Blossoming Love by the Lake: Sade and Afam's Dreamy Celebration at Villa Erba and Villa Gastel

Love Story

In the midst of the global pandemic, when the world seemed to have come to a standstill, love found its way through the virtual realm. Sade, a wedding planner from the DC area, and Afam, an IT entrepreneur from Houston, met in an unexpected place - a virtual "House Party" app.

"While everyone was stuck inside during the height of the pandemic, were all found creative ways to facilitate human interaction," Sade reminisces. "We played games and met new people... We would have themed nights and discussion topics; it was a whole thing!"

It was during one of these virtual gatherings that Afam reached out to Sade via direct messages. "The rest is history," she says with a smile. Despite the distance between them, their connection was undeniable. "He lived in Houston, and I lived in the DC area. He came to see me one weekend, and we have been together ever since!"

When it came to planning their dream wedding, Sade and Afam knew they wanted something uniquely beautiful and intimate. After comparing various locations in France, Spain, and Italy, they fell in love with the picturesque landscapes of Lake Como, Italy.

"The main inspiration for our wedding was definitely the location, I love Italy, it is so calm and relaxed," Sade explains. "We just fell in love with Lake Como, we fell in love with the views. We knew then it had to be outdoors, picturesque, and beautiful. We knew we wanted to feel like we stepped into an enchanted garden. We knew an indoor wedding couldn’t be done in DC that same way."

Their vision was "Vintage Garden Elegance," with a color palette of white and greenery for the ceremony, and blush, white, greenery, and gold for the reception. Sade was adamant about not adding any glam elements that would detract from the natural beauty of Lake Como. "A backdrop only God could create," she says.

Morning details

The couple's commitment to incorporating their personal style was evident in every detail, starting with their wedding stationery. "One way we did that was working with a wonderful stationary company in Houston, TX named Isabella Invitations," the couple shares. "We worked together to create invitations, drink stirrers, table numbers, napkins, and a seating chart that carried our wedding logos and branding."

Bride getting ready

The morning started early with Sade getting ready in a gorgeous bridal robe made by Vtabi based in Maryland. For her bridal look, Sade wanted something "classic and timeless." She opted for a long lace dress with an illusion neckline and an overskirt, custom-made by Pistis based in Ghana. "I am not a sparkly bling girl, so I was adamant about having a dress that would bring the drama but still timeless," she explains.

The process of creating her dream dress took about 8 months, with numerous fittings and adjustments. "She worked tirelessly with me to design the perfect dress," Sade says gratefully. For her second look, she chose a custom-made, soft, and whimsical dress by Idiol Nupo from Nigeria.

Her accessories were equally thoughtful. "My veil was a full cathedral veil and it was everything I wanted," she beams. "For shoes, I went with the Amina Muaddi Rosie heels, they are the perfect glass slipper. I selected classic pearl earrings by an Italian designer. For hair, I wanted a very romantic look that complemented my dress and style. It was by CharisHair a Nigerian hairstylist who was based in the UK at the time. My makeup was soft and clean by the amazing Miami-based makeup artist Tia Codrington."

For the bridal bouquet, Sade chose the stunning combination of English garden roses, classic roses, tulips, sweet peas, jasmine, and a mix of bleached foliage.

"Right after that, I got in my wedding dress, took a few more photos, and we headed straight to the boat," she recalls. "My vendor team and bridal party were all so great in supporting us and making sure we got to do all the things we had envisioned."

Groom getting ready

Afam's attire was a testament to Sade's gentle persuasion and their shared love for elegance. "My beau initially wanted to wear a black suit, but I was successful in convincing him into wearing a white tux with black pants," Sade reveals. His suit, made by Nigerian-based designer KimonoKollections, was paired with black patent loafers. For the reception, he changed into a dark brown blazer.

Photoshoot before the ceremony

One of Sade's favorite parts of the day was their pre-wedding photoshoot. "I really enjoyed taking photos on the Como Classic boat on Lake Como," she shares excitedly. "It was something I dreamt about and my photographer, StanLo Photography and videographer, Bricks Group Media, were totally onboard with."

Ceremony

The ceremony took place at the enchanting Villa Erba. "We fell in love with Villa Erba. It spoke so much to the elements we wanted," the couple explains. "The architecture, the greenery, the vibes were perfect. We were sold immediately when we drove in, the ceremony checked all the boxes of the incredible lake views, the long aisle, and the amazing background."

The aisle was lined with clusters of white and blush flowers, creating an illusion of naturally growing blooms. The backdrop was a ground half-moon "nest" installation adorned with lush blooms and greenery. "We wanted a backdrop that did not block the lake view but elevated the drama," Sade and Afam say.

As Christians, incorporating their faith was paramount. "It was very important to me to incorporate Worship Music," Sade shares. "We hired a talented musician based in Atlanta, Veronica Odegbami, to bless us with a worship session that really set the tone for the day. It was such a beautiful moment and we really felt the presence of God with us."

Photoshoot after the ceremony

Wedding Venue & Decor

The reception was held at the exclusive Villa Gastel. "We didn't plan on having two venues," they admit, "but b/c we wanted an outdoor wedding Villa Gastel was PERFECT. For reception we wanted a garden whereas even though you were outside it still felt intimate. we wanted the balance."

The decor was a harmonious blend of vintage elegance and natural beauty. "I knew I wanted gold-rimmed glassware, and gold utensils, to balance the table settings we did white plates to highlight our colors of white blush and gold."

Floral arrangements were a key element. "We used all fresh flowers," the couple says. "We were very particular about the fullness, dispersion, we actually measured how long the table runners would be width and length because we did not want it to be scanty and we needed florals to have presence."

Lighting was another crucial aspect. "We had production lighting, fairytale lights, twinklelight chandeliers and very particular about expectations of having on-site lighting technicians to adjust lighting as the night went from introduction to party," they explain. "It had the perfect balance of vintage elements w/o going to glam."

Reception

The reception was a celebration of love and culture. "We really wanted to embrace the culture of where we were getting married," the couple says. "We did our cake cutting with an Italian wedding cake (one word- DELICIOUS!), we served aperitifs during cocktail hour, and Italian wine throughout the day. It was amazing seeing how it all turned out."

As the night progressed, guests were treated to a performance by violinists with electric violins, adding a modern twist to the vintage ambiance.

Looking back, Sade shares some heartfelt advice: "SAVE, SAVE, SAVE, SAVE! Having more money is better than not having enough. Stay true to yourself and don’t get swayed by social media and make sure that the things you’re doing are true to you. You want to look back at your wedding and see yourself, see your style, see the things you love. For your guests and social media followers, your wedding can become a distant memory, but for you it’s something that will always be a part of you. Ten to twenty years down the line, you want to be able to look back and still be in love with what you put together."

She also offers wisdom for the journey beyond the wedding day. "Understand that marriage is a marathon, not a sprint," she advises. "Hold on to the core values of your friendship and your faith. Be transparent and understanding with each other. Try and find a community that you can lean on for support."

In the enchanting setting of Lake Como, Sade and Afam's wedding was a beautiful testament to their love, faith, and shared vision. From the virtual party,where they first met to the Italian villa,where they said "I do," their journey is a reminder that love can bloom in the most unexpected places and flourish in the most beautiful ways.