A Lighthearted Wedding Fueled by Dancing and Zero Expectations at Villa Pizzo

By Kevin Harson17 February 2026

Black, white, gold and natural greenery

We wanted the entire focus of the day to be around our guests, family, and friends having a good time. The top priority and most important thing for us was encouraging dancing, fun, laughter, and overall happiness. The vibe from the moment we woke up that morning to the last moment of the evening was to have 0 stress, not take things too seriously, and simply enjoy each moment, even if they don’t go as planned. Our vision was to essentially treat this as one big lighthearted party with our favorite people rather than a wedding to worry over.

We first met at a soccer match in Rome in 2018. I was playing, and he was the referee – it was a very chance meeting,g and we thought we would never see each other again, but Naz found me and persisted. We dated long distance for about 2 years and always traveled together, so for our engagement,nt I didn’t think anything of it when he planned a trip to the Lake District of England in Windermere. We hiked to the top of a mountain, were completely alone, and he proposed! Being that we met in Italy, got engaged at the Lakes District in England, we felt it would be a full circle moment to get married at the Lakes District in Italy.

Dress was Berta Privee, overskirt was Ines Di Santo, shoes were Badgley Mischka, first necklace was Swarovski, second necklace, and all other jewelry was from 14 Karat Jewelers in Livonia, Michigan family-ownedd business. Suits (groom, brothers, and father) were from Alexander’s Custom Clothiers in Northville, Michigan

The wedding dinner followed a classic Italian flow — fresh seasonal flavors, elegant plating, and a warm, relaxed atmosphere at the table. Guests enjoyed long conversations over beautifully prepared dishes and local wines.

We wanted to have a very minimalistic, simple, sleek, and timeless vibe for our florals and decor. No bright accent colors, no excessive florals, no additional structures or decorations – we felt as though the beauty of Lake Como and Villa Pizzo spoke for itself, so adding more would take away from the natural beauty of the venue. The only thing that felt like a necessity was the inclusion of orchids somehow (the bride’s favorite flower)

A classic cream-filled wedding cake finished with fresh berries — simple, elegant, and perfectly in tune with the day.

One of the most important and special aspects of the wedding was incorporating our favorite people in special ways. My brothers officiated, my uncle walked me down half of the aisle, our cousin MC’d, another cousin was the ring bearer, and my mother gave a speech. The ceremony itself was very nontraditional and more of a stand-up comedy show than a serious moment. I also loved my first dance with my Baba, because everyone knows our relationship is very goofy, so we took a traditionally sentimental moment and flipped it on its head by starting with a slow song and moving into an upbeat dance.

We still had plenty of traditional Armenian elements, especially with the music and specific dances (Aftos dance around the shot glass, being lifted in the chairs, etc.).

I think the most special thing for both of us was the fact that so many people from so many different times in our lives travelled from all over the world to be there with us and celebrate. It was such a unique group of people who all got along to celebrate us.