LYDIA AND JAKE
It was the summer of 2020. Covid shut down the world, masks were expected in public, Tiger King graced people's tvs, Tiktok dances were learned, and whole cities were shut down. "Social Distancing" was even a coined phrase. You may be wondering how in the world two people that lived thousands of miles away from each other even met.
Enter a Door County, Wisconsin lake house. Lydia, needing to get out of her small Indiana hometown she had been hiding out in, made a last minute decision to join her high school friend Annie for a fun weekend on Lake Michigan. It was to be a weekend of debauchery with several Miami of Ohio alums, including Jake, who traveled all the way from Boston to join in on the fun.
Instantly hitting it off, within a few hours Lydia began calling Jake her boyfriend (if you know her, you get the humor). At first, her forwardness took him aback, but after a few hours, she won him over and they bonded over their shared humor, love of travel, and easy connection. By the end of the weekend numbers were exchanged and texts were shared. Lydia traveled back to Indiana and Jake flew home to Boston telling his sister "I think I met a girl." (If you know him, you would also be surprised.)
On a whim, Lydia invited Jake to her family's home in Florida with her college friends. Jake immediately agreed, much to Lydia's surprise and a week in the sunshine state made them both realize this could be something real. A quick trip to Boston to meet Jake's family, where Lydia got the stamp of approval, solidified their relationship and things became official. Many flights from Chicago to Boston and vice versa happened that first year with Jake eventually agreeing to move to Chicago on the condition that they *both* must support all Boston sports.
Five years later, after endless adventures, laughs, and becoming dog parents to their precious Luna, Jake finally popped the question surrounded by her family and friends and Lydia said yes.
Now, they can’t wait to celebrate the start of their next chapter — with all of their favorite people, in such a special place.
WEDDING WEEKEND
We are so excited to celebrate with you in Lake Como! While we absolutely love your children, please keep in mind that all wedding weekend related events are strictly adults only. Thank you for understanding!
THE WELCOME PARTY
4 September 2026
Villa Balbiano, Lake Como
More details to follow!
THE WEDDING
5 September 2026
Villa Balbiano, Lake Como
More details to follow!
THE POOL PARTY
6 September 2026
Villa Balbiano
More details to follow!
TRAVEL
If you’d like assistance with your wedding hotel, transportation, or extending your travels before or after the festivities, Cooper Violagis—friend of the couple and luxury travel advisor—would be delighted to help. Please reach out directly at cooper@limentravel.com
ACCOMMODATIONS
You are welcome to stay anywhere you feel most comfortable, though we are strongly encouraging our guests to stay in/near the town of Tremezzo, as transportation for wedding weekend events will be provided from the town center. In general, this town provides ease of access to the venue and many cute restaurants, cafes and shops.
Villa Edy has set aside some rooms for our group!
In order to book, please email info@villaedy.com with the subject line "15021972/2025 Lange/Esposito Booking"
They will not book a room for you without that subject line, so please include "15021972/2025 Lange/Esposito Booking" in the subject line.
Room rates range between 240 - 360 Euro per night, and must be reserved prior to March 15, 2026.
If you have any issues securing a room, please contact bianca@esteraevents.com for assistance.
While we don't have a room block at any hotels, some local favorites include:
FLIGHTS
We recommend flying into either Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), Milan Linate Airport (LIN), or Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY).
Malpensa is the largest airport, serving mostly international and long-haul flights, so if you are coming from the US, you will likely fly in here.
Linate and Bergamo are smaller, and could work well if you are flying from another country in Europe.
In either situation, we recommend coordinating a car to bring you to Lake Como, as once you get to Lake Como there are plenty of ferries to get you around and a car is not needed. We recommend hiring a car through Blacklane or Transferoo.
EXPLORING EUROPE
We know many of our guests may be turning this trip to Europe into a longer adventure, and we couldn’t be more excited for you! Below are some of our favorite nearby destinations and easy add-ons to consider while you’re in the area:
Bellagio
Take a ferry to Bellagio and explore the charming towns on the opposite side of Lake Como
Milan
Italy’s fashion and design capital, just 1–1.5 hours from Lake Como.
Bergamo
A beautifully preserved medieval town about 1.5 hours away—perfect for an overnight stay.
Verona & Lake Garda
Roughly 2.5 hours from Lake Como, these nearby destinations offer Roman ruins, historic streets, and excellent wine bars.
Lugano, Switzerland
About 1.5 hours away, Lugano has stunning mountain views and a Lake Como–like atmosphere with a Swiss twist.
St. Moritz
A scenic 3.5-hour drive from Lake Como and home to the famous Bernina Express train, known for breathtaking alpine views.
The Dolomites
Approximately 4 hours away and ideal for hiking, outdoor adventures, and dramatic mountain scenery.
Travel Note: Milan is a major international hub, with flights to Paris, Barcelona, and London all under two hours for those interested in extending their trip and exploring beyond Italy.
As mentioned above, if you’d like assistance with your wedding hotel, transportation, or extending your travels before or after the festivities, please reach out to Cooper Violagis directly at cooper@limentravel.com.
