David Ke and Alexa Jochico prove that love at first sight is real with their Villa Erba wedding in Lake Como, a celebration filled with elegance, gratitude, and old-world grandeur.
The concept of “love at first sight” is often a familiar plot in romantic films. Meeting someone for the first time and instantly knowing they’re the person you want to spend your life with seems like pure fiction—or is it? David Ke and Alexa Jochico’s story might be the proof that “love at first sight” exists beyond the silver screen.
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It Was Kismet
The couple first met at Soho House New York through a mutual friend. “From the moment we were introduced, we couldn’t stop looking at each other,” Alexa recalls. Their first date, at the fine-dining spot Oiji Mi near Gramercy Park, was marked less by food and more by conversation, laughter, and the kind of connection that makes time disappear.
That evening, David noticed a red butterfly fluttering past him on the streets of Manhattan—an image that stayed with him. “In the back of his mind, he always knew that that was something special,” Alexa shares. “Like God telling us early that we were kismet.”
By the end of the night, both knew it wasn’t just a first date, but the beginning of something extraordinary. “At one point, while he was talking, I just knew—this is the man I’m going to marry,” says Alexa. David admits he wasn’t even listening anymore. “In my head, I was already picturing her as my bride.”
Distance followed soon after, with David flying to Singapore while Alexa celebrated her birthday in Ibiza. Yet even across continents, their connection only deepened. For her birthday, David surprised her by flying halfway across the world to meet her family for the first time. “That was when I realized how serious and intentional he was,” Alexa says.
Just six months later, before his birthday party at Casa Cruz on the Upper East Side, David proposed at home. That evening, they shared the joyful news with friends, announcing their engagement amidst music, champagne, and the glow of New York City lights. “Yes, it was fast, but for us it felt right,” Alexa says. “When you know, you know.”
The Prelude
For Alexa, the venue was never in question. “My dad used to take me to Lake Como every summer, and when I was 14, he looked at me and said, ‘One day, I want you to get married here,’” she shares. When she and David began planning, Villa Erba quickly became the dream made real.”
The festivities stretched across four days, each night unfolding like a chapter in a love story. The welcome party at Victoria Beach in Menaggio set the tone for the days ahead. Alexa wore a butter-yellow Mark Bumgarner gown adorned with a dramatic rosette and cape, while David matched the Italian elegance in an off-white Boglioli jacket and cream trousers.
The rehearsal dinner at Villa Geno paid tribute to both Filipino and Chinese traditions. Bridesmaids wore modern Filipiniana gowns, groomsmen donned barongs and tang jackets. David began the evening in a barong before later changing into a sleek Ralph Lauren Purple Label tuxedo. Alexa stunned in a red Mark Bumgarner gown—symbolizing prosperity and joy. It was also a nod to that red butterfly in New York. “It was glowing under the lights,” Alexa recalls. “It felt like magic.”
David Ke & Alexa Jochico’s Wedding Day
On the wedding day itself, the old-world grandeur of Villa Erba was transformed into a vision of modern romance. Alexa walked down a mirrored glass aisle in a custom Oscar de la Renta gown, hand-appliquéd with florals and paired with a ten-foot veil.
As she walked down the aisle, she tried to keep her composure. “My first thought honestly was, please don’t trip,” she laughs. “But then I looked up and saw David waiting for me. He was already crying, and the second I saw his face, the tears just started flowing.”
Framed by two golden trees at the altar, the couple exchanged vows. “For those minutes, it felt like the world had slowed down and it was just us,” Alexa says.
“Before the ceremony even started, I was already crying,” Alexa admits. Looking out at family and friends who had flown in from the US, Europe, and all across Asia, she was overwhelmed with gratitude.
The festivities stretched until sunrise, with the couple and their guests enjoying overflowing champagne, dancing, and fireworks. And to cap it off in true Filipino fashion, Jollibee fried chicken was served at midnight. It was a playful contrast to the villa’s old-world grandeur, and the perfect bookend to their unforgettable celebration.
Main Bride & Groom’s Photographer German Larkin
Videographer Marco Caputo
Fashion Photographer & Creative Director Justin Louise Soriano
Wedding Photographer Matte Coltro
Wedding Planner The International Wedding Planner
Floral Design Riccardo Ciceri Flower Designer
Cake Artist Lisa Bakery by Lisa Weinberg
Catering Sunlake Catering
Live Music Bluenotte Eventi & Blunotte Show Band
Violinist Alan Milan
DJ Sasha Barbot
Live Wedding Painter Sara Peron
Makeup Artist Dave Quiambao
Hair Stylist Nelbert Seboy
Bridal Gown & Custom Veil Oscar de la Renta
Bridal Shoes Roger Vivier
Groom’s Tuxedo Custom Ralph Lauren
Couture Designer Mark Bumgarner
Bridesmaid Dresses & After-Party Dress Bronx & Banco
