I’m excited to share that I hosted my first ever FAM (familiarization) trip to Northern Italy. Together with our sponsors, the team of Castello Visconteo, we curated an experience designed to introduce some of the top destination wedding planners on the East Coast to two of the region’s most stunning venues. Keep reading for the full recap.
The Story Behind How It All Came Together
Last summer, I received an email from Castello Visconteo expressing interest in breaking into the New York City destination wedding market. Having just returned from photographing a wedding in Italy, I was already in an Italian state of mind. Naturally, I was super excited to connect.
After the email, we stayed in touch with tentative plans to meet the next time their team had an outreach visit to the States. That winter, on a frozen February morning just after a blizzard, their team made the trip to New York. We sat down for brunch at The Beekman Hotel‘s Temple Bar and I was immediately struck by their warmth, professionalism, and genuine excitement about working with US couples.
Together we landed on the idea of a site visit to their beautiful venues and inviting a group of my industry connections to join us. Within a few short weeks we had dates, an itinerary, and a guest list of East Coast destination wedding planners plus the incredibly talented Lily Handel of LaFave Media to document the trip as our content creator. And all sponsored by the generous team at Castello Visconteo.
Welcome to Milan
Officially, the festivities of the FAM trip didn’t begin until Friday, but for guests who arrived in Milan a day early, Thursday evening set the tone beautifully.
The Castello team put together a welcome aperitivo at the outdoor space of Il Bistro’ de Il Castello. In Italy, an aperitivo is a traditional pre-dinner social gathering built around light drinks and appetizers. Francesca, the Castello venue manager, and her husband, the venue’s head chef along with the rest of Castello team put together a delightful spread including plenty of small bites, crispy fritto misto, fresh baked pizza, and a Spritz Bar that was perfect for grabbing a refreshing drink after the long flight.
The welcome party was simple yet meaningful meant to create connections and set the tone for the days ahead.
Day 1: Arriving in Milan and Castello Visconteo
With all of our guests officially arrived on site, the FAM experience was ready to begin. Everything began on Friday with a walking tour of the Cassano d’Adda neighborhood led by the Castello Visconteo venue coordinators, Camilla and Martina. The two ladies introduced us to all of the beautiful nooks and crannies of the town, pointing out all of the historic details, quiet alleys, and picturesque landscapes.
After the tour, we returned to the venue and sat down for a lovely Italian style lunches. The Castello team set a table in the courtyard, complete with freshly pulled mozzarella, homemade bread, cheese, olives, and vegetables. The menu consisted of Mediterranean vegetables, pasta al pomodoro, and fresh fruit for dessert. Behind it all was the Castello’s incredibly talented head chef, Paolo Franchi (who also happens to be the husband of Francesca Bellini, the venue’s manager!). There’s something about knowing a meal was made by someone with that kind of personal investment in the place that makes it taste even better. After lunch, we lingered and took portraits in the courtyard. No one was in a rush to leave. Instead, we all just took in the beauty of the castle.
We spent the rest of the afternoon touring the Castello Visconteo itself, which I’ll cover in more detail in the next section. But first, the evening, because it deserves a moment of its own.
As the sun began to set, each of us took some time to get a little glammed up for a formal dinner gala. Of course, we had to document all of the fancy dresses and the golden hour light streaming through the castle halls with formal portraits. Then we descended into the castle dungeon for a wine tasting with an Italian sommelier.
Once used as ancient prisons, the dungeons are now an exclusive tasting venue. Flickering candlelight filled the space with a magical ambiance, casting a warm glow over a table decorated in lanterns and grapes. One by one we sampled some of the venue’s finest wines and sampled small meat and cheese platters.
The evening closed with a formal gala dinner in the Beatrice d’Este Sforza Hall also known as the Throne Room. The intimate space is perfect for formal events with up to 50 guests. Chandeliers cast a warm light over the room, and even more candles lined the walls and mantle. The pink floral centerpieces were a lovely pop of bright color that played beautifully against the Giotto-inspired frescoes on every wall. It was the kind of dinner that makes you slow down and actually take it all in.
A Closer Look Inside Weddings at Castello Visconteo
Castello Visconteo is exactly what you picture when you close your eyes and imagine an Italian castle. Set within a lush landscape in the Cassano d’Adda countryside, the exterior features a romantic courtyard surrounded by ancient arched stone walls with sweeping views of northern Italy. Inside, vaulted halls with frescoed ceilings, elegant reception rooms, and atmospheric courtyards create an unforgettable setting for weddings and events.
The castle’s history stretches back to the 13th century built to hold control of the Muzza canal that separated the Duchy of Milan and the Republic of Venice. However, the castle’s most captivating chapter involves a very famous guest, Leonardo da Vinci. During his time in the Duchy of Milan, Leonardo experienced some of his most intense periods of creativity including conducting studies of birds’ flight from where he stayed in the castle’s tower. These studies later went on to inform his legendary flying machine designs. Not a bad fun fact to share with your wedding guests!
Today, the castle has been beautifully restored and functions as a full-service wedding and events venue. With a maximum capacity of 400 guests, couples can choose from a variety of rooms, halls, and reception spaces for their wedding. Imagine holding your wedding ceremony outside in the spacious Visconti Castle Courtyard with the warm countryside breeze flowing around you, heading indoors for cocktail hour along the Leonardo Terrace overlooking the river until finally, holding a dream reception in Francesco II Sforza Hall beneath stunning medieval frescoes. This castle is truly what dream destination weddings are made of.
For guests traveling from abroad, Castello Visconteo also offers 30 rooms and suites on site, each one embellished with medieval frescoes, canopy beds, and modern amenities. It’s the kind of place where your wedding guests won’t want to check out the morning after. Room reservations are available primarily for guests attending events at the castle, making it a truly private and immersive experience for your group.
And perhaps what makes Castello Visconteo most special of all is the fact that the owner lives on site. There’s a warmth and personal investment that runs through everything at this breathtaking venue, including the many family and friends who make up much of the staff. It feels less like a business and more like a family welcoming you into their home.
Day 2: Villa Borromeo, Pasta Making, and Milan City Sights
Day two began with a morning tour of Villa Borromeo, the partner venue to Castello Visconteo. Located just a short walk away from the castle, the two venues share more than just proximity. Villa Borromeo is owned by the sister of the Castello’s owner, making the partnership a true family affair.
After the tour, we made our way back to Castello Visconteo for what ended up being one of the highlights of the trip – pasta making with Castello’s head chef, Paolo. Under Paolo’s guidance, we learned how to make pasta from scratch, sipped Spritz along the way, and enjoyed a huge wheel of parmesan and grapes. Of course, a lot of taste testing was involved which was perfect because after class we sat down to enjoy a full lunch spread of the pasta we had just made.
For any couples planning a destination wedding at either venue, a pasta making or cooking class is an experience you can add into your wedding weekend to give your guests the full Italian experience. It’s definitely the kind of activity that gets everyone laughing and talking, and honestly, it’s just a really, really good time.
With full bellies and flour-dusted memories, we rejoined Camilla and Martina for an afternoon sightseeing tour of Milan. Private transfers were arranged by the venue and made the 30-minute journey feel completely effortless. With endless backdrops for photo ops around every corner and endless shopping, sightseeing in Milan is definitely something everyone needs to check off their bucket list. We ended the day with a dinner in the city that absolutely lived up to every expectation because when you’re in Italy, there’s no such thing as a bad meal.
Destination Wedding Possibilities at the Villa Borromeo
Where Castello Visconteo is wrapped in the grandeur of a medieval Italian castle, the Villa Borromeo is its elegant Baroque and neoclassical counterpart. With its original structures built by Francesco Croce in 1765, the villa has undergone many iterations throughout the centuries. New buildings and renovations mainly led by Giuseppe Piermarini created the villa as we currently know it with its U-shaped plan, public square, courtyard, and rear garden.
Today, the Villa Borromeo is known best for its elegant gardens and grand interiors. With a sprawling 70,000 square meters of centuries-old park, the Villa Borromeo grounds alone are enough to take your breath away. Meanwhile, impressive neoclassical architecture and interior frescoes give the venue a stately elegance, making it an exceptional choice for a memorable destination wedding.
With a number of spaces to choose from, couples looking for a tented garden reception, a grand indoor ceremony, or maybe something in between are sure to find a space in the villa that brings their dream wedding to life. And with capacity for up to 1,500 guests across its indoor and outdoor spaces, Villa Borromeo is well suited for hosting larger celebrations and events. As a bonus, on-site parking that accommodates up to 200 vehicles, makes planning a destination wedding with an international guest list all the more effortless.
The Villa Borromeo is the kind of venue that almost literally does the heavy lifting for you. With a setting so stunning, every detail, every photo, and every memory is elevated simply by being there.
Day 3: Farewell Breakfast at Castello Visconteo
Sadly, every good trip has to come to an end. For us, it ended the way it began, gathered together at the Castello Visconteo around a good meal. The Castello team prepared a beautiful farewell breakfast before everyone made their way home.
There’s something bittersweet about the last morning of a trip like this one. Over three days, a group of some of my favorite wedding industry colleagues turned into something more – a table of people who had cooked together, explored together, and shared long dinners together full of laughter and conversation. That kind of connection doesn’t happen over text chats and Zoom calls. And thanks to the warmth and generosity of the Castello team, every one of us left already dreaming of the couples we can’t wait to bring back here.
I left Milan feeling so genuinely proud of what came together in just six short weeks, and immensely grateful to the Castello team for making it all possible. This was my first FAM trip, but it definitely won’t be my last.
Oh, and one more thing, did I mention I also managed to squeeze in a styled shoot while staying at a 13th century castle? Because of course I did! More on that coming very soon. 😉
Are you planning a destination wedding in the near future? I’d love to be there with you to document every special moment!
Hi there! I’m Rachael Crowe of OkCrowe Photography. I’m a wedding photographer based in New York City. Whether you’re planning a wedding in Milan or Manhattan, I am always more than happy to travel to wherever you need to – domestic or international – to help make your dream wedding come to life. Ready to get started? Just head to my contact form and let’s chat!
Milan FAM Trip Guest List:
- Sneh Diwan of Diwan by Design (NYC)
- Amanda Novena of Amanda Novena Weddings (NYC)
- Jane Handel of Jane Handles Weddings (NYC)
- Kate Kinsella of Kate Kinsella Events (NYC)
- Carol Guedes of Flying Little Birds (NYC)
- Laura of Ida Rose Events (Washington DC)
- Noelle Ahmad of Silk and Slate (Washington DC)
- Trip sponsored by Castello Visconteo
- Social media content created by Lily Handel of LaFave Media (Washington DC)
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