Welcome Party

Ceremony

Reception

Relais Villa Porta

Aperitivo

Fall

Our Wedding

Our Story

What is the best airport to fly into?We recommend flying into Milan Airport (Milano Malpensa - MXP). It is also recommended to fly in 2-3 days prior to the wedding to adjust to the time zone and enjoy some pre-wedding fun. This may also help with any unexpected travel delays that may occur. How do I get from the airport to Lake Maggiore?We highly recommend renting a car from the airport for your weekend at the lake! 1. Rental Car: an international drivers permit (license) which must be obtained stateside before you depart (~$20). Reserve your vehicle in advance as there are limited automatic cars (you don't want to be stuck with a manual, if you don't drive stick!). Driving is the same as in the states. Fire up google maps and take A8 motorway then A26 toward Gravellona Toce / Lake Maggiore.2. Private taxi or rideshare: Bolt is the European version of Lyft, but rideshares are very limited in small lake towns. Please let us know if you require assistance organizing transportation.3. Rome2Rio: is a free app for travel planning, showing all the routes &amp; costs from buses, trains, taxis, ferries, flights etc. It estimates travel times, costs, transfers, and anything else you may need to get from A to B. What travel requirements are needed?1) U.S. Passport - must be valid for at least 6 months after your date of departure from the states.2) ETIAS visa - is a new requirement in 2026 for non-European Union passport holders entering the area. You must apply for this visa online with your passport information, travel plans, and personal information. There is a €7 fee. The visa is valid for 3 years. Visa is usually approved within minutes to a day. Details will be added here in mid 2026 on obtaining this visa. The visa is intended to go live 4th quarter of 2026. Please be aware of scams. Notes on Arriving/Departing from Malpensa Airport (MXP):The Schengen region (area of 27 European countries) has implemented the EES (entry exit system) as of 2026. When you disembark your flight, the corridors will lead you to the EES system which is passport/border patrol. These are electronic machines which will scan your passport and biometrics (photo and fingerprints) to clear you through the border. After this, you will proceed to baggage claim to collect you luggage, and then pass through the green corridor (customs), as you are a visitor on holiday with nothing to declare. Departing through Malpensa, please note that passport control is after security clearance. You will go through security (similar to TSA), then duty-free and all of the airport shops, then passport control. Passport control lines may get long so don't get too distracted by duty-free shopping after security. Notes on Driving: There is sufficient parking around the lake. Blue marked parking lanes means you must pay for parking. Find a parking kiosk or download the app via QR code on the kiosk. White marked parking lanes mean parking is free (usually by public parks, near the water line). Yellow marked parking is for handicapped placard cars only.There are many bikers and pedestrians walking on the roads, share the road with caution as certain bends and passes may be narrow or obscure. There are adequate gas stations between the lake and MXP. Many gas stations have an attendant, but finding one without is no problem. You must pre-pay at a kiosk. Enter your pump number into the kiosk and insert your card into the machine, then pump as usual. Highly recommend to fill up the tank before returning the car as the airport gas prices are significantly higher.

Travel Info

Many local accommodations are historic and full of charm, with unique layouts and styles that may differ from typical U.S. hotels. We hope you enjoy the character and embrace the Italian flair of these beautiful properties! All accommodations are on a first-come, first-serve basis. We are not able to hold any rooms on our guests behalf. Please book early below to ensure your preference are met. Also note that each accommodation has a per person per day compulsory city tax that may be paid on-site at check-in or check-out. Airbnb &amp; VRBO are also available in Colmegna and Luino.

Thirty Rooms &amp; Suites are located in the ancient private residence, offering a unique setting that is never the same, even among rooms of the same category.City tax is&nbsp;€15.This is hotel is the location of the ceremony &amp; reception.

There are 10 apartments hosted &amp; run by Relais Villa Porta.Check-In for these apartments is on-site at Relais Villa Porta. City tax is €15.The Charming Moment holiday homes offer an alternative to the rooms of the Relais. A wide choice of homes and apartments with lake view or in the heart of the historic centre. Studios, two-room apartments, luxury homes… a wide selection to experience the lake at your own pace, in the privacy of finely furnished homes equipped with all the amenities.

Charming Moment Apartments by Relais Villa Porta

Booking Instructions: Guests must contact the hotel directly at: info@hi-luino.com Email subject: IRENE&amp;JOSEPHWEDDING A credit card is required as a guarantee, or alternatively a 30% deposit at the time of booking confirmation. The remaining balance is due at check-out.&nbsp;The hotel offer rate is valid until July 1, 2026.Minimum 2 night stay. Free Wi-Fi.City tax is&nbsp;€1.50 per person per night.&nbsp;This hotel is 3.8km (~5min drive) south of the wedding venue (Relais Villa Porta). Room Options:1. Double Room for single use (DUS)Rate: €122 per room per night, breakfast included.2. Double / Twin RoomRate: €127 per room per night, breakfast included.3. Triple Room (3 bed)Rate: €147 per room per night, breakfast included.&nbsp;As of 2/12/25 there are 10 available rooms being held.

Hotel Internazionale Luino

Booking Instructions: Guests must contact the hotel directly at: info@caminhotelluino.comEmail subject: IRENE&amp;JOSEPHWEDDING&nbsp; A credit card is required as a guarantee, or alternatively a 30% deposit at the time of booking confirmation. The remaining balance is due at check-out.Minimum 3 night stay.City tax is €2.50 per person per night. Parking is €20 per car per day. This hotel is 3.2km (~4min drive) south of the wedding venue (Relais Villa Porta). Room Options: 1. Double Room, 2 guestsRate: €308.00 – €341.00 per room per night, breakfast included2. Deluxe Room, 2 guestsRate: €352.00 – €385.00 per room per night, breakfast included3. Junior SuiteRate: €418.00 – €462.00 per room per night, breakfast included4. SuiteRate: €473.00 – €495.00&nbsp;per room per night, breakfast included

Camin Hotel Luino

Next-DriveA car and shuttle transfer service. Require advanced reservation.Phone: 0039 3756755825Email: info@next-drive.it&nbsp;Reference: Moreno

Transportation Option

Accommodations

Here are some of the main events happening around Milan &amp; Lake Maggiore during the wedding week. Let us know if you'll be attending any of these! Friday Sept 4th - Sunday Sept 6th: 2026 Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix at the historic <a href="https://www.monzanet.it/en/f1-grand-prix/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Autodromo Nazionale Monza</a> in Monza. Race Day is Sept 6th. Tuesday Sept 8th: Milan is one of world's most famous opera cities, known for <a href="https://www.teatroallascala.org/en/season/2025-2026/opera/l-elisir-d-amore.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Teatro alla Scala</a>. Opening week is L'elisir d'amore (The Elixir of Love), a beloved comic opera in the Italian repertoire. Wednesday Sept 9th: Il Mercato de Luino (Luino market) which runs from 8am-5pm. Thursday Sept 10th: Welcome Party on the lake in the evening. Imbarcadero di Luino at 6pm for a 6:30p sharp departure. Friday Sept 11th: Wedding Celebration! See you at 4pm. Saturday Sept 12th: Breakfast at Villa Porta. Day trip to the Borromean Islands. See the "Things To Do" page of the website for more information. Sunday Sept 13th: Arrivederci! Safe travels to everyone, let's run it back to Italy in 2027 for the anniversary.

Bride & Groom's Itinerary 

For the ladies: long or formal evening dresses.For the gents: sharp suits.Think of a polished look, in the spirit of Italian sophistication!The ceremony/cocktail hour will be outside with grass and gravel underfoot—choose shoes wisely!

Dress Code

Shopping

Mercato di Luino A quintessential Italian market experience! Every Wednesday from 8:30am to 5pm, a 350+ stall outdoor street market is hosted in the town center. The bazzar dates back to 1535 and hosts vendors selling everything from crafts, leather goods, local wares, and plenty of foods and cheeses! If you're staying at the wedding venue, there is a free shuttle or parking lakeshore (Viale Dante Alighieri). FoxTown MallAbout 40min East, between Lake Maggiore and Lake Como, in Mendrisio, Switzerland, is FoxTown shopping center and outlets. 160 stores including International and Italian luxury brands. Open 7 days a week.

Tour the Islands

There is an achipelago in Lake Maggiore to explore, known as the Borromean Islands. They can be accessed by the public ferry or a private taxi boat. Each island can take 1-4 hours. The ferry ride is ~1-1.5hrs from the Lombardy side of the lake with a transfer. We highly recommend spending an entire day to visit all 3 in the order below. Ferry tickets can be purchased online or at the dock. Please note that if you buy ferry tickets online, you must still pay the island tax of €0,50/island/person at the ticket office at the dock - keep this receipt.Keep track of the stops, the ferries make several stops. <a href="https://www.navigazionelaghi.it/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Use this official website to see the time table, stops, and costs</a>.If coming from Luino, the ferry is in Laveno (~30min south). Drive past the dock/ticketing office using the roundabout to veer right, and there will be a parking lot near the park with kiosks. All-day parking is several euros (there is usually an attendant here to help). We recommend this gelato shop near the dock: <a href="https://share.google/uYVjxCKGEWOe0AsjH" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">La Dispenseria dei Baldi.</a> 1. Isola BellaFamous for the historical Palazzo Borromeo , a scenic baroque palace with terraced gardens and peacocks. Access to the palace, museum, and garden is €27.00 pp. Open from 10a to 5pm. At this first stop, you can also purchase a ticket package for all 3 gardens. <a href="https://terreborromeo.it/en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">More information can be found here.</a>2. Isola MadreLarge botanical gardens with exotic plants, rare flowers, and roaming peacocks and pheasants. Tour historic villas and private museums.3. Isola dei Pescatori Charming fishing village with quaint restaurants and local artisan boutiques. Enjoy fresh seafood!

Explore The Lake

Visit Luino in LombardyThe village dates back to ancient times. The village has played crucial roles in history, such as during the clashes between Garibaldi and the Austrians in 1848. Notable historic places to see include Masnago Castle (castle turned civic art museum), Angera Fortress (13th-14th century castle), and Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso (monastery). Visit Stresa/Verbania in Piedmont Lago Maggiore is divided into the Piedmont region on the West and the Lombardy region on the East.Stresa/Verbania are a great mix of lakeside charm, history, nature, and easy adventures. They are located in Piedmont and there are several passenger and car ferry options to cross the lake. Visit Cardada‑Cimetta in SwitzerlandLocated on the Swiss northern side of Lago Maggiore, you can drive up Cardada (1,340 m) or Cimetta (1,670 m) to see panoramic views of the lake. This is known as the "balcony over the lake" (Passerella Panoramica di Cardada). There is a gondola-cable car option starting in Locarno. There are also walking trails and restaurants at the peaks. On clear days, you can see the high peaks of the Swiss Alps!

Things to Do

Registry

What about gifts? No gifts. You're coming to ITALY FOR US! Are kids welcome? Our wedding will be an adults-only celebration. To ensure all of our guests, who are traveling such a long distance, can fully enjoy Italy and relax. We're grateful for respecting this decision and hoping everyone can unwind! May I bring a guest?We kindly ask that only the individuals named on your invitation join us at the scheduled events. If you’re unsure, your online RSVP will indicate whether a guest is included. If you're traveling with companions who are not on the wedding guest list, we'd be happy to assist in logistics as needed. Will my cell phone work in Italy?Check with your carrier about international plans, or consider buying a local eSIM. Most hotels offer free Wi-Fi. Carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile charge $12/day to use your phone for internet/messaging internationally. You can search for the bride &amp; groom on whatsapp by name/cell number for communicating with us while abroad.EU uses 220V outlets. Please ensure you have an EU-compatible plug adapter for your electronics. What currency and payment method is used in Italy?Italy uses the Euro (€). Credit cards are widely accepted, but it’s handy to have some cash for taxis or cafés. You can call your local bank to exchange dollars for euros before your trip to get the best exchange rate. Verify your credit card has 0% foreign transaction fees, or be aware that credit cards charge ~3% foreign transaction fees when used abroad.Pro tip: when asked if you'd like to pay in USD or EUR when using your credit card abroad, always pick the local currency for the better exchange rate. Do people speak English?English is widely spoken in hotels and tourist areas, though a few Italian phrases are always appreciated! 🇮🇹 Always say buongiorno (hello/good day) or buonasera (good evening) when entering a location. Grazie is thank you or grazie mille, thank you very much! Per favore is please. scusi is excuse me. Ciao is a casual way to say hi/bye! Will the ceremony or reception be outdoors/indoors? The ceremony &amp; aperitivo will be outdoors on grass/gravel. Reception will be indoors. Average temperature in the region during early September is mild and pleseant:Daytime: 64–70 °FNighttime: 50–54 °F What if I have a dietary restriction? Please indicate any dietary restrictions (vegetarian, gluten free, etc) when you RSVP so we can best accommodate your needs. How do I get information when hotel blocks are open? Please provide your email address when you RSVP. We will notify you when hotel blocks are open and any other relevant information related to the wedding. If you need any additional assistance or resources with travel or have any further questions, please reach out to Irene (IreneKaptsan@gmail.com)

Joseph & Irene

Joseph & Irene

Bride & Groom's Itinerary