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Vivian Tu of Your Rich BFF Is Married! See Every Photo From Her Wedding Weekend on Lake Como, Which Honored Her Chinese Heritage
The personal finance content creator and best-selling author threw a three-part wedding in Italy—and we honestly can’t pick a favorite event.
Photos by Oliver Fly
When Vivian Tu, the personal finance content creator also known as Your Rich BFF, first met her now-husband Greg Hunt, who works in private equity, they shared a few drinks, but—alas—not numbers. Vivian had crashed a friend’s night out at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City with a bunch of her colleagues, which included Greg, in October 2016; they hit it off, but didn’t reconnect until six months later, at another one of Greg’s work events. This time, he made sure to leave with her digits and a plan to go on their official first date the following day.
He concocted yet another plan as he prepared to propose to Vivian in July 2022, shortly after the couple locked in a trip to Italy. “He wanted the moment to be private (which is challenging in Lake Como), yet grand, so he decided to rent out Villa Balbianello, one of the lake’s most storied locations, for the proposal,” Vivian tells Brides exclusively. “The challenge then was to figure out how to get me to the villa (which is only accessible by boat), in a dress and with my makeup done, without giving away the surprise.” He managed to pull it off with the decoy story of all decoy stories, fake-out and all. Telling Vivian that they were attending a friend of a friend’s black-tie birthday bash was enough to get her dressed up and on a boat—and upon their arrival, the “groundskeeper” (a.k.a., the proposal planner) greeted them and pretended as though he’d mixed up the date of the party. As a consolation for their troubles, they were offered a tour of the villa—and after a long walk up the gravel pathway, they reached the estate, where Greg got down on one knee and officially proposed.
The couple knew right away (literally) that they’d eventually tie the knot in Italy; they actually toured a few venues in the days after their engagement. “Italy has always been a special place for us—the first trip we ever took as a couple was to the Amalfi Coast back in 2017. We love the culture, the food, the beautiful scenery, the people—everything,” says the bride. Lake Como was always the goal: “It’s simply the most magical place we’ve ever been. When we first visited in 2022, I distinctly remember walking out on the terrace of our hotel. The weather was perfect, the lake was still, and the mountains just seemed to spring up from the shore with a slight haze lingering over the tops. It felt like I had been dropped into a fairy tale.”
Vivian and Greg ultimately turned to another prominent property on the iconic lake—Villa Erba—for their wedding weekend’s main event. Funnily enough, it wasn’t one they’d seen in person, but they booked it anyway. From afar, they fell in love with the grounds, and when they visited the estate ahead of their nuptials, they realized how grand the interior was. “The main atrium and dining room have soaring ceilings with incredibly beautiful frescoes painted on them, in addition to a really impressive grand staircase leading into the space,” says the bride. “Once we saw it, we knew we’d picked the right venue.”
The couple’s wedding weekend began, however, at Ristorante Crotto dei Platani, a Lake Como restaurant that boasts views of the Alps in Switzerland. The following day, on June 29, 2024, 90 of the pair’s nearest and dearest gathered for their wedding, which was designed with plenty of red as a nod to the bride’s Chinese heritage. The three-part event (which culminated in a farewell pool party with a Candy Land theme) came together thanks to plenty of work from Greg (who facilitated much of the prep while Vivian, a New York Times best-selling author, launched her first book, Rich AF) and Cinzia Beretta and Alba Moscaroli of Bespoke Unique Weddings & Events. “We had never planned a wedding before, so you don’t know what you don’t know,” notes Vivian, adding that neither she nor Greg grew up envisioning what their future wedding would look like. “We were so impressed by the team’s ability to bring our initial ideas to life—we can’t say enough good things about them.”
Ahead, see every exclusive photo of the couple’s multi-day celebration, as captured by Oliver Fly.
Photos by Oliver Fly
The couple’s stationery suite from Letterlink previewed their party’s red color scheme; red calligraphy was splashed across the central invitation card, as well as on the maps the duo included in each (burgundy) envelope. A gold wax seal completed the look.
Photos by Oliver Fly
Guests arrived at the welcome party at Ristorante Crotto dei Plattani via a yacht before the couple of honor made their debut in their own boat. “Pulling up knowing that all the important people in our lives had traveled to Italy to celebrate us was an incredible, and overwhelming, feeling,” says Vivian, who wore a floral Zimmerman dress.
Attendees heeded the pair’s “Italian chic” pastel dress code, which played into the event’s palette and décor landscape. “We didn’t want it to feel like a restaurant. Instead, we wanted our guests to feel like they had arrived at an Italian nonna’s home and garden for dinner,” shares Vivian.
Photos by Oliver Fly
Boys 4 Road, a local band, performed a mix of Italian and pop classics during the event, which was the ultimate introduction to a full weekend of classic Italian entertainment, says the couple.
Photos by Oliver Fly
The couple installed custom wooden trellises covered in florals—and in some cases, escort cards—to disguise the property’s walls and threw open the windows on the other side of the space to take advantage of the view; pale blue floral linens, fringed lamps and napkins, and vibrant centerpieces contributed to the at-home vibe. “The feel of the room blew us away when we came upstairs to take our seats,” says the bride.
Photos by Oliver Fly
While getting ready for the big day, Vivian and her glam team (Kevin D’Ambrosi of The Studio Como and Clarissa Luna) focused on ensuring “the look matched the mood,” she says, which resulted in radiant and romantic makeup that enhanced her eyes with soft shades of pink, a classic half up half down hairstyle with a soft curl, and a spritz of Maison Margiela Replica’s Under the Lemon Trees perfume. “It’s the perfect summer scent. It was also a nod to our travels together to Positano, both for our first trip as a couple and our minimoon (the Amalfi Coast is known for their lemons!),” explains Vivian.
Photos by Oliver Fly
Vivian wore three wedding dresses over the course of the big day, starting with a custom cut A-line Vera Wang gown with a strapless neckline, macramé lace, tulle overlay, and silk organza flowers; it was the very first one she tried on. “The day I went to try on dresses, there was torrential downpour in New York City. I showed up [to Vera Wang] soaked, and certainly did not feel very pretty, but the way I felt in this dress was special,” she says. “My mood instantly changed when I put it on. I looked at myself in the mirror and felt that even with my wet hair and no makeup, I looked beautiful.”
Jimmy Choo sandals and rented diamonds from Verstolo—a genius wedding money-saving tip from the finance pro—completed her ensemble. “More is more with diamonds, but I certainly didn’t want to spend $120,000 on jewelry for my big day or wear costume jewelry,” she explains. “I was so happy to be able to rent them for a fraction of the cost. I got to look amazing in stunning diamonds without spending a fortune.”
The bride held a simple white orchid bouquet by Riccardo Ciceri for her walk down the aisle.
Photos by Oliver Fly
Both Vivian and Greg—who wore a bespoke tuxedo from Huntsman & Sonswith Christian Louboutin shoes, a Tom Ford bow tie, and monogrammed cufflinks from Tiffany & Co.—have participated in wedding parties and know the additional stress and financial burden that comes along with them. “Since we were already asking our friends and family to travel to Italy for us, we wanted to ensure things were as low maintenance for all of our guests as possible,” she says. “For that reason, we opted to not have a wedding party so everybody could focus on enjoying themselves to the fullest.”
Vivian just had one special request for her closest friends: In keeping with the event’s Chinese influence, she asked all of her favorite people to wear red gowns.
Photos by Oliver Fly
The ceremony took place on the property’s dock, which made the couple look as though they were standing on the lake when they reached the altar. A circular arch by Riccardo Ciceri was constructed on the platform and was designed to provide a direct view for guests out onto the lake with clear acrylic supports in the middle; from a distance, the flowers, a mixture or white roses and orchids, looked like they were floating.
A long white aisle extended from the villa; flowers lined the walkway in a straight and tighter configuration to provide a modern look. Guests were seated in plush white chairs on the hill overlooking the ceremony platform.
Photos by Oliver Fly
Vivian’s father, Huacheng Tu, escorted her down the aisle to a string quartet’s rendition of Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” after Greg made his debut to “You’re Still the One” by Shania Twain. Officiated by a close friend, the ceremony was kept short and sweet to spotlight the couple’s hand-written vows. “They didn’t include any special quotes or anecdotes, but were meant to highlight how important we have become to each other over the seven years of our relationship and express to our guests all of the great things we see in each other,” says Vivian.
A miracle weather moment happened just before the couple was officially married. “Just as Greg started to put the ring on my hand, the sun came out and shined down for the rest of the ceremony,” says Vivian, who had been “down in the dumps” about the unpredictable, storm-ridden forecast. “It’s hard to explain, but it felt like a good omen and the timing was perfect.”
Photos by Oliver Fly
After they were pronounced husband and wife, the couple recessed back up the aisle to “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys.
While the couple snapped a few post-ceremony photos inside the villa, guests enjoyed an aperitivo hour with a stacked list of appetizers from Class Eventi, including carbonara cream with bacon and pecorino cheese, which was served inside of an egg shell (this was the overwhelming fan favorite, notes the bride), glazed foie gras on a crisp yuzu and daikon root, prawns with soy mayo, tapioca chips with tuna tartare, ponzu, and asparagus, and more. “We also had a fresh cheese and meat station—an Italian staple,” says Vivian. “Food is incredibly important to us. Trying new restaurants, especially while traveling, is probably our favorite activity as a couple. Having good food for the events was one of our highest priorities.”
Photos by Oliver Fly
Come the reception, which took place inside one of the villa’s dining rooms with painted frescoes on the ceilings, everything was red. “We chose mirrored tables with runners to reflect the incredible ceilings in the dining room. Large centerpieces were filled with red roses and an assortment of other flowers and greenery,” says Vivian. “They were designed to provide height to the room, without obstructing the chandeliers or the guests seated across the table.”
Red laser-cut menus were on-palette and on-theme; the rest of the place settings, including the glassware and linens, were kept simple to keep the focus on the main attraction—the florals, the food, and the entertainment, shares the bride.
Photos by Oliver Fly
For the reception, Vivian changed into a custom wedding dress (named the Vivian!) by designer Andrew Kwon, a personal friend of the bride who also attended her nuptials as a guest. The garment—a softly structured ball gown with a corset bodice, detachable cape, and train—was created over a span of six weeks and featured hand-cut floral motifs (inspired by a moonlit garden Andrew experienced in Italy a few summers ago).
Photos by Oliver Fly
Following a first course of tagliolini fresh pasta with black truffle (truffles were shaved at the tableside) and toma piemontese cheese, guests enjoyed their choice of fiorentina with crispy potatoes or Mediterranean sea bass with cherry tomatoes and taggiasca olives.
Photos by Oliver Fly
“The entertainment for the evening may have been the biggest surprise of the whole weekend. It blew us away—every component,” says Vivian. Dinner started with two sets from an operatic trio; they performed an array of their favorite opera songs, including some well-known classics. “Following their sets, Inspiration’s four singers performed a number of songs in the dining room which were so unbelievably good, it left me speechless. They had everybody up and dancing by the end of dinner—and before we knew it, it was time to head outside again for some fireworks,” explains the bride.
Photos by Oliver Fly
Before the light show began, the newlyweds shared their first dance to “Even the Nights Are Better” by Air Supply; as they cut into their five-tier confection, with vanilla cake, chantilly cream frosting, and strawberry filling, the night sky exploded into color. “One of Greg’s nonnegotiables for the wedding was that we had to have fireworks, even though I would say we’re not the biggest fireworks people in the world (they’re loud and the shows usually drag on),” says the bride, who was ambivalent about the decision ahead of the big day. That all changed as she watched Lake Como come to life. “Words can’t do it justice. It felt so magical to be on the shores of the lake watching this beautiful show on a perfect night. During the show, I leaned over and whispered to Greg, ‘You were right—this is the best,’ which resulted in a deep belly laugh from him.”
Photos by Oliver Fly
Just like that, it was time for the after-party in the bar area, where an iron rod tree with Chinese lanterns and flowers was a focal point. Vivian quickly slipped away to make her final outfit change of the night: She stepped into a Bronx and Banco beaded feather mini dress, which was her easiest bridal fashion decision, she says. “I ordered a dozen mini dresses and did a try-on for a few girlfriends,” she explains. “This fun and funky dress was the definite favorite!” She switched up her hair, too, trading the piecey updo she’d chosen for the reception for a “party pony.”
From that point forward, it was all about the party. “Inspiration started the after-party with a live stage performance, which brought the house down, followed by a DJ set to end the night,” says the bride.
Photos by Oliver Fly
The following day, the celebrants reconvened at Lido di Cernobbio for the duo’s farewell pool party. “Early in the planning phase, after we decided that we wanted to do a farewell event, we settled on the design idea of ‘Sweet Like Candy,’” says the bride, who has a major sweet tooth. “We were going for something out of Willy Wonka or Alice in Wonderland, which we thought would give off a really whimsical and easygoing vibe. When our planners came up with the idea of creating 3D-printed objects to bring the idea to life, we went with it! It could not have turned out any better—we were shocked when we arrived and were transported to our very own Candy Land.”
Photos by Oliver Fly
Vivian wore a PatBo swimsuit—the top of which was an embellished flower—and cover-up with Hermes sandals; Greg opted for striped Vilebrequinswim trunks, a Thom Sweeney knit polo, and Loro Piana espadrilles.
Photos by Oliver Fly
Photos by Oliver Fly
Guests quickly shed their “beach chic” outer layers and hopped into the pool, which was a “welcome reprieve from the heat and a nice way to recover from the previous night’s festivities,” notes the bride. A gelato station also helped keep everyone cool. “One of our earliest memories as a couple is our nightly gelato during our first trip to Positano,” says the bride. “It was a must for us to have a gelato cart during the party, and of course, it had to include our favorite flavor: stracciatella.”
Photos by Oliver Fly
A circular, candy-print wrapped bar offered up Hugo and Aperol spritzes, mimosas, espresso martinis, and more; guests enjoyed a meal at curved tables topped with orange and pink linens and Ikebana-style floral arrangements. “After a crazy day on Saturday, it was so nice to shift gears and just relax with our guests by the pool. It gave us time to socialize more, without the time pressure of the wedding day, which was such a nice way to end the weekend with everybody,” says Vivian.
Photos by Oliver Fly
Naturally, Vivian has a salient budget tip for couples currently planning their own weddings—but, surprisingly, it focuses on letting loose, instead of tightening up. “Focus on the things that really mean a lot to you (and don’t be afraid to splurge a little on those things),” she says. “We debated for a long time about the food and entertainment budget, ultimately opting to go over budget a bit to get the options we were really excited about. It was so worth it—those elements of the weekend wound up being the things we enjoyed the most.”
WEDDING TEAM
PHOTOGRAPHY Oliver Fly Photography
VIDEOGRAPHY East West Productions
WEDDING DESIGN, PRODUCTION, AND PLANNING Cinzia Beretta and Alba Moscaroli, Bespoke Unique Weddings & Events
INVITATIONS AND DAY-OF PAPER PRODUCTS Letterlink
FLOWERS Riccardo Ciceri
WELCOME PARTY VENUE Ristorante Crotto dei Platani
BRIDE’S WELCOME PARTY ATTIRE Zimmerman (dress); Hermes(shoes)
GROOM’S WELCOME PARTY ATTIRE Thom Sweeney; Loro Piana
WELCOME PARTY MUSIC Boys 4 Road
WELCOME PARTY BOAT Como Classic Boats
CEREMONY AND RECEPTION VENUE Villa Erba
CEREMONY WEDDING DRESS AND VEIL Vera Wang
RECEPTION WEDDING DRESS Andrew Kwon
AFTER-PARTY DRESS Bronx and Banco
BRIDE’S ACCESSORIES Verstolo (jewelry); Jimmy Choo (shoes)
HAIR Kevin D’Ambrosi, The Studio Como
MAKEUP Clarissa Luna
MANICURIST Kanae
GROOM’S ATTIRE Huntsman & Sons
GROOM’S ACCESSORIES Christian Louboutin (shoes); Tom Ford(bow tie); Tiffany & Co. (cufflinks)
CATERING AND CAKE Class Eventi
RENTALS Tableset & Latini
LIGHT, SOUND, STAGING, AND FIREWORKS Blunotte Eventi
MUSIC Inspiration (reception band and DJ)
TRANSPORTATION Servicevill
FAREWELL POOL PARTY VENUE Lido di Cernobbio
BRIDE’S FAREWELL POOL PARTY ATTIRE PatBo (bathing suit, cover-up); Hermes (shoes)
GROOM’S FAREWELL POOL PARTY ATTIRE Thom Sweeney (polo); Vilebrequin (swim trunks); Loro Piana (shoes)
FAREWELL POOL PARTY MUSIC Tasten’Sax (DJ and saxophone)