Jake Ugolini
Jordan Phillips
Jake Ugolini
Jordan Phillips
September 16, 2025
How We Met
We met in 2019 at an Olive Garden — which makes our Italian wedding feel kind of full circle 🍝 The bride was working weekends while in school, not expecting anything new — until a tall, dark, and (very) handsome new trainee walked in. She definitely noticed him (even if she played it cool). The groom thought he’d met everyone on staff — until he saw her, all curls and confidence. He tried to play it cool (he did not), did a full double-take, and walked straight into another server while carrying a full tray. Turns out, we were both students at the same university, both navigating school, work, and life. We bonded over everything from terrible tables and weird injuries, to vegan food and our love of animals. — even with the groom being allergic to the bride’s cats (he powered through). A lot’s happened since that first shift, and now, we get to celebrate the best part. 💫💛
Schedule
Friday, September 12, 2025
🛫 Flight Departure
7:00 pm
NYC (JFK) --> Milan (MXP) American Airlines 198 Duration: 8 hours ⏳ Arrival: September 13th @ 9:10 AM in Milan, Italy (MXP)
Saturday, September 13, 2025
🍝🇮🇹 Welcome to Milan! 🇮🇹🍕
Sat, Sep 13, 2025, 9:00 am - Mon, Sep 15, 2025, 12:00 pm
We’ll be settling in with a gentle walk to the Duomo and Galleria — perfect for a little sightseeing (and maybe a gelato). Join us if you’re up for a light stroll! 🍝 Later, we’ll be gathering for a relaxed welcome dinner to start easing into the celebrations. We’d love for you to join us — no pressure, just a gentle start to a special weekend. ☕ On Sunday morning, we’ll have a casual welcome brunch where we can all reconnect whenever you’re ready. After Sunday brunch: [POTENTIAL OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: 12-2PM?] 🍷 Sunday Evening: Our last night in Milan — rooftop, piazza, or dinner before we head to Lake Como the next day.
Monday, September 15, 2025
🌿 We've Reached Lake Como!
6:00 pm
Lake Como is easily accessible by car or train from Milan — about a one-hour trip. We’re excited for the stunning views, fresh air, and that perfect lake breeze. We’ll be staying at Hotel Griso Collection and recommend you do too! Check-in is at 3:00PM, but they can hold your bags if you arrive early. *See the Travel section below for details. 🚤 Afternoon Boat Ride: We’ll kick things off with a private boat ride to soak in the scenery and celebrate the start of something special. *Timing + meeting spot coming soon 👒 Boating attire encouraged (think sundresses, polos, comfy shoes) — no swimsuits needed, just your breeziest self! 🍽️ Dinner Plans: details are still in the works — we may gather by the water, explore the town, or leave it up to you. Casual, cozy, and no pressure. 💕 — the wedding is tomorrow! 💍✨
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
🥂 The Main Event 💍
4:00 pm
Our outdoor ceremony starts at 4 PM — a day full of love, laughter, and an amazing meal to enjoy together 🍷✨ When you get here, we’ll welcome you with a drink and an aperitif before the ceremony to get things started. We’re also arranging transportation options to keep everything safe, easy and stress-free. 📸 Unplugged Moment: Please put your phones away during the ceremony so our photographer and videographer can capture all the special moments *After that, feel free to take photos and share as much as you want! Thank you so much for traveling all this way to celebrate with us in beautiful Italy 🇮🇹❤️
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Venice
6:00 pm
The morning after the wedding, we’re driving to Venice for a little reset before heading home. That wraps up our time with everyone — thanks so much for celebrating with us! Enjoy the rest of your time in Europe however you like.
Gallery
Travel
Travel Note
Passports!
Make sure you have a valid passport! First-time applications take longer, but renewals are usually faster. You can also request faster processing if needed. ⚡ Check this website for more information:
Rental Car
Want to rent a car? 🚗
You’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP) along with your U.S. license. Some rental places might not ask for it, but it’s required, and you could get fined if the cops stop you. (Disclaimer: Manual transmission cars are the norm in many countries, so make sure you’re comfortable driving one if you plan to rent a car.) The (IDP) is SUPER simple to apply for—check out this website for more info:
Hotel
Lake Como Hotel
This is the central hotel we've chosen for Lake Como! You're welcome to stay wherever you'd like, but we thought it might be fun and convenient for everyone to be in one place. Since alcohol will be served—and the venue is at the top of a mountain with some curved roads—we’re planning to arrange transportation (like vans or drivers) to take our small party to and from the wedding. We’ll be using the hotel as the central meeting spot for everyone to catch a ride to the venue, so it’s all easy and stress-free. Check-in is at 3:00 PM, and pets are welcome!
Hotel
Milan Hotel
This is where we’ll be staying in Milan before the wedding at Lake Como. You’re welcome to pick your own hotel, but this is the one we chose, and it’s super close to all the top sights in Milan!
Train
Milano Centrale 🇮🇹🚄
Milano Centrale is Milan’s main train station and a key transport hub in northern Italy. This historic building offers easy access to trains across Italy and Europe. It’s well connected to public transit, taxis, and nearby hotels, and has shops, cafes, and luggage storage inside for your convenience.
FAQs
Question
What is the wedding attire & color scheme?
Answer
Dress Code: Black Tie Optional (Black Attire) 🖤 For Men: A black suit with a white dress shirt and tie — simple and sharp. For Women: A formal black dress, a lovely black cocktail dress, or a sleek black pantsuit. We kindly ask everyone to keep it simple and elegant to match the relaxed, intimate vibe of the day. 🌿
Question
Why Tuesday?
Answer
We wanted to give everyone time to arrive, settle in, and enjoy the lead-up without rushing. It also leaves room after the wedding to travel a bit more or head home with time to recharge before Monday rolls around — especially for those jumping back into the workweek.
Question
Would you be butthurt if I joined you OR ventured off on my own plans after the wedding?
Answer
Definitely not, you guys are going out of your way to come a long way. ✈️🌍 Take advantage of being in Europe if you'd like!
Question
What's the final check-off list?
Answer
1) Passport is CRUCIAL! You cannot leave America without it (finish l8r)
Question
"I still have a question & Jake isn't texting me back"
Answer
336-469-5636 (Jordan)
Question
GENERAL CHECKLIST
Answer
1) Go to the post office and get your passport. (ASAP) 2) Acquire your wedding attire - Suits and Cocktail Dresses - Please do Black Colour. 3) If you want a car make sure you rent it (we got a deal with our plane tickets) and complete the form above 4) Please plan ahead for the care of your pets!!! We all got 'em.
Question
TRAVEL CHECKLIST
Answer
1) Book plane tickets to fly into Milan (MXP Airport) overnight on Friday, Sep 12th. (or elsewhere if you are making your own schedule.) We are doing Friday Sep 12th to Friday Sep 19th. 2) Book a hotel in Milan at or near (Bianca Maria Palace Hotel) for the nights of Saturday, Sep 13th and Sunday, Sept 14th. May want to call ahead to ask about early check-in or we will just store our luggage upon arrival. 3) Book a two night hotel stay in Lake Como at Hotel Griso Collection (Viale Italia, 24, 23864 Malgrate LC, Italy) for the nights of Monday, Sep 15th & Tuesday, Sep 16th. 4) Bride and groom will be staying in Venice for a honeymoon the night of Wednesday, Sep 17th & Thursday, Sep 18th and then flying back early on Friday, Sep 19th. you are welcome to join us in Venice but we wont be having many group activities those last few nights. You can also travel to wherever you would like to.
Question
GENERAL INFO
Answer
1) You will not need bathing suit attire for boatride, we should be staying dry and I imagine it will be windy. 2) Paris and Milan are known for having pickpockets. Please plan defense mechanisms ahead of time. No easy access purses.