Bazaar Bride: Diana and Ferris Akkad’s Lake Como Wedding
A love story beginning in Syria and spanning decades, Diana and Ferris tied the knot in timeless style on the shores of Lake Como
The stunning shores of Lake Como made for a truly unique wedding for Washington DC-based consultants Diana and Ferris Akkad as decades of friendship culminated in the union of two families – rooted in their shared Syrian heritage.
Growing up together meant this duo had been intertwined since childhood, but a fateful Fourth of July party in 2020 set events into motion that would change their lives forever. Almost two years to the day from their first date, Ferris got down on one knee and uttered those four magical words: “Will you marry me?”
“In line with tradition, Ferris approached the proposal with a nod to our shared culture where it’s customary for the man – accompanied by his family – to visit the woman’s family to seek their blessing. True to form, Ferris and his family came to mine to ask for my hand in marriage,” explained bride, Diana. Some joint ring shopping and a few months later Ferris finally popped the question under a floral arch at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington. “I had never been so surprised and genuinely happy; a few moments later, our three sisters popped out to surprise us. He knows how much they mean to me and wanted them to be there to share the moment.”
Plans were swiftly set into motion and with the help of their planners Natalia and Noemi from Wow Weddings, Diana and Ferris tied the knot seven months later.
Being fond of travel the couple were keen to find a place neither of them had visited before, hoping to find a unique space to forge new memories. “With every inquiry about the best villa to host such an occasion, one name was consistently recommended with enthusiastic certainty: Villa Balbiano,” explained Diana, and so Lake Como become the setting for their big day.
The bride’s dress search didn’t come so easily though, as Diana confessed to trying on over 100 gowns in a quest that – literally – spanned continents. In the end the Syrian beauty chose two gowns. “The Anne Barge allowed me to embody the classic, timeless bride I’d always dreamed of being for the ceremony, while my Antonio Riva dress gave me the opportunity to showcase my love for statement fashion whilst also supporting Italian talent.” Complemented with classic closed-toe lace Louboutins and jewellery, both borrowed and gifted from loved ones on the day, the accessories were kept classic and elegant.
The couple’s three sisters were bridesmaids and encouraged to select their own outfits to celebrate their different personalities and tastes. “We chose not to limit them to a specific colour scheme or dress style. Instead, we encouraged them to select outfits that reflected their individuality and the vibrancy they add to our lives.”
That same sense of vibrancy ran through the whole weekend as the couple wanted the three-day celebration to feel like a holiday for their guests. “It was important for us to have our wedding be more than just a day but a memorable experience for everyone involved. Celebrating not only our union but the journey, the scenery, and the sheer joy of being together,” said Ferris.
Taking inspiration from their tradition of watching sunrises together, the couple adorned the venue with dyed jasmine in hues of lilac, pink, yellow and orange and endeavoured to bring that eclectic sense of fun to the entertainment too by playing everything from classical music and traditional Syrian tunes to disco and hip hop. A traditional Italian banquet gave guests a taste of the local cuisine, drinks on the terrace freely flowed and midnight snacks were served under the stars.
“Our ceremony was a sacred exchange of vows that we wrote ourselves. Promises that spoke of our past, present, and the infinite future. We both cried, [as did] many in the crowd!” says Diana “Ferris arrived at the beautiful venue by boat and then I walked down the aisle with my dad to Can’t Help Falling in Love.”
Was there a stand-out moment? “Our post-ceremony escape on a classic Lake Como Riva boat was an unforgettable experience. Surrounded by the stunning scenery, in the serenity of Lake Como’s enchanting waters it allowed us to momentarily step away from the celebrations and simply enjoy being newlyweds in one of the most beautiful places on earth.” The bride and groom then enjoyed a multi-stop honeymoon in Switzerland, Santorini, and the U.K., before heading home to America.
Bride’s Black Book
Dress 1: Filmore dress by Anne Barge, annebarge.com Dress 2: Dora dress by Antonio Riva Milano, antoniorivamilano.com
Shoes: Christian Louboutin, christianlouboutin.com
Jewellery: Gifted by family
Bridesmaid Dresses: Rachel Gilbert & Mac Duggal, rachelgilbert.us, macduggal.com
Venue: Villa Balbiano, @villa_balbiano
Caterer: Class Eventi, @ classeventi
Florist: Lake Como Florist, @lakecomoflorist
Photographer: Julia Kaptelova, @juliakaptelova_ photography
Wedding Planner: Natalia Dragani at Wow Wedding, @wow.weddin
Photography By Julia Kaptelova
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s Bride Spring/Summer 2024 issue.