A Traditional Outdoor Destination Wedding in Lake Como, Italy

Newlyweds Douglas Wurtz and Amanda Richman share a private moment after their ceremony.

The wedding location, Villa del Balbianello, on Lake Como, Italy.

Guests arrive at the villa by boat for the evening wedding.

Doug and his entourage walk the grounds before the festivities begin.

Amanda steps ashore, accompanied by her hairstylist, Wolfgang Steinbauer.

Fashionably dressed wedding guests walk from the dock to where the ceremony will take place.

Guests, decked out in black-tie garb, mingle preceremony on the villa's terrace.

During their vows, Doug and Amanda are wrapped in a tallith, a Jewish prayer shawl, to signify their unity.

Each of the eight bridesmaids wears a dress of her own choosing by Amsale; says Amanda, "I didn't have a color palette. I wanted the wedding to be fun, funky, and eccentric, but still elegant."

In addition to the Amsale dresses the bridesmaids chose, they wear jeweled headbands from Lulu Frost and carry bouquets of roses by Rattiflora.

Doug signs the ketubah, or wedding certificate, a tradition at Jewish nuptials.

After the nuptials, the bride and groom pose for a photo with their parents, (from left) William and Joanne Wurtz and Steven and Stephanie Richman.

The bride poses for a photo with her mother.

A spectacular view of Lake Como from the grounds of the villa.

Guests look on as the couple -- Amanda in an Elizabeth Fillmore gown, Doug in a Tom Ford tux -- leave the altar. "The ceremony was about all these people coming together," says Amanda. "They weren't just witnesses, but a part of our day."

The two long reception tables are dressed with custom-patterned runners, tall ivory taper candles, and centerpiece bouquets of tulips.

Also decorating the tables are white hydrangea, lilies of the valley, gardenias, and white lilacs.

With the sky as their ceiling, guests dine on an Italian meal of ravioli with basil, tomatoes, pesto, and sliced veal before dancing into the wee hours of the morning. The clear tent is lit with hanging chandeliers and oversize candelabras.

As guests dine they look out over a beautiful view of Lake Como.

A warm glow from the candles creates a beautiful and romantic setting inside the clear tent.

The newlyweds share their first dance to "Love" by Nat King Cole.

Ushers help guests find their seats for the reception; ribbon pockets for escort cards were cleverly sewn inside their jackets.

Pashmina shawls in white, cream, and shades of teal are draped over the backs of guests' chairs.

Amanda, her bridesmaids, and guests listen as Douglas stands up to toast his bride in a heartfelt speech that touched upon his love for her, the picture-perfect setting, and the beautiful day. "At that point, I really didn't think it could get any better," says Amanda.

But when he finished talking and looked to the sky, a five-minute fireworks display, set to a soundtrack of Italian opera music, lit up Lake Como. It took Amanda's breath away: "It was so beautiful; I didn't even have words," she says.

The couple smile for the camera during dinner.

Location: Villa del Balbianello
Event Planning: Annie Lee of Daughter of Design
Catering & Cake: Food Couture
Flowers: Rattiflora
Stationery: Julie Holcomb Printers
Digital Calligraphy: Kate's Paperie
Ketubah: shellartistreet.com
Tent: Tensotend
Wedding Photography: Roey Yohai
Videography: Open Eye Media
Gown: Elizabeth Fillmore
Hair Accessories: Lulu Frost
Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale
Tuxedo: Tom Ford
Hair: Propaganda Haare
Makeup: Beauty Farm at Hotel Villa Serbelloni