Your Ultimate Guide to Lake Como Weddings

Your Ultimate Guide to Lake Como Weddings, featuring photos from real weddings and elopements by an English-speaking Lake Como Wedding Photographer.

If you’re thinking about getting married in Italy, you’ve no doubt considered the possibility of your very own Lake Como Wedding. This breathtaking Italian destination is famous for a reason (and not just because George Clooney has a villa here!). It’s studded with sprawling historic villas and fairytale lakeside villages, and the way the light falls is like nothing else thanks to the mountain peaks that surround the freshwater lake. It’s just the right mix of luxury, romance and adventure to make for a truly perfect destination wedding.

But, as always, the question is – where should you begin when planning your own Lake Como Wedding, and is Lake Como the right wedding destination for you? From finding the perfect Lake Como Wedding Venue to the best Lake Como Wedding Vendors to help you celebrate your love, I’m here to help with your Ultimate Guide to Lake Como Weddings. 

Your Lake Como Wedding Guide

Why should you take my word for it? Fair question!

Hi! I’m Rhianna May, a Lake Como Wedding & Elopement Photographer who has lived and worked in Italy for over 7 years. Originally from Perth, Australia, I moved to Milan in 2017 to follow my dream of photographing Italian weddings & elopements. I immediately set out to explore the very best of Italy, so that I could share it with people like you – lovers who are ready to celebrate their wedding in a way that is unique & true to the two of them, and who’ve chosen Italy as the perfect place just for that. While living in Milan, I spent many lovely lazy days exploring Lake Como, and I even spent a month staying in Bellagio, taking photos from Tremezzo to Lenno, Bellagio to Varenna, and taste-testing all the gelato I could find.

I want you to have the best Lake Como Wedding experience possible, which is why I’ve created this Ultimate Guide to Lake Como Weddings, especially for you.

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO LAKE COMO

Where is Lake Como?

Let’s start with the basics, shall we? Lake Como is a beautiful lake found about an hour from Milan. This hour drive (or train trip) will take you to the beautiful towns of Como or Lecco, at the southern ends of the Lake. The Lake itself stretches on for 46 kilometers, from the towns of Como and Lecco, all the way up to Sorico. This means if you’re coming from Milan, it will likely take you a little longer to arrive at your destination. Countless charming villages dot the lake’s shores, from the picturesque Nesso with its famous stone bridge, to the luxurious Bellagio, all the way up to Colico in the north.

By far the most popular towns for Lake Como Weddings though are those around what’s called the Central Lake Area, including Bellagio, Varenna, Lenno, Tremezzo, and Menaggio.

Towns of the Central Lake Area

Bellagio: Salita Serbelloni and Villa Melzi

Bellagio is often referred to as the Pearl of Lake Como and is perhaps one of the most famous towns on the lake, for good reason! Found at the end of a promontory, Bellagio offers spectacular views across both legs of the lake. It’s home to dreamy cobblestone streets that climb up to the heights of the town, and beautifully coloured stucco buildings. To me, Bellagio is more or less exactly what I used to picture when I imagined a typical Italian town. It can be quite lively in the day, but tends to get quieter in the later afternoon so you can really enjoy the amazing views. Bellagio is also home to a few beautiful portrait locations, like the Giardini di Villa Melzi and the top of the Salita Serbelloni, and it’s one of the few towns where I’d recommend sunset portraits instead of sunrise ones (here’s to my fellow not-morning people!).

Varenna: Villa Monastero

Located just across the lake, to the east of Bellagio, you’ll find Varenna. This colourful lakeside village is also filled with history and beautiful portrait locations. When I first travelled to Varenna, it sort of felt like Bellagio’s more relaxed sister. This town is still touristic, but its streets aren’t usually quite as crowded as those of Bellagio. It’s one of my favourite towns for Lake Como Elopements thanks to its colourful facades, beautiful pebble beaches, and the very photogenic balcony at Villa Monastero. Mind you, where I think Varenna is perfect for sunrise sessions to beat the crowds, if you’re not a morning person, there is nothing like golden hour in Bellagio!

Curious about eloping to Varenna? Check out Sarah & Carlos’ gorgeous Villa Monastero elopement here!

Lenno: Home of Villa del Balbianello

If you talk to a young Milanese, they’ll likely tell you that Lenno is famous for its Lido – a little beach club nestled into the corner of the lake. If you talk to almost anyone else, they’ll tell you that Lenno is home to Lake Como’s most famous villa, Villa del Balbianello. This villa, which is said to have been originally built to host exclusive literary retreats, was made an international sensation thanks to scenes shot there for Star Wars and James Bond. Villa del Balbianello and its perfectly kept gardens are truly breathtaking. No matter how often I photograph there, it never ceases to amaze me. That said, its fame means it comes with a hefty price tag, and booking isn’t always so straightforward. You can read more about that in this guide I put together for portraits at Villa del Balbianello (now updated for 2024). If you want to have your Lake Como Wedding at Villa del Balbianello, it might be a good idea to hire a local Lake Como Wedding Planner. 

Tremezzo: Grand Hotel

Tremezzo is found north of Lenno, and is perhaps most famous for its 5-star Grand Hotel Tremezzo, which boasts a very Instagram-able lakeside pool, and some beautiful gardens. If you’d like to elope or have portraits here, it’s important to book yourself a night (or three) in the Hotel. They have beautiful grounds that make a beautiful backdrop, and a private dock where you can head off on a boat tour of the lake. Of course, you could also choose to get married here!

Menaggio: Laidback Luxury

Menaggio (alongside Bellano) are two towns that tend to be forgotten about when discussing towns to visit along Lake Como. And yet, I adored the time I spent there! This town is less steep than its more well-known counterparts, making it easier for anyone who isn’t able-bodied. It has several stunning restaurants and wine bars, and feels a lot less touristic and, dare I say it, a little more exclusive. If you’d like to plan a relaxed, intimate elopement with Lake Como as your backdrop, don’t discount Menaggio!

Getting to Lake Como for your Wedding

It’s all good and well to give you a rundown of Lake Como’s best towns for your Lake Como Wedding, but what’s the best way to get to Lake Como? Of course, it depends on where you’re coming from, but you’ll likely be arriving from Milan or one of its airports.

Hire A Car

If you’re happy to brave the narrow lakeside streets, you could always hire a car from the airport and drive to your destination. Just be weary – the streets are some of the narrowest I’ve encountered. Personally, I’d prefer to drive along the Amalfi Coast than take the road from Como to Bellagio any day!

Using Public Transport

Public Transport to arrive at the lake is fairly reliable and departs regularly from Milan’s main stations – Centrale, Garibaldi, and Cadorna. If you’re planning to arrive in Como itself, look for trains that will take you to ‘Como Lago’ station. These trains are suburban, meaning you don’t need to book in advance and the ticket shouldn’t be more than €5-10 (€5.20, to be exact, at the time of writing)*. If you need to arrive to the Central Lake area, I’d suggest you take the train from Milan to Varenna-Esino station, and from there take a ferry to your destination (see ‘Moving Around Lake Como’ for some advice on the ferries!). The train from Milan to Varenna typically leaves hourly, and a one-way ticket is €7.40 at the time of writing.

*I’ve heard tourists complaining before about how expensive tickets are to Lake Como, and also about having to book in advance. You should never need to book in advance though as the seats aren’t reservable, unless you take the EuroCity 310. This train goes from Venice to Zurich, and is run by ÖBB, the Austrian federal railway group. This is why it costs more and you might need to book in advance.

With a Private Driver

I assume if you’re reading this blog, it’s because you’re looking specifically for advice on How to Get to Lake Como for your Wedding. In that case, my advice would be to hire a private driver, called an NCC, to arrive at Lake Como! After all, this is the time to splurge! Plus, it will just be nice to avoid all the hassle of transferring between trains and ferries, especially with your precious wedding clothes in tow. For an easy airport pickup service in Milan, that will take you directly to your accommodation, I always recommend Welcome Pickups.

Moving Around Lake Como

Of course, once you’ve arrived, there’s the question of How to Move Around Lake Como? I’d recommend making the most of the ferries, and if you’re on the east side of the lake (think Varenna and Bellano), then the trains, as well. Just beware that Lake Como’s ferry timetables are incredibly confusing. Why they can’t just create one easy-to-understand timetable instead of 8 different confusing grids is beyond me, but hey! That’s the way it is!

So – what do you need to know? It’s easy – don’t bother trying to interpret the timetable. Instead, wait in line and ask the clerk when the next ferry to your destination departs and buy a ticket directly from them. Ferry services usually start around 6 am and run until late – just be sure to check the hours if you need to leave early or late and make sure they’re actually running. I’d also recommend getting there early – lines can be long and timings fickle, especially in peak season. In terms of tickets, they’re usually around €5 for a single trip, but if you’ll be on the Lake for a few days, and you plan on touring around, ask the clerk if there’s a multi-day pass they’d recommend for you.

As for the bus? You’re in Lake Como for your wedding! As much as I have endless respect for the Lake Como bus drivers (they’re living legends!), don’t even think about it.

GUIDE TO LAKE COMO WEDDINGS

Lake Como Wedding Venues

Now that you know a little more about navigating the Central Lake area, it’s time to start considering the best Lake Como Wedding Venues for you. Of course, there are no shortage of options from the more famous locations, like Villa del Balbianello (you’ll be hard-pressed to find a Guide to Lake Como Weddings that doesn’t mention this venue!), to beautiful family-run accommodations a little more off the beaten track. Before you dive in though, it’s important to have an idea of your budget and how many people you want to invite. Lake Como is known for luxury, and many of its most famous wedding venues rightfully reflect that in their prices.

A few other things to consider when Choosing Your Lake Como Wedding Venue:

• Would you like to stay at your Lake Como Wedding Venue as well as celebrate your wedding there?
• If yes, would you like your guests to be able to stay at the wedding venue with you?
• Would you like easy access to the lake? The lake is surrounded by mountains so a lot of accommodations may look super close on a map, but the roads up and down can be quite complicated, so be aware of this!
• What kinds of things would you like to do on the days either side of your wedding? If your venue doubles as accommodation, is it easy to go on day trips or do they have a garden or pool where you can relax and spend time together?
• If you plan to have your ceremony or reception outdoors, does your venue provide indoor alternatives in case of bad weather?

Lake Como Wedding Venues for 30+ People

Villa Regina Teodolinda is a Lake Como staple, featuring a beautiful historic villa, gorgeous gardens and a private dock in the lake. There’s a gorgeous indoor area if you’re worried about inclement weather. There are a few rooms for you & your bridal party or family to stay, and a capacity for 70 wedding guests.

Villa del Balbianello is perhaps one of Lake Como’s most famous venues, and for good reason. Their perfectly kept gardens are stunning and nothing quite compares to the view of the lake from the Loggia, through the vine-covered columns. Capacity is either 60 or 150.

Villa Monastero is most famous for its beautiful balcony with unique mosaic floor tiles, but it also has a beautiful Villa and extensive gardens where you can host a civil ceremony and a reception for up to 150 people.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo is an iconic hotel set right on the shore of the Lake, just across from Bellagio, and would make a stunning location for your Lake Como Wedding. They have everything from beautiful gardens to restaurants, to luxury rooftop suites, and a variety of venue options that would suit anywhere from 50 to 110 guests.

Wedding Venues for Your Lake Como Elopement

Villa del Balbianello is a beautiful spot for an elopement as well as a traditional wedding. The villa allows you to hire out a single ‘zone’ of the Villa for an hour or two, so you won’t have the gardens all to yourself, but you will be able to make the most of this iconic location.

Giardini di Villa Melzi is found at the start of Bellagio and to me, is one of the most underrated Lake Como Elopement Venues. These beautiful gardens offer gorgeous views over the lake, and it has its own lovely little private lookout that makes for spectacular photos.

Villa Stupenda if you’d like something truly private, look into private villas around the lake that have been converted into accommodations. Villa Stupenda is removed from the crowds, in Bellano, and has a number of gorgeous accommodation options that could also double up as an elopement venue for symbolic ceremonies.

Villa Monastero’s beautiful balcony isn’t quite large enough to host a traditional wedding ceremony, but it is the perfect spot to share your vows for an intimate wedding or elopement.

Your Lake Como Wedding Photographer

I may be biased, but I’d say the best tip I can give you in this Ultimate Guide to Lake Como Weddings, is to start out by contacting your photographer. You might need a wedding planner to help you, but you also might not, and your Lake Como Wedding Photographer will be able to guide you with this. They’ll have insights from photographing weddings across the lake, of all different styles and sizes, to help you know if you need a planner or if you can do it on your own. Asides from that, at the end of the day, you spend more time on your wedding day with your photographer than anyone else! We’re with you from start to finish, which is why it’s so important you choose a photographer who you feel comfortable with and who’s as excited about your day as you are.

Guide to Lake Como Wedding Costs

Okay so before I dive into the potential Cost of your Lake Como Wedding, it’s confession time… I mostly steer clear of social media, but I did once get into a bit of a fight in a wedding photography Facebook group with photographers who said it was impossible to elope to Lake Como, and that it was impossible to plan a wedding on Lake Como without a luxury budget. Your Lake Como Wedding is what you make of it! If you want to have a luxury wedding on Lake Como, of course you can. You can also elope there, or you can find a middle ground (luxury elopement, anyone?). Everything is possible, it just depends on what you want, your budget, and how much time you have to spend scouting out various options.

So, here are some starting prices for you to consider when budgeting for your Lake Como Wedding:

• Venue: Starting from €300 for portraits in the gardens of a private Villa, up to €30,000+ for Villa del Balbianello
• Accommodation: Starting from €160/night for a private room in a boutique hotel, like Villa Stupenda, up to €6000+/night for a rooftop suite at Grand Hotel Tremezzo
• Photography: Starting from €4500
• Celebrant: Starting from €900 for a symbolic ceremony
• Hair & Make Up: Average spend for bridal HMU €850
• Flowers: Starting from €180 for a bridal bouquet,
• Boat Tour: Starting from €350 for a 1-hour tour for 2 people + photographer, up to €2000+ for 3-hour tour (for example, from Bellagio to Nesso)
• Private Chef: Starting from €350 for a 3-course meal for two

Book Lake Como Wedding Vendors

Of course, it wouldn’t be the Ultimate Guide to Lake Como Weddings without some advice for choosing and booking vendors! When choosing your Lake Como Wedding Vendors, perhaps my biggest piece of advice is don’t feel forced to only use vendors on the Lake. While I’m a big believer in ‘Support Local’, Milan really isn’t that far away and most of us (us being Italian wedding vendors!) are used to travelling around the country for work. So, say you just want some really simple flowers, why not look at a local florist shop in Milan? If you want bigger installations, I know the perfect Como-based florist that I can recommend to you.

People like hair and makeup artists can travel easily from Milan, (although of course I also know an amazing local HMUA as well who I’m always happy to recommend to my clients).

A few other Lake Como Wedding Vendors to consider are:

• Lake Como Wedding Celebrant – whether you plan to have a legal or symbolic ceremony, this can be a beautiful way to personalize your wedding or elopement.
• Boat Tours – there are countless companies offering tours on the Lake and it really is a lovely way to experience the scenery and get truly beautiful photos.
• A Private Chef – when else would you have the chance to have delicious Italian food cooked for you in the comfort of your accommodation?
• Live Music or a DJ (most venues have exclusive contracts with a local music management company, so best to talk to your venue about this!).

There are myriad other ways to make your Lake Como Wedding or Elopement unique and special to the two of you, and to ensure you have a really amazing experience. The first step? Reach out! I’d love to not only photograph your wedding for you, but to help guide you through the process of getting married on the beautiful shores of Lake Como.

Are you ready to take your Lake Como Wedding dreams to the next level and start planning? I’d love to be your Lake Como Wedding Photographer and help you to have an epic Italian wedding experience! Just get in touch!

Did you find this Ultimate Guide to Lake Como Weddings helpful? Or perhaps you have some more questions? Don’t be shy! Sound off in the comments below.