Lake Como with its forested mountains and exemplary views is the perfect place for a destination wedding. If you’ve been planning an Italy wedding at Lake Como, you have made the right choice. Whether you’re a lover of lush gardens blooming with flowers or a fan of boat rides in pristine waters, it’s the perfect destination to fall in love with and say your vows.
One of the most glamorous lakes in Italy, it offers elegant views of the snow-capped Alps and lavish villages that were once inhabited by writers, artists, and opera singers.
Why Get Married at Lake Como
The cool mountain air at Lake Como will invigorate you as you walk down the aisle. The place is full of bright flowers in the summer, which makes it an ideal wedding destination.
While Italy has spectacular landscape options, an Italy wedding at Lake Como is definitely among the best. Whether it’s in terms of popularity or trendiness, Lake Como offers remarkable wedding destination options.
The exquisite romance and virgin charm of the lake make it increasingly popular as a wedding destination. Of course, the luxurious venues and lavish gardens also contribute to its fame.
Average Cost of a Destination Wedding in Lake Como
Since Lake Como is among the most sought-after wedding destinations, prepare for a grand wedding that will cost accordingly. Several high-end venues are built especially for splendid weddings.
If you want an elopement with less than 20 guests, a typical package would cost you $7,000 to $12,000. A civil wedding will be more expensive than a symbolic wedding as the former will include town hall paperwork.
And if you want a more elaborate wedding, a 3-day wedding of about 50 guests will cost you about $90,000. When booking a wedding package, make sure to check for VAT as it might be extra on some packages.
The Best Lake Como Wedding Venues & Lake Como Wedding Packages
An Italy wedding in Lake Como offers several stunning venues to celebrate a civil, symbolic, or religious wedding in the beautiful and romantic towns of Varenna, Bellagio, Cernobbio, Laglio, and others.
Villa Pizzo
Come and fall in love with the charm of an ancient villa that combines aristocratic prestige with traditional appeal. It dates back to the 16th century and has an elegant Italian garden with shaded alleyways that will take you to the dock. The dock is an amazing place for an unforgettable ceremony if you want a quaint place overlooking the lake.
Villa Pizzo has a capacity of 200 people and you can access it by boat. However, it has no accommodation so you’ll have to book a hotel for your family and other guests.
If you’re looking for Italian refinement combined with quiet beauty, Villa Pizzo will be the best choice for your wedding or the wedding of a loved one.
This villa is Situated in the town of Cernobbio, and it’s used to celebrate a symbolic or religious ceremony. The vibrant and well-kept gardens of the place become even more special with a pastel-colored sun-bleached façade.
If you’re looking for a garden wedding, Villa Pizzo should be your first choice as it has the largest lakeside gardens of all the wedding venues in the area.
Villa Balbiano
Villa Balbiano stands at the western shore of Lake Como. Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio built it in the 16th century. After a century, Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini took charge and held banquets and festivities here.
Present day Villa Balbiano is a private residence on the lake with an extensive garden, a private pier, an outdoor swimming pool, and a boathouse. It’s a delightful amalgamation of natural and man-made beauty, and one of the most glamorous venues on Lake Como.
It allows guests to hold a symbolic wedding in the garden and a reception dinner for up to 100 guests.
There are 6 luxurious suites, and all of them are designed by the famous interior decorator Jacques Garcia. You can hold the reception indoors and/or outdoors.
Enjoy the breathtaking views of Lake Como and appreciate the regal interiors and opulent marble bathrooms. Experience an unparalleled standard of elegance and grandeur of Villa Balbiano for an Italy wedding at Lake Como.
Enter the magnificent gateway and walk through the Italian style gardens decorated by fountains, trees, and impressive statues, and you’ll simply fall in love with this place.
You can also hold your ceremony in the Darsena boat house which has several décor options and layouts for a grand wedding.
Villa del Balbianello
Villa del Balbianello is located in Lenno and was built in the 18th century. It is open for civil, symbolic, and religious ceremonies and can host up to 150 guests.
With its picturesque structure and gorgeous terraced gardens, it will leave you breathless with awe.
The complex consists of a church, a portico overlooking a dock, and two residential buildings. There are French and English furnishings from the 17th and 18th centuries.
It has a beautiful collection of ethnic artifacts and sculptures. There are also many pictures and flags along with honors belonging to explorers. However, keep in mind that there is no accommodation here so you will have to make a hotel booking for your guests.
Villa del Balbianello has appeared in numerous movies, including Casino Royale and Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.
It sits directly at the edge of the water at Lake Como. With its luxurious interiors, romantic gardens, scenic loggia, and beautiful lake views, it’s among the top wedding venues at Lake Como.
The four major locations inside the venue are The Durini Lodge, Terrace overlooking the lake, Loggia Segre, and Camphor Terrace. Of all these locations, the terrace overlooking the lake offers the maximum capacity of up to 150 guests.
Villa Erba
Villa Erba has a beautiful building that’s a marvel of architecture. Built in the 18th century, this villa is popular for its inlaid ceilings, ancient frescoes, and Mannerism style that reflects in all its rooms.
If you’re looking for a unique setting for a grand and luxurious event, this is the place for you. It has a lakefront and is surrounded by a big botanical park.
Villa Erba is good for symbolic, civil, and religious ceremonies and you can hold the ceremony indoors or outdoors. It has a capacity of 200 people and no accommodation. However, there are several hotels around the villa where you and your guests can stay.
The villa has an artistic appeal and a unique geographical setting. It has a lake and a garden around it. It also features in the movie Ocean’s Twelve. You can reach the villa via boat or even by foot.
The botanical delights of the place include flowering shrubs, exotic trees, and colorful flower beds, offering a visual treat, combined with the clear waters of Lake Como.
The inner décor of the villa is intricate and the landscape is full of beautiful sculptures, giving it a magnificent and unique look for your Italy wedding at Lake Como.
Villa d’Este
It’s among the most popular hotels in Italy, thanks to its majestic architecture and lush gardens. And of course, the proximity to Lake Como makes it even more beautiful and livelier. Combine this with impeccable hospitality and exquisite cuisine and you have the perfect place for a luxury wedding.
It is suitable for symbolic, civil, or religious weddings inside the building or outside at the Mosaic garden. The place has a capacity of 200 people and you can access it by boat. It provides luxury accommodation as it’s a 5-star hotel and has 152 rooms.
The rooms come furnished with vintage artifacts and antiques that bring alive the belle époque. Stone balconies, amazing terraces, and large windows give space to an awe-inspiring visit. Guests can use fitness and wellness centers along with well-appointed spas.
It also has a golf course and tennis courts so you can plan a long wedding.
With so many modern amenities and five-star services, Villa d’Este is a destination in itself. You and your guests will enjoy acres of gardens with a backdrop of mountains against the beauty of Lake Como.
Lake Como Destination Wedding Legal Requirements
Legal Weddings vs. Symbolic Weddings
One question you might want to ask about your Italy wedding at Lake Como is whether you want a legal or symbolic wedding.
Let’s see the difference between the two:
When you get legally married at Lake Como, it’s a legal or civil ceremony. This wedding will be legal in your home country as well.
You can also get legally married in your home country and then hold a symbolic ceremony at Lake Como. This wedding is called symbolic
Required Legal Documents & Cost
Lake Como region recognizes two types of weddings: legal and religious. All religious weddings, except Catholic, need a civil ceremony to become legally binding. It recognizes same-sex weddings as civil unions.
If you’re a foreigner, you have to carry certain documents. Here’s the list of documents required:
- Valid ID cards or passports
- Original birth certificates
- An Atto Notorio that has to be signed by two witnesses
- A marriage intent declaration
- Marriage Nulla Osta that you can find from your country’s embassy in Italy
- Divorce papers/death certificate of previous spouses if applicable
If you’re a Catholic, you’ll also need other papers for an Italy wedding at Lake Como:
- Baptism certificate
- Certificate of attendance to pre-marriage course
- A written letter of permission from your priest
- If one spouse is non-Catholic, an approval for mixed-religion marriage
- A prenuptial inquiry
Legal Marriage Timeline
Here is the chronological sequence of steps you need to follow:
- Contact your country’s embassy or consulate in Italy to understand all documents required for your wedding.
- Decide the type of ceremony you want.
- Book the right venue at Lake Como.
- If a visa is required, apply for it.
- Collect the birth certificates of the bride and groom.
- Collect divorce papers or death certificate if required.
- Contact the embassy or consulate to get Nulla Osta.
- Get two witnesses to sign Atto Nottario.
Lake Como Destination Wedding Planning Tips
How to get there
Lake Como is close to the Swiss border and the city of Milan. Here’s how you can get there.
By airplane
The nearest airport is Milan Malpensa. From there, you can take the Malpensa Express train and get down at Saronno. From Saronno, you can take a train to Como Nord Lago. It will take about an hour and a half.
By train
You can take a train from Milan or Switzerland and reach Como S. Giovanni.
By car
You can reach Milan and take the A9 motorway to Como. It will take about an hour by car.
Lake Como Weather
Lake Como has humid summers and cold winters. It often rains with thunderstorms. These rains are usually short-lived, and the sun shows up in a few minutes.
Budgeting Tips
- Instead of renting a car, you can get a ride-share service.
- Use the C10 bus that goes to the main towns around Lake Como.
- Instead of taking a private boat, you can take a ferry to the venue.
- Many places offer free snacks with drinks. The snacks could include olives, focaccia, or crisps.
Best Time of Year to Get Married in Lake Como
An Italy wedding at Lake Como would be the best in the months between April and October – especially in May and June. In these months, the weather is warm and pleasant. In the summer, you can enjoy the blooming flowers of the area and have the most perfect wedding.
Looking for some other destinations for your wedding? Check out this Saint Lucia wedding guide.
Also, check out our suggestions for the best bachelorette party destinations.
