Caroline & Jason's Italian Romance: Dream Wedding at Villa Geno

Love Story

They first crossed paths in the hush of pandemic quiet, their fateful match flickering to life on a dating app while the world stood still. Caroline was tucked away in sun‑kissed Delray Beach; Jason, an hour south in breezy Fort Lauderdale. "It actually took us a number of weeks to actually meet up because I HAD Covid," Caroline says. "He thought I was making it up at one point."

When at last the stars aligned, Jason pointed his car north and the simplest plans blossomed into an unforgettable weekend. A stop at a friendly local brewery melted into an evening of pizza boxes and easy laughter. "We went to a local brewery and then ended up ordering pizza for dinner, so it was super casual," Caroline recalls. "He ended up driving back the next day, so we spent the entire weekend together going to the beach, and getting to know each other better." After all, when fate insists on two people, every obstacle only tempers the steel of their bond.

A year later, Caroline traded Delray’s shores for Fort Lauderdale’s, and their lives folded seamlessly together. Two years into their story, fate penned its next chapter in windswept San Francisco,where Caroline’s flight‑attendant layover became the setting for a sunrise dream. "When I tell you I had NO IDEA, I mean it," she laughs. "I thought I had somehow convinced him to take some cute photos at the Golden Gate Bridge. Next thing I know he’s kneeling and asking me to marry him. After a moment of shock I said yes of course!"

About Your Wedding

When envisioning their perfect day, Caroline knew exactly what she wanted: "I knew I wanted something destination, ideally on the water somewhere in Italy, Spain or Portugal. My family is from Spain so I spent a lot of my childhood there and in Europe traveling and knew I wanted to get married abroad one day."

The couple, who had attended over 30 weddings together before their own, wanted a celebration that was "classic, elegant, formal, and timeless." After exploring venues throughout Italy, Portugal, and Spain for nearly a year, Caroline kept returning to Lake Como. "I first found Lake Como through Instagram. I saw the most gorgeous wedding there and knew I had to go visit," she explains.

Villa Geno became the chosen venue, selected for its spectacular lakeside location and ability to accommodate their 100 guests—no small feat when they had invited close to 200 people.

The wedding wasn't just a one-day affair but a four-day celebration of their love. Beginning on Thursday with a boat ride through Lake Como for family and the bridal party (all dressed in white), followed by a welcome dinner in front of the Como Duomo for all 100 guests on Friday, the wedding on Saturday, and a "recovery brunch" on Sunday at Giulietta al Lago with private day beds, drinks, and food.

“It was the most gorgeous day and I just remember being so happy and looking out at all our closest friends and family with my husband,” the bride recalls.

Boat Party

Morning Details

The couple's attention to detail was evident from the very beginning—starting with their wedding stationery. Caroline, bringing her creative talent to the fore, designed most elements herself. "I designed them myself and printed them through Minted. I hired an artist from Etsy to design our wedding map I had on the back of our invitations," Caroline says proudly. For the wedding day signage and menus, they enlisted the help of their florist, Figli dei Fiori Como.

The rings told their own story of personal style meeting tradition. "Jason always knew he wanted something “different” and not classic gold, so when he saw this tri colored band at Cartier, he knew that was the ring for him," Caroline explains. Her wedding band was a classic thin diamond eternity band set in gold, perfectly complementing her engagement ring from Freddy's in the Miami Design District.

Bride Getting Ready

Caroline’s search for the right dress turned into its own little adventure. After trying on more than a hundred gowns in Florida, she finally discovered “the one” in Milan—a Pronovias × Vera Wang design that she personalized with a detachable overskirt right there in the Pronovias store.

On the wedding morning, she got ready at Villa Geno with her eleven bridesmaids, her mom, and her future mother‑in‑law. The bridesmaids wore matching dresses from Show Me Your Mumu, giving the group a soft, coordinated look.

Caroline finished her bridal style with a Pronovias veil, Mejuri earrings, and a Gorjana necklace. Her bouquet from Figli dei Fiori Como—orchids mixed with white roses—offered a classic, simple touch that fit the day’s elegant vibe perfectly.

Groom Getting Ready

While Caroline was getting ready upstairs at Villa Geno, Jason gathered with his twelve groomsmen and both fathers at a beautiful Airbnb overlooking the lake and the venue. Dressed in a sharp tux from Suit Supply in Miami, he looked every bit the groom. The hours before the ceremony were filled with easy jokes, shared memories, and the occasional flutter of nerves—exactly the mix of laughter and anticipation you’d hope for on a wedding morning.

First Look

The couple's first look took place in the garden of Villa Geno—a moment of private connection before the ceremony. As Caroline approached, Jason's heart raced with anticipation. "Wow I can’t believe I get to marry this beautiful woman. That’s my wife!" Jason remembers vividly.

For Caroline, the moment was equally emotional. "I was so excited to be getting married so soon and he looked so handsome."

Photoshoot Before the Ceremony

With the schedule ticking down, Caroline and Jason managed just a handful of garden photos during their first look. The quick session proved a blessing, capturing raw smiles and wide‑eyed wonder.

Ceremony

As the sun cast a golden glow over Lake Como, guests gathered on the lakefront next to Villa Geno for the ceremony. Caroline made her entrance to Billie Eilish's "Ocean Eyes," a hauntingly beautiful choice that perfectly matched the serene setting.

The ceremony beautifully blended elements from both their backgrounds—Caroline's Catholic traditions and Jason's Jewish heritage. "He is Jewish and I am Catholic so we tried to incorporate little things in our ceremony to tie them together," Caroline explains. "For instance, in Jewish culture, you stomp on a piece of glass and everyone yells Mazel Tov, so we did that."

Jason's uncle, who had himself married someone Catholic, served as their officiant, creating a ceremony that honored both faiths. "Our ceremony was my favorite part. Everyone kept saying our vows were the best vows they have ever heard and that we didn’t sound nervous at all," Caroline remembers. Despite her initial fears about being nervous, Caroline felt completely at peace during the ceremony. "I always thought I would be so nervous during that part, just because we are in front of so many people, but truly, I have never felt more at peace. I loved our ceremony and getting to read our vows to each other."

Photoshoot After the Ceremony

The day blurred past so quickly that formal portraits slipped away—Caroline’s one wistful note. “We really didn’t get many formal photos, unfortunately,” she admits. “But we did take some photos on a Riva boat in the lake.” Framed by the glimmering waters of Lake Como and the surrounding mountains, the timeless beauty of the wooden Riva boat made those few captured moments nothing short of unforgettable.

Wedding Venue & Decor

Villa Geno was the ideal backdrop for their timeless vision—fresh greens and crisp whites let Lake Como’s own beauty do most of the talking.

“I spent 1 year traveling to different venues around Italy, Portugal, and Spain, but ultimately kept coming back to Lake Como,” Caroline explains. “I toured many on the lake but fell in love with Villa Geno because it was easy to travel to for our out‑of‑town guests (it’s towards the bottom of the lake, so closer to Milan) and we could accommodate over 100 people.”

From the soft, layered florals by Figli dei Fiori Como to the custom hats and tote bags waiting for every guest, no detail went unnoticed—each touch a gentle nod to the couple’s thoughtful, welcoming spirit.

Reception

As the sun slipped behind the mountains, the party eased into a warm Italian evening. Their first dance—set to “You've Got the Love” by Florence and the Machine—filled the terrace with an upbeat buzz that carried straight into dinner. Guests lingered over Aperol Spritzes and platters of traditional Italian fare. “Traditional Italian food, charcuterie boards, and my favorite of all – the ravioli pasta that we had as our first course. It’s still my favorite pasta I’ve ever had!!!” Caroline enthuses.

Skipping the usual tiered cake, they leaned into local custom with a millefoglie: a flaky “thousand‑layer” pastry sprinkled with powdered sugar and berries. “Instead of doing just a traditional cake cutting, we had the chefs come out to do a ‘show cooking,’ and we helped to make our own cake in front of our guests! It was so fun!” she recalls.

Blunotte Eventi kept the dance floor alive well into the night while Lake Como shimmered in the background, turning every laugh and twirl into something a little more magical. “Absolutely loved all my vendors!” Caroline adds with a grin.