Lakeside portraits, an island first look and a ceremony reached by boat

Jack and Mat chose Lake Orta for their wedding in Italy, travelling from England to celebrate in a place they had taken time to get to know. They had explored different venues and returned several times before the wedding, carefully considering where and how they wanted their day to unfold.

I joined them for photography across two days, beginning with a relaxed session in Orta San Giulio and continuing with their wedding, from a morning swim to an island first look and a boat arrival at Villa Bossi.

An Afternoon Together in Orta San Giulio

The day before the wedding, we explored Orta San Giulio for their engagement session. The village’s streets and lakeside setting gave us plenty of possibilities for portraits, while the time together allowed us to get comfortable working with one another before the celebrations began.

Jack, whose full name is Jacqueline, and Mat were relaxed and easygoing in front of the camera. That openness made the session a pleasure to photograph. I could offer a little direction and then leave room for their own way of being together.

A Swim in the Lake and an Island First Look

The wedding day began with a refreshing swim for the boys. Those photographs preserve a playful part of the morning, before everyone changed into their wedding clothes and the day took on a more ceremonial rhythm.

Jack and Mat chose a small island on Lake Orta for their first look. It was here that they saw each other in their wedding clothes for the first time.

Photographing that meeting was one of the moments I most enjoyed. The island gave the encounter a setting of its own, with the lake around them and the journey to the ceremony still ahead.

Arriving by Boat at Villa Bossi

From the island, Jack and Mat travelled by boat to Villa Bossi, where their guests were waiting for the ceremony. The boat journey connected these two parts of the day, bringing the couple from their first look to the people gathered to celebrate with them.

During the ceremony, friends played guitar and sang. Their music added a personal voice to the occasion, making the people close to Jack and Mat part of the ceremony itself.

From our session in Orta San Giulio to that arrival on the water, the photographs follow a celebration shaped by the couple’s choices and their relaxed manner together.

Jack and Mat, thank you for welcoming me into your wedding celebrations and trusting me to preserve these moments.