Couture Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi Wedding Editorial Session

The wedding world isn’t far off from the fashion industry. There is a ton of fashion when it comes to these monumental milestones, and my experience as a fashion photographer absolutely adores it! 

So when Ari Villoso reached out about a bridal gown editorial session to photograph their latest collection, I was ecstatic. I knew it would be an opportunity to stretch my creativity, as I do in many of my other editorial sessions.  

I planned an entire two-day editorial session in Lake Como. And I spread it across the Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi wedding venues. And I’ll be the first to say, while it was hard work, it was such a dream to be a part of! 

Here’s how it all came together:

The Latest Couture Ari Villoso Bridal Gown Collection: Ciao Bella! 

Ari Villoso is known for creating exclusive, unique wedding dresses for people all across the globe. Their latest collection of couture gowns was named, “Ciao bella!” and was inspired by the gorgeous locations and epic settings here in my lovely Italia. 

As soon as they reached out to me about planning a bridal gown photography session, I knew I had to host it here in Lake Como! 

I wanted to curate those locations based on the designs so each of them were well-complemented. 

I looked through the collection of twenty Ari Villoso wedding gowns to better understand the aesthetic of each of the dresses. Then, I began my search for the perfect locations. 

Finally, I found the two most impeccable spots: Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi wedding venues!

Designing the Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi Wedding Gown Editorial:

For the entire two-day affair, I worked to put everything together. I managed the full styling and planning, just as we did with our editorial session featuring a new Berta wedding gown.

That included everything from location scouting, vendor selection, and model calls. I organized a team of stylists, assistants, hair and makeup artists, videographers, and of course, my team of photographers. 

It was a busy two days of styling the models and the dresses, calling the bridal models, and making sure we completed designated shot lists to fully capture the dresses!

Planning Mood Boards and Curated Storyboards for Each Dress

Speaking of capturing the dresses, before we ever made it to the villas, I wanted to make sure my team and I had an intentional, well-thought-out plan for the gowns. 

Every dress has a mood and story, whether it’s for a Lake Como wedding editorial session, such as this, or it’s being worn by a bride on her wedding day. 

I wanted to make sure each gown was thoughtfully styled and captured in a way to do it justice. So, I created an overall mood board for the entire editorial session. By doing so, I gave myself and my team a clear understanding of the mood we were creating. 

Then, I created individual storyboards for every single dress. They were used to help my team and I tell the story of the dress and the ideal bride who would wear it on her wedding day!

Day One: The Villa Monastero Wedding Dress Editorial Session

On day one, my team and I made our way to the Villa Monastero wedding venue. We focused on the first ten dresses of the Ari Villoso Ciao Bella bridal gown collection.

Villa Monastero was an impeccable fit for these ten dresses. With grand stone staircases, massive columns, foliage at every turn, and manicured garden terraces, it was the setting of a fairytale. 

That complemented the designs of the first ten dresses wonderfully. These bridal gowns were full of light, flowy fabric that rippled in the wind as the models walked through the grounds of the villa. They were the epitome of romantic and ethereal.

I could already envision a bride wearing one of these gowns for a garden-inspired wedding day aesthetic!

Day Two: The Villa Cipressi Wedding Dress Editorial Session

The second day was held at the Villa Cipressi wedding venue, where Italian history meets modern luxury. My team and I focused on the last ten dresses of the collection. And the venue perfectly encapsulated the aesthetic of the remainder of the collection. 

While the dresses were just as romantic as the first ten, they had a more luxurious, modern aesthetic. Many of them were form-fitting, detailed bodices. Some flared into loose, flowing skirts, while others maintained a more structured skirt. No matter the design, they were stunning bridal gowns, especially in the Villa Cipressi wedding setting.

I couldn’t help but imagine the Ari Villoso gowns as a part of extravagant, modern wedding aesthetics!

Although I chose to enter into the world of weddings, rather than focus solely on fashion photography, I still love capturing the unique styles and designs that the wedding industry creates!

Find more editorial sessions on our blog! 

Editorial Session Vendors:

Photographer: Lilly Red
Wedding Gown Designer: Ari Villoso
Venues: Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi