garden of Love, featuring pristine white roses accented with fresh greenery – a perfect embodiment of the timeless elegance that defined their wedding day.

Groom getting ready

Branagh prepared for the day in a separate suite at Villa Cipressi, accompanied by his best man, Daniel Syed. Looking dashing in Tom Ford, he embodied classic elegance that perfectly complemented the wedding's timeless theme.

Ceremony

The Lake Terrace at Villa Cipressi provided a breathtaking backdrop for Lauren and Branagh's ceremony, with Lake Como's sparkling waters stretching out before them. As the ethereal notes of Ludovico Einaudi's "I Giorni" filled the air, all eyes turned to watch Lauren's entrance.

The ceremony was intimate and personal, with the couple choosing to keep things elegantly simple – no flower girls, and their trusted best man, Daniel Syed, serving as ring bearer. Every moment was filled with emotion, as Lauren recalls: "When my Dad gave me away, gave me a kiss, and shook Branagh's hand,” these were such special moments that the bride will never forget.

The couple's love story was beautifully shared with their guests through their translator's heartfelt introduction. "Our translator did an introductory speech, highlighting mine & Branagh's relationship & welcomed the guests," Lauren shares. The ceremony culminated in the signing of their wedding papers, making their union official against the stunning Italian backdrop.

Photoshoot after the ceremony

The newlyweds' joy was captured in various stunning locations around Villa Cipressi, from the lakeside steps to a romantic boat ride. "After this we then continued to get photographs by the steps leading down to the lake and then at the aperitivo," the couple recalls.

Wedding Venue & Decor

Villa Cipressi holds a special place in Lauren and Branagh's hearts, dating back to their first visit to Lake Como in 2017. "We came across Villa Cipressi in 2017 on our first trip to Lake Como when we were only 19 and completely fell in love with the classic, rustic Italian feel of the venue, it was so simply stunning," Lauren reminisces. "We knew when the time came to booking the venue, that Villa Cipressi was the venue for us."

The venue's beautiful creamy yellow exterior provided the perfect canvas for their wedding vision. "I decided to compliment the venue with neutral and pink florals," Lauren explains. "I wanted the theme to look timeless and clean." This thoughtful color palette flowed throughout the entire celebration, creating a cohesive and elegant atmosphere.

Personal touches were woven throughout the decor, with carefully chosen details that would become cherished keepsakes. "We personalised a lot for our wedding theme including name tags and menu cards as well as a memory guest book," shares Lauren. "We have kept a lot of the personalised items to look back on."

Reception

The celebration continued with an extraordinary culinary journey that showcased the best of Italian cuisine. The festivities began with an elegant aperitivo featuring an array of sophisticated bites: tartlets Carbonara, carrots and ginger, mozzarella and tomato skewers, aubergine with air-dried beef and goat cheese, and a delicate gorgonzola cheese mousse with walnuts.

The main dinner was equally impressive, starting with a first course of ravioli filled with smoked ham, Taleggio cheese, and walnuts. Guests then enjoyed both fish and meat courses: seabass with endive and fish sauce, followed by beef tenderloin with vegetables Caponata.
The dessert buffet was a sweet dream come true, featuring Italian classics and modern delights. The venue created their stunning three-tier wedding cake in light pink/peach, decorated with veil and floral arrangements, complemented by romantic candlelight.

The drink service was carefully planned to enhance the celebration. "We had complimentary drinks throughout the day, wine pairing with meal and a prosecco tower after the cake cutting," Lauren shares.

The couple shared their first dance as husband and wife to the romantic "Until I Found You" by Stephen Sanchez, setting the perfect tone for the evening's festivities.

Looking back on their special day, Lauren couldn't be happier with their choice of vendors: "I found all of the vendors extremely helpful & professional. I can't recommend them all enough."

As the sun set over Lake Como, Lauren and Branagh's dream of a timeless, intimate celebration had become reality, marking the perfect beginning to their next chapter together.