Anne Barge Bride’s Lake Como Wedding Featured in Harper’s Bazaar Arabia

A pair of childhood friends became something more during the summer of 2020, and to celebrate their fairytale love story, Diana and Ferris Akkad hosted an extravagant three-day Lake Como wedding featuring bold colors, timeless touches, and their closest family and friends.

Their fabulous style, attention to detail, and lively entertainment rightly earned the Akkads a feature in Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, sharing both their love and talent for hosting with the world.

Diana and Ferris have known each other for nearly their entire lives. Their parents were close friends, and the couple grew up playing together while their parents chatted in the other room. But following their college graduations, Diana and Ferris started to see each other in a new light.

Ferris made the first move, asking Diana to a dinner that would change their friendship forever. Their familiar banter was the kindling for their once-in-a-lifetime love that would soon burn hot.

In a surprise proposal on their second anniversary, Ferris asked Diana to marry him, completing their journey from childhood friends to partners in life. Thus began seven months of meticulous planning for their dream destination wedding in Lake Como.

Diana opted to change into multiple bridal looks, beginning with Fillmore by Anne Barge. For the ceremony, Diana envisioned herself as a sophisticated and traditional bride.

It wasn’t easy finding a dress that encapsulated all of her bridal dreams, and Diana recalled trying on hundreds of gowns in search of something elegant enough to wear down the aisle. She traveled the globe to try on different gowns until, finally, she laid eyes on our Fillmore gown.

“The Anne Barge [gown] allowed me to embody the classic, timeless bride I’d always dreamed of being for the ceremony,” said Diana.

Diana completed her ceremony look with heirloom jewelry from family and friends and white lace Louboutins.

Diana thinks of herself as a traditional bride … but she also has a flair for the unconventional. She worked with planners Noemi and Natalia from Wow Weddings to craft her vision for a vibrant celebration that pulled from the couple’s shared Syrian culture as well as the Italian coastal setting.

Following their tear-filled ceremony and handwritten vows, the couple took a sunset cruise on a classic Lake Como Riva boat, providing a moment of solitude and escape from the festivities to soak up the moment together.

For the reception, they adorned the historic Villa Balbiano with sunset-inspired hues of lilac, yellow, pink, and orange. The 16th-century halls were filled with merriment and music to match the lavish parties of ages past. Guests were treated to traditional Italian cuisine and flowing champagne on the villa’s terrace. After dinner, everyone danced the night away, listening to everything from classical music to Syrian favorites to hip-hop.

The Akkads found a special kind of love that grew out of a lifelong friendship, and Anne Barge was honored to play a part in celebrating their wedding.

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