Inside Swedish F1 racer Marcus Ericsson's three-day Lake Como wedding extravaganza

Cliché though it may sound, for Marcus Ericsson and Iris Tritsaris Jondahl it was practically love at first sight. “From the very beginning, it felt like we were meant to be,” Jondahl recalls. While the chemistry was instant, distance kept them from making things official right away. Ericsson was in the United States pursuing his career as a race car driver, while Jondahl was studying in Denmark. What might have been an obstacle instead became the foundation of their relationship: countless texts and late-night calls, a bond carefully built across continents.

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“When we finally started dating properly, everything just felt right,” says Jondahl. Just six months in, she made the bold decision to leave Denmark behind and join Ericsson in the US as he pursued his racing career. Still, she remained committed to her studies, flying back and forth between the two countries to balance both worlds.

Some time later, while vacationing with Jondahl’s family in Rhodes, Greece, Ericsson popped the question. “Without knowing it, Marcus chose the exact same date that my grandfather had proposed to my grandmother on Rhodes 58 years earlier,” Jondahl shares gleefully. “[It was] a coincidence that made the moment even more special.” For Ericsson, the choice of setting was deliberate: Rhodes was a way of honouring Jondahl’s Greek heritage. “The location felt like the perfect place,” he adds.

One evening, as the family enjoyed drinks, Ericsson excused himself and slipped away to their room, where he arranged roses and champagne on the patio. “He called me saying he wasn’t feeling well and asked me to come back,” Jondahl recalls. When she arrived, Ericsson took her hand, led her outside, and dropped to one knee. At sunset, against the Aegean sky, he asked her to be his wife. Jondahl, of course, said yes: “It was a beautiful, unforgettable proposal.”

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When it came to choosing a venue for their nuptials, the couple didn’t settle on just one—instead, they embraced four, each centred around Lake Como. “Before kicking off the festivities, we knew we wanted to share something more intimate with our families and closest friends,” they explain. That meant beginning with a private two-hour boat ride on the lake. With a “White Edition” dress code, the couple set the tone for the celebrations to come. “To make it feel personal, we styled the boat with crochet carpets and custom pillows, creating an atmosphere that was both intimate and effortlessly chic on the water.”

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For such an occasion, the couple leaned wholeheartedly into their chosen theme. Ericsson, seeking a clean, all-cream look, turned to Norwegian tailoring brand Cavour, who delivered a sharp yet relaxed suit. “[They gave] me something timeless that felt effortless and perfectly suited to the Como setting,” he explains. Jondahl, meanwhile, embraced a couture sensibility. “I wanted a look that felt personal and one-of-a-kind,” she says, describing how she co-designed her gown alongside a designer renowned for corsetry and demi-couture creations. “Together, we crafted a piece that was both structured and playful.” She completed the look with classic Jimmy Choo heels, jewellery from Bulgari, Cartier and Reis-Nichols Jewellers, and a Hermès Mini Kelly.

The day before the wedding, Ericsson and Jondahl welcomed their guests with a rooftop celebration at the Hilton Lake Como. Against the panoramic backdrop, floating moons drifted across the pool, mirroring the chosen theme of “To the Moon and Back.” A live saxophonist set the mood, while – by pure chance – a rare celestial event unfolded overhead. “It was as if the universe wanted to bless the celebration,” Jondahl recalls of the evening, which coincided with both a blood moon and a full moon. “It turned the night into something truly celestial.”

For the occasion, Jondahl wore a custom hand-beaded gown from Kyha Studios, completing the look with her signature jewellery stack, crystal heels, and Hermès Mini Kelly. Ericsson made a subtle switch of his own, trading his cream jacket for a light green one that perfectly complemented his bride-to-be.

On the wedding day itself, the bride and groom selected the cinematic and elegant Villa Erba for their venue. "It's setting on the shores of Lake Como brought together everything we were looking for," explain the couple. "Gardens, lake views, and magnificent interiors – the villa combined natural beauty with refined architecture, offering a backdrop that was both grand and deeply romantic."

Wanting to go all out, Jondahl put as much attention into her getting-ready look as any others she wore across the weekend. "I wanted to do something a little unexpected," she says, adding that she chose to forego a traditional bridal robe in favour of a two-piece set, paired with a custom-made long silk cape, diamond jewellery and Chanel ballet flats.

For her ceremony dress, however, the Dane wanted something timeless and elegant, with modern touches. After trying on over 100 gowns, she finally found "the one": a ballgown silhouette, with a scooped neckline, pointed silk corset and dropped waist. The effort to find a gown - the search spanned New York, Los Angeles and Denmark - was nothing in comparison to the search for a veil. In the end, Jondahl opted to design a custom royal veil in delicate Chantilly lace, with romantic blusher detailing. Wanting to allow the gown to be the statement, the bride kept all other details to a minimum, opting for white Miss Z heels by Christian Louboutin and platinum diamond studs to complete her look.

Ericsson also lent towards a classic and timeless aesthetics. "I wanted to feel like James Bond," he explained. Such an effect was reached through his double-breasted Cavour tuxedo, paired with an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak timepiece and matching cufflinks.

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When the time came to walk down the aisle, neither Ericsson nor Jondahl experienced nerves – instead, it was overwhelming joy and anticipation. "Seeing Iris walk down the aisle was almost unreal," says the racer. "She looked absolutely breathtaking. I was just so overwhelmed with emotion and struggled to hold back the tears." It was the same for his bride. "Walking down the aisle was one of the most emotional moments of my life," she explains. "Seeing Marcus waiting for me, surrounded by all the people we love, it felt surreal – almost as if time stood still." Whilst she had imagined the moment many times, to Jondahl, reality surpassed any expectations: "Tears streamed down my cheeks, and I didn't care if it ruined my makeup."

Following their highly emotional ceremony, officiated by past Eurovision presenter Evgeniy Perlin, the couple wanted to fully embrace the grandeur of Villa Erba's interiors. Tables were draped in luxurious silks and adorned with clusters of vintage candles, creating a warm, romantic glow. It was at this time, Jondahl opted to change into her third look of the day. "To those who know me well, my ceremony gown came as a bit of a surprise," says the bride, who swapped out her ballgown for an avant-garde peplum dress, with a fit and flare skirt crafted from crystals and Chantilly lace. "It felt like the perfect combination of structured elegance and show-stopping sparkle."

Both confessed foodies, the menu was a crucial factor for the couple. "A year before the wedding, we travelled to Lake Como to taste different caterers," the couple explain. "Together, we curated the menu, making sure each dish felt authentic to the region while still having a touch of elegance. Sharing that food with our guests was such a special part of the celebration."

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During the reception, the couple experienced many memorable moments, but one specific one stuck out to both of them. "My grandmother Carina made a speech in English," says Ericsson. "She only speaks Swedish, but wanted to make sure Iris could understand as well, so she had practised and practised to make sure she could do it in English."

Once the speeches had been made and food consumed, the music started up, and a night full of dancing commenced. "We flew in DJ Alex Moreno from Sweden," explains Jondahl. "We gave him an inspiration list filled with classic party hits – plenty of ABBA and Italian favourites – and he managed to capture the mood perfectly." This set was complemented by an Italian love band, adding an insatiable sense of energy and atmosphere to the event.

For their first dance, the newlyweds chose one of their all-time favourites: 'Can’t Help Falling in Love' by Elvis Presley. After two months of dance lessons, the moment unfolded just as they had hoped – magical, intimate, unforgettable. Yet even this was arguably upstaged by Jondahl’s dance with her father. “Halfway through, the music suddenly switched to Michael Jackson’s 'Beat It',” Ericsson recalls. “Iris, her dad, and three professional dancers launched into a fully choreographed routine – complete with sparkly hats and gloves.” The groom admits he was completely in the dark. “I was blown away. It was such a fun surprise and the perfect way to kick off the party.”

It was at this point that Jondahl slipped into her fifth and final look of the day. “For the afterparty, I knew I wanted something fun, bold, and short – a true mini-dress moment,” she says, explaining how she took inspiration from Kendall Jenner’s 2021 Givenchy Met Gala look. Jondahl sketched the design herself and brought it to life with Copenhagen-based designer Lasse Spangenberg. The result: a dazzling custom mini dress, handcrafted entirely from Swarovski crystals, in which the bride danced the night away in newlywed bliss.

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The following day – looking remarkably fresh after the festivities – the couple hosted a farewell brunch for their guests. “We wanted to shift into a more relaxed, joyful mood, giving our guests the chance to unwind after the grandeur of the wedding day,” they explain. For the setting, they chose Villa Geno, a scenic lakeside villa, which they reimagined as a traditional Italian marketplace complete with colourful stalls, regional delicacies, and even a petite gift shop.

Amid the riot of colours and patterns, Jondahl chose a modern, minimalist contrast: a sheer corseted gown paired with a flowing shawl. Ericsson, meanwhile, leaned into playfulness for the final farewell, donning a peach-and-orange jacket to stylishly bid arrivederci to their guests.

A wedding of such scale, detail and devotion felt like a glimpse into the marriage to come. A union promised to be defined by romance, grandeur and elegance was perhaps best captured in Ericsson’s vows to his new wife: “Life is not always going to be sunshine and being by a lake in Como with our family and friends. But you can count on me always being there by your side in everything we go through together. I am so excited for all of the things we have ahead of us, and to spend the rest of my life with you– this is only the beginning.”

See all the snapshots from the three-day celebrations below.