Allyssa’s dress journey. Choosing a day that felt truly theirs, in a private garden on Lake Como

The Bisou Bridal Journal

Our bride Allyssa married her first and only love in the private garden of their suite at Hotel Royal Victoria in Varenna, right on the shores of Lake Como. She wrote to us about her special day on Lake Como, the gown she knew she still wanted, and a few honest words for the brides still deciding what their wedding day should look like.

Rewriting the plan

Allyssa and her husband began with a large, traditional wedding planned in Lake Como. But as they moved forward, it became clearer that the celebration they were building didn't feel like them. It felt like a set of expectations they were meant to meet.

"As a woman, you’re faced with the societal expectation that your ‘dream’ is supposed to be having a big and extravagant wedding. The big wedding we were planning felt performative, completely defeating the purpose of getting married”

- Allyssa

So she stepped back and rethought everything. The couple cancelled their wedding entirely and chose to elope in Lake Como, just the 2 of them. Their wedding planner rearranged everything beautifully, tailoring an elopement around exactly what they wanted: private vows on their balcony, an evening of photos, video and drone footage around the lake, and dinner by a private chef in their own garden.

The date held a meaning all its own. August 28, 2026 was exactly 10 years to the day since they first met.

“We ended up cancelling our whole wedding (iconic and empowering move, lol!) and chose to elope in Lake Como instead, just the two of us.”

- Allyssa

The Dress

STYLE 1860 by Martina liana

A sparkling strapless lace column dress with detachable sleeves, blending tradition with modern allure.

Fit

Column silhouette that hugs every curve. Strapless sweetheart neckline bodice with exposed boning, finished in delicate eyelash lace trim. Detachable long lace sleeves with fabric-covered buttons at the wrists.

Fabric

All-over lace with 3D florals, sequined accents and pearl embellishments over glittering tulle

Colour

Ivory Lace and Tulle over Ivory Dress

SAYING YES TO THE DRESS

Allyssa travelled from Victoria, BC to Vancouver, BC for her appointment at our boutique to meet with Bisou Bridal stylist, Vanessa. She had tried on a few gowns before, but when she stepped into Style 1860 by Martina Liana, it immediately felt different from dresses Allyssa tried on before.

"I loved the lace, delicate beading, and most importantly I felt like myself in it. It was romantic and feminine without feeling overly traditional, and the timeless silhouette felt like it belonged in Lake Como: romantic, classy, and effortlessly elegant."

- Allyssa

She headed home to the island the next morning, but Allyssa couldn't stop thinking about the dress. So they turned right back around, returned to Vancouver the very next day, and purchased the gown. Having grown up in Vancouver, finding her gown at a boutique in the city she's from made it feel even more meaningful.

"Vanessa at Bisou Bridal made the entire experience so special and perfect. She made me feel so comfortable and truly understood my vision and what I was looking for, which made finding the dress a memorable experience."

- Allyssa

A visit from the swans

Some of the most meaningful moments are the ones no one could plan. The night before the wedding, a family of swans visited Allyssa and her husband at the hotel. The next day, as the couple took photos in the garden, the swans returned and made their way into the wedding portraits.

Swans are known to mate for life, and locals told the couple it takes them a full week to circle the lake. To find them in their little corner of Lake Como, not once but twice, felt like a quiet blessing on their wedding day.

“Seeing them both the night before and then again on our wedding day felt incredibly symbolic. It was a beautiful and meaningful memory that we never could have planned”

- Allyssa

Allyssa’s Advice to Future Brides

When we asked Allyssa what she'd want future brides to know, she spoke straight from experience.

“Don't be afraid to completely change your plans if you realize they're no longer what you want, and don't let societal or peer expectations rule your day! Once we gave ourselves permission to let go of what we thought we were supposed to do, everything became so much clearer."

- Allyssa

Letting go wasn't easy. They had already invested time and energy into planning, and there were outside opinions to consider. However, choosing to elope gave Allyssa and her husband a day that felt peaceful, intimate and truly theirs, with the full support of their family and friends. They put their budget toward a honeymoon through Venice, Florence, Tuscany, Lake Como, Portofino and Rome, then celebrated their legal ceremony back in Canada with their closest family and friends.

"I think there's something really special about giving yourself permission to keep the parts of a wedding that do feel like you. Eloping didn't mean I wanted the day to feel any less like a wedding, rather I just wanted the wedding to be ours. All the decisions we made were incredibly empowering."

- Allyssa

Our warmest congratulations to the newlyweds. Thank you, Allyssa, for trusting us to be part of your story, and for reminding the Bisou brides still to come that the most beautiful wedding is the one that feels like your own.