Photography: Jose Villa
Known to her millions of followers as Becca Bloom, Rebecca Ma has quickly become one of the internet’s most recognizable figures, capturing millions on Instagram and TikTok in just a matter of months. Her wedding at the iconic Villa Balbiano in Lake Como was therefore one of the year’s most anticipated celebrations. The florals, the setting, the sheer drama of it all—every detail was shared, reposted, and pinned, turning the day into a cultural moment.
When celebrity florist Larry Walshe was entrusted with the floral design, he approached the project with a clear mission: to craft a floral story that reflected the couple, the setting, and the scale of the occasion. Renowned for his dramatic yet detail-driven approach, Walshe set out to create designs that felt entirely new in a venue already steeped in grandeur.
Here, he takes us inside the process—from his earliest conversations with Becca to the stormy setbacks that called for a last-minute pivot. Along the way, he reveals how thoughtful choices and his signature style transformed the celebration into one of the year’s most talked-about weddings.
Where It All Began: From
Vision to Concept
“We actually first connected before the world came to know her as Becca Bloom,” Larry recalls. “When we started talking about her wedding, I literally just knew her as Rebecca and her fiancé, David. As we went through the design process, her presence on social media really started to explode at the start of this year. It was such a fun journey, because the process began from a really humble and genuine place—which is very much how she communicates herself. And now she’s become this figure that everybody knows.”
Becca had a direction in mind from the beginning, though the design naturally grew through collaboration. “She definitely came in with a vision. But as with most people, the design process allows room to develop ideas together. When you’re working collaboratively, what you start with may not be exactly where you end up—and that was very much the case with Becca.”
Central to her vision from the start were the trees. “She always knew she wanted trees at the end of the aisle, and I’ve actually been known for creating those kinds of looks for the last decade. Trees are something we’re particularly well known for. The interesting part was working hand in hand to figure out how to create a setting that felt unique—especially in a place as iconic as Villa Balbiano, which has seen so many weddings.”
The collaboration only deepened as the design process unfolded. “It was a really collaborative process from the start and we spent a lot of time going back and forth on ideas, working hand in hand. There came a point in the design process where we realized we needed to make a pivot—we had to create something that hadn’t been seen before. We couldn’t rely on reference imagery; we had to carve out our own path. That’s when Becca really put her trust in us, and we just went for it. That trust is what allowed us to push the design into something truly original.”
Designing with Lake Como
“We drew a lot of inspiration from the landscape surrounding Lake Como,” Larry explains. “One of the main elements was the symbolism of the trees—the concept of two becoming one. When looking straight down the aisle, the two trees arched overhead so they almost appeared to touch, forming a single being. There’s a really nice notion in that. The trees weren’t just symbolic—they also shaped the perspective of the ceremony. “It almost created a natural viewing window. The trees framed the mountains beyond, narrowing the field of focus to make the setting feel more intimate without blocking the view. It was striking, but it still allowed everyone to take in the beauty that lay beyond.”
The palette also drew directly from the surrounding landscape. “We used blue tones and accents that aren’t usually part of a traditional wedding scheme, but worked harmoniously with the setting. You can see in the end result how that pops, especially in the lighting. And of course, as we all know there were weather issues—Mother Nature just wasn’t on our side that day. But by the time the ceremony began that evening, the blue light that came through ended up intensifying the saturation of all the colors. It was actually just an incredibly special moment to be standing in that space.” Reflecting on the venue itself, Larry adds: “I think what’s iconic about that space is that it’s hosted so many celebrations. For me, the special part is creating something original in a location like that—work that feels fresh and is being seen for the first time. That in itself is always incredibly special.”
Petals, Palettes, and Storytelling
From palette to petals, each floral decision was layered with intention—reflecting the setting, the season, and the evolving story of the celebration. “Becca’s a pink girl—she loves a pink moment—so we brought that into the dining space. But for the ceremony, we went in a completely different direction to really work with the natural environment around us. I always try to design with the setting in mind, whether that’s pulling textures, references, or colors from the space. In this case, we leaned into those incredible blue tones and gently ombréed them into white, which added delicacy and dimension. We also incorporated zesty greens that broke up the scheme and celebrated the fact that we were outdoors. The result still felt luxe and elevated, but also contemporary and modern.”
The varieties themselves were carefully chosen for the moment, with seasonality guiding the selection. “We used beautiful garden roses with those ruffled petal centers that emulate the look of peonies. Becca’s totally a peony girl, but since they were out of season, the roses gave us that same feel. We also worked with hydrangeas, but not the standard kind. We used a variety called Candlelight, which has a pointed shape and feels so celebratory for late August into early September.”
One of the most defining décor features was the tree canopy at the end of the aisle—an iconic detail that continues to circulate widely online. "The canopy was brought to life with delphiniums, used en masse to create the effect reminiscent of wisteria. We actually invert them, wiring each stem individually and attaching them branch by branch to create that cascading, wisteria effect. Real wisteria is gorgeous, but the moment you cut it, it starts to perish within 10–15 minutes. So over time, we’ve developed this technique with delphiniums to create the same look—but fresh and real.”
“We really leaned into a ‘pink fantasy’ for the dining design, with florals even translated onto hand-etched menu placements that echoed the mosaic style. Those tones guided the entire palette in that space. And that tied perfectly to Becca’s outfit change into her pink Oscar de la Renta gown. The intentional shift of the color palettes throughout the day reflected the overall feeling Becca wanted to create in each moment, while also aligning with some of her looks. It felt like the chapters of a book unfolding—there was always something new for the guests to see, something interesting happening. And I think that’s what creates the most exciting guest experience.”
Designing Against the Forecast
Then came the curveball—an unexpected forecast that forced the team to completely rethink the design just days before the wedding. “The wedding was on a Thursday, and by Tuesday I got the call saying the forecast wasn’t looking great. We knew we had to completely pivot. Dinner was meant to be alfresco, but thankfully the venue has a tented option—a beautiful glasshouse. Still, the ceremony was for just over 50 guests, and that space can accommodate up to 200, so we wanted to make sure it didn’t feel oversized or like a last-minute move indoors."
"Within 48 hours, we brought in fabric artist Mia Sylvia and draped the entire tent, creating this cocoon-like atmosphere that blocked out unused areas and focused everything into the center. It became this intimate, tented fantasy. We also reworked the florals—what had been designed as chandelier pieces were suspended in a new way, with flowers running through the ceiling. The table flowers were kept as planned but adapted for two tables instead of one long one. Everything was restyled to feel deliberate, intentional, and just as elevated as it would have been outside. To the guests, it looked seamless—they had no clue.”
Larry and his team worked against the clock but wanted to ensure that the final design felt every bit as intentional as the original vision. “From my side, when you’ve spent 12–18 months working with someone, you don’t want the final hurdle to feel like a compromise. So the moment we knew the weather wasn’t on our side, we dropped everything—gathered the team and said: okay, no more panic mode, we’re pivoting. We redesigned, replanned, and within hours we could show the couple exactly how it was going to look. There was even a late-night phone call where I told the team: ‘Grab your bags, your flight leaves at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning.’ Within 48 hours, we had a whole new concept installed.”
The Art of His Craft
For Larry, the heart of design lies in balance: flexibility to adapt to each client, but with a signature consistency that defines his work. “We always say our role is to interpret our clients’ vision in the most beautiful way possible. Our style is somewhat flexible—I could do something very garden-inspired one day and hugely contemporary the next. I love that versatility as a designer, it keeps things fresh and interesting. What’s consistent in all our work is a theatrical silhouette, a refined finish, and a commitment to detail—every element is treated as equally important, creating a consistent, intentional narrative. “
“Especially now, we’re really leaning into this space of quiet luxury. It’s not about being ostentatious or filling a room with product for the sake of it. It’s about mindfulness—why are we doing this, what does it mean, and what’s the investment truly for?” That philosophy was especially evident in Becca’s wedding. “We could have smothered the tent in flowers, but to what purpose? Instead, what’s lovely is that the design we created was super personal to Becca and to us. It really reflected her values, as well as her and her husband’s shared personality. That gave it far more weight than simply being excessive.”
Photography: Jose Villa
