We look forward to celebrating our love story at the magical place we got engaged...
After 8 years of dating, we got engaged on our recent trip to Switzerland. As high school sweethearts, we have grown together through so many beautiful chapters of our lives. Some of our most fond memories are from our trips and adventures together. This trip was another example of that. Matthew proposed at the Madonna Del Sasso church overlooking the stunning vistas of southern Switzerland. With the immense sentimental value we have for the area and church, we decided to return for our wedding, sharing it with our family and friends. After the ceremony, we will celebrate just over the border at a private villa in northern Italy. Travel accommodations will be provided between the hotel, church, and venue.
Save the Date
July 12th, 2024
All the Details
Flight
Milan Malpensa (MXP) is the closest airport to Lugano. There is a direct train that runs from the airport terminal into the center of Lugano (~1.5 hours). It is very easy to cross the Switzerland-Italy border by car, train or taxi but don’t forget your passport!
Hotel
We suggest that you stay in Lugano, Switzerland and are recommending the Hotel Admiral. Lugano is a beautiful city convenient to the airport and allows for easy travel throughout Switzerland and Italy. The welcome party will be a short walk away from Hotel Admiral and wedding day bus meeting points will be there as well.
Guest who decide to book at the Hotel Admiral can access a 15% off discount code. The 15% discount is always guaranteed, however prices may vary depending on the time of booking. Rooms are not held, to secure your room, we advise booking as soon as possible.
How to Book Hotel Admiral:
Visit www.luganohoteladmiral.com click the “book now” button and insert the coupon "HM2024" as shown below
You may also contact the Hotel via email info@luganohoteladmiral.ch or phone +41 (0) 919-863-838 to book by referring to discount code "HM2024" for 15% off.
Map
Itinerary
The Day Before
Thursday July 11th, 2024
6:30 PM
6:45 PM
7:00 PM
9:30 PM
Meet at Monte San Salvatore Base
Funicular Trip
Funicular tickets will be provided
Welcome Dinner at Restaurant Vetta
Funicular Return Trip
The Wedding Day
Friday July 12th, 2024
9:45 AM
11:30 AM
1:00 PM
2:30 PM
3:45 PM
5:00 PM
12:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Bus Meeting Point
Hotel Admiral
Bus Meeting Point
Madonna Del Sasso Church
Free Time
Hotel Admial
Bus Meeting Point
Hotel Admiral
Reception
Villa Bossi
Return Buses
Villa Bossi
Church Ceremony
Madonna Del Sasso Church
Sandwich lunch will be provided on the bus
Lugano
Recommendations
Places to Eat:
Tango
Sass Cafe
L’Olivo
La Cucina di Alice
Acqua & Farina
Argentino Bistrot & Pizza
Olympio
Lugano Marittima
Lido Di Lugano
Lido Riva Caccia Snack Bar
Vittorio Vanini
Mauri Cafe
Things to Do:
Walk around the lake
Visit Parco Ciani
Lugano Marittima
Swim at Lido Di Lugano
Go up Monte Bre
Go up Monte San Salvatore
Rent a Pedal Boat on Lake Lugano
Take a Boat Tour on Lake Lugano
A Wine Tasting at Castello Di Morcote
Visit Lake Como, Italy
Visit Ascona, Switzerland
FAQs
Do I need tickets for welcome party funicular?
No, tickets will be provided at the meeting point for the welcome party at Monte San Salvatore Base.
What should I wear?
The night-before welcome party is summer cocktail attire. The wedding reception is formal attire.
Please note that the church has cobblestones and uneven ground, please bring comfortable shoes. Please also cover bare shoulders and back while inside the church. On the wedding day, you will have a break at the hotel if you would like to change your outfit or shoes from the church to the reception.
Will transportation be available on the wedding day?
We will have large buses to bring guests around throughout the wedding day. Please refer to the timeline for all meeting point times and locations. The meeting points start and end outside of Hotel Admiral in Lugano.
Do I need tickets for church funicular?
No, tickets will be provided on the bus ride to the church.
Will your wedding be indoors or outdoors?
The church is indoors and the wedding reception with be both outside and inside.
How do I travel from Malpensa Airport to Hotel Admiral by Train?
At MXP, follow the signs to the train once you land. Purchase a ticket at the counter or kiosk to Paradiso station in Lugano. From Paradiso station it is a short walk to the hotel. Please note Paradiso station requires you to walk down a steep hill. If you do not want to walk with luggage, you can go to the main Lugano station where you will find taxi’s to bring you to the hotel.
What is the best way to travel within Switzerland?
Switzerland has fantastic public transportation. The best way to access it is via the SBB mobile app. You can also buy tickets online at https://www.sbb.ch/en and at the train terminal kiosk at each station.
For those who are staying at Hotel Admiral, you can get a Ticino Ticket at check in included with your stay. This allows you to travel for free within the Ticino Region. Click here for more details. For those not at Hotel Admiral, we recommend reaching out to your hotel to see if they can provide one.
How to use the SBB Mobile app:
Download the App. Head to your app store and search for "SBB Mobile." It's free and available for both iOS and Android devices. Create an account to save your credit card for faster ticket purchasing. This can be done within the “Profile” tab at the bottom
Planning Your Trip:
Within the plan tab at the bottom you will find a timetable section. Enter your "From" and "To" stations to see a list of possible routes, including travel times, connection details, and even platform information. Use current destination to automatically find your closest station. If you do not know your stations name, you can click on the map section to explore all stations via a map and select it as a departure or destination.
Once a route is selected , you can directly buy a ticket or save it for later. Purchased tickets will appear in the “Tickets & Travelcards” tab at the bottom. Saved trips will be in the “Trips” tab at the bottom.
Add co-passengers to easily purchase tickets for you and those you are traveling with. This is located in the “Profile” tab on the bottom.
Traveling between Italy and Switzerland requires you to book in person at the station kiosk or counter since you are crossing borders. The SBB app will allow you to view cross border train time tables but you cannot purchase on the app.
Remember:
Download the app before your trip to avoid any last-minute hassles.
Consider purchasing a Swiss Half-Fare Travelcard as it can save you money if you plan on doing extensive traveling in Switzerland.
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Photos
Our Story
Our story began sophomore year at New Fairfield High School. Although we had gone to school together for many years and knew of each other, we had never spoken. We were brought together through mutual friends and from there we became inseparable. We talked all day, every day. Whether it was texting, calling, video chatting, or seeing each other in school, we never ran out of things to say. On March 1st, 2015, Matthew asked Hailey to be his girlfriend. Fast forward to November 16th, 2022, Matthew asked Hailey to marry him. We are beyond grateful and excited to be able to spend the rest of our lives as husband, wife, and best friends.
Hailey & Matthew Sousa
July 12th, 2024
Switzerland & Italy